Harlem Link Charter School

Test scores at Harlem Link have followed an encouraging upward trajectory over the past decade, with ELA climbing from 21.6% proficiency in 2016 to 58.1% in 2025 and math jumping from 29.5% to 57.3% over the same period — gains of roughly 36 and 28 percentage points respectively. Current performance sits just below the district average in ELA (59.3%) but above the district in math (54%), making this a school where students are performing roughly on par with the broader district. The middle grades show particular strength: 4th graders hit 65.7% ELA proficiency and 5th graders reached 66.7% in math, suggesting the upper elementary program is delivering solid preparation.

This is where the school truly shines in the data. Parents report 94% satisfaction, and virtually every surveyed relationship metric hits near-universal highs: 96% parent-teacher trust, 96% parent-principal trust, and a remarkable 100% of families reporting strong relationships with the school. Teachers are equally bullish — 100% trust in the principal and collegial trust, with 96% rating instruction quality as strong. That said, teacher-reported safety sits at 85%, notably below the district average of 94%, which is worth noting. The chronic absenteeism rate of 60.7% is high — well above what you'd expect — and it affects male students slightly more than females and Black students more than Hispanic students, suggesting the school may need targeted outreach to certain demographics.

Harlem Link's student body is predominantly Black (65%) and Hispanic (31%), with very few Asian or white students — reflecting the neighborhood's demographics. With an economic need index of 89 (well above city averages) and 22% of students receiving special education services, this is a school serving families with significant socioeconomic challenges. The diversity index of 46% is moderate, and the demographics mirror what you'd find in the surrounding Harlem community.

Harlem (South) is a transit-rich, family-dense neighborhood with an education orientation score of 76.25 — meaning families with children are drawn here and the area supports learning. The median household income of $68,758 and 20.3% poverty rate indicate a working-class to middle-class community, and the median home value of $1.3M signals the neighborhood's rapid gentrification. The safety score of 1.15 is notably low, though it's worth contextualizing: transit access is excellent (98.85 percentile) and the area has strong family infrastructure.

Families arrive primarily via the nearby subway lines that serve 111th Street, and the neighborhood is generally walkable — though parents should be aware of the area's safety indicators when commuting with younger children.