Manhattan Charter School II

Test scores at Manhattan Charter School II are substantially below the District 1 averages: ELA proficiency sits at 40.8% versus the district average of 51.7%, and math proficiency is particularly concerning at just 14.3% compared to the district average of 47.4%. The historical trend is troubling — ELA peaked at 53.2% in 2019 before declining to 40.8% in 2025, while math dropped from 50% in 2019 to a concerning 14.3% currently. Students here are significantly behind their district peers in catching up, particularly in mathematics, where the gap has widened dramatically.

Survey data reveals mixed signals about the school's environment. Teacher instruction quality rates at 73%, and parent-teacher trust at 71% — both moderate but below district averages. However, parent-principal trust is notably lower at 56%, suggesting leadership may be struggling to connect with families. The family survey response rate of just 12% (8 responses) indicates very low engagement from parents in providing feedback. Teachers report instruction quality reasonably well, but the trust gaps between families and leadership, combined with low survey participation, suggest a climate where parents may feel disconnected from the school's direction.

The school serves a predominantly Black and Hispanic student body — 40% Black, 54% Hispanic — with very small Asian (4%) and White (1%) populations. The diversity index of 53% reflects this composition. With 87.8% economic need index and 36% of students having IEPs, the school serves a high-needs population requiring substantial support. Only 110 students are enrolled across five grade levels, creating a small community where class sizes average 21.2 students.

The Chinatown-Two Bridges neighborhood offers excellent transit access (87.74 percentile) and high education orientation (86.21), but presents real challenges for families. The median household income of $35,443 is low, and 33.3% of residents live in poverty. Only 7.8% of households have children, meaning this is not a particularly family-dense area despite the high family density score (77.78). Safety scores are low (22.22 percentile), and environmental health indicators show concerns including elevated lead rates and high asthma emergency department visits (155 per 10,000). The neighborhood has very low homeownership (10.4%), meaning most families rent.

The neighborhood is highly walkable with excellent transit access, making it convenient for families who rely on public transportation. However, the area has fewer family-oriented amenities and child-focused resources compared to other parts of Manhattan, reflecting the low percentage of households with children in the area.