At a Glance
A majority-Black and Hispanic charter school in Harlem with strong family relationships and rising ELA scores, but volatile academics and high chronic absenteeism
Families who prioritize strong home-school relationships and are drawn to the charter model will find a community where teachers are invested and families feel connected. The school works best for parents who can be actively involved in attendance and homework consistency, given the high chronic absenteeism rates, and who want a diverse, high-need neighborhood school with a track record of ELA improvement. Families expecting consistent, strong performance across all grades and subjects may find the volatility challenging.
- Family relationships rated 100% — every surveyed family reports strong relationships with the school
- Teacher instruction quality rated 100% — teachers report high confidence in how instruction is delivered
- ELA proficiency has grown dramatically from 14% in 2016 to 59.2% in 2025
- Very small class sizes averaging 18.7 students
- Charter school with lottery admissions providing a public school option
- Math scores dropped significantly from 56.7% (2024) to 45.6% (2025) — a red flag
- Chronic absenteeism is extremely high at 69%, meaning many students miss substantial school time
- Test scores vary wildly by grade — 5th grade ELA is 68.9% while 4th grade is 47.1%; 5th grade math is just 39.3%
- Teacher-principal trust is relatively low (80%) compared to other metrics
- Recent volatility in test scores makes it hard to predict academic trajectory
- Neighborhood safety scores are very low
Based on 2025 data
School SummaryDistrict 5
Among peer schools in District 5, Global Community Charter School ranks in the middle compared to high-performing charter peers like Harlem Village Academy West (96/100) and Success Academy schools (89-94/100), but above P.S. 125 Ralph Bunche (79/100). The school exceeds the district average in ELA but falls below in math, and its overall score of 2.1/4 is essentially identical to the district average of 2.09.
The school performs slightly above the district average in ELA (59.2% vs. 53.9%) but trails in math (45.6% vs. 50.7%). The historical trend is striking — the school grew from 14% ELA proficiency in 2016 to over 50% by 2019, dipped during COVID, and has rebounded strongly in 2025. However, math performance is volatile and actually dropped from 56.7% in 2024 to 45.6% in 2025. Looking at grade-level data, there's a wide spread: 5th graders hit 68.9% in ELA while 4th graders are at 47.1%, and math ranges from 52.8% in 3rd and 8th grade down to just 39.3% in 5th grade. This inconsistency suggests the school's strength varies significantly by grade level and subject.
The school shines in relationship quality — 100% of families report strong relationships and 89% are satisfied with the school. Teachers give high marks for instruction quality (100%) and feel safe (96%). However, trust between teachers and principal is lower (80%) compared to other measures, and the family survey response rate is modest at 41%. Attendance is a concern: while the overall attendance rate (91.6%) is slightly above the district average, chronic absenteeism is staggeringly high at 69.1%, affecting both males (68.3%) and females (70.1%) almost equally. This suggests many students are missing significant amounts of school, which likely impacts learning.
The school population is predominantly Black (41%) and Hispanic (51%), with very small Asian (1%), White (2%), and Multi-Racial (4%) populations. This mirrors the demographics of Harlem, where the neighborhood has a 25.5% poverty rate and a median household income of $54,704. With an economic need index of 90 and 19% of students having IEPs, the school serves a high-need population. The diversity index is 57%, reflecting the predominantly Black and Hispanic makeup. Average class size is 18.7, nearly identical to the district average.
The school sits in Harlem, a neighborhood with excellent transit access (95.79 percentile) and high family density (95.79 percentile), making it convenient for commuters. However, safety scores are very low (1.53 percentile), reflecting the broader challenges of the area. The neighborhood has a low homeownership rate (12.6%) and a median home value of $713,860, indicating a rental-heavy, gentrifying area. Education orientation is moderate at 65.9 percentile, suggesting families here value schooling but resources can be stretched thin. The area has elevated environmental health concerns, including higher lead and asthma rates.
Harlem is highly walkable with excellent subway access, and the neighborhood's family density means many students likely walk or take short bus rides to school. The area's transit score (95.79) makes it accessible from across Manhattan.
Academic Performance
ELA Proficiency
Students scoring proficient or above on the NY State ELA exam.
NYC DOE InfoHub · 2022-23
Math Proficiency
Students scoring proficient or above on the NY State Math exam.
NYC DOE InfoHub · 2022-23
Science Proficiency
Students scoring proficient or above on the NY State Science exam.
NYC DOE InfoHub · 2022-23
Survey Results
NYC School Survey (2025) · 199 families responded (41% rate)
Racial & Ethnic Diversity
NYC DOE InfoHub · 2022-23
Economic Need & Special Populations
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Global Community Charter School a good school?
- On Motley, Global Community Charter School earns an overall quality score of 53/100 — a blend of New York State ELA and math results, attendance, and the school-climate survey. Its state test results run in line with the District 5 average.
- What grades does Global Community Charter School serve?
- Global Community Charter School serves grades Pre-K to 8.
- How do students get into Global Community Charter School?
- Global Community Charter School is a charter school — it admits through a free public lottery, with no test or attendance zone.
- Is Global Community Charter School public, charter, or private?
- Global Community Charter School is a public charter school in NYC Community School District 5.
- What neighborhood is Global Community Charter School in?
- Global Community Charter School is in Harlem (North), Manhattan.
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