At a Glance
A high-performing K-8 charter in central Harlem, where strong test scores sit alongside a stubborn attendance problem
Best suited for
Families who want a single K-8 charter journey in central Harlem with strong math outcomes and excellent transit access, and who are prepared to be active partners around attendance.
Overall Rating
Rating = average of NY State ELA + math proficiency, grades 3–8
Bands are Motley's thresholds on a 0–100 scale, not New York State performance levels.
How this is scored→What stands out
- Math proficiency 73.9% — about 22 points above the District 6 average — is the school's clearest academic win
- K-8 in a single building means families avoid the middle school admissions scramble
- 34% IEP enrollment signals a much higher-inclusion environment than most charters provide
- Three subway lines essentially at the front door of the building
- 95% parent trust with both teachers and the principal — unusually strong family-side engagement
Things to consider
- 76.6% chronic absenteeism is a serious red flag worth asking the school directly about — what supports are in place, and is the number improving?
- ELA scores have bounced between 51% and 69% across recent years, so a single year's number doesn't tell the full story
- Teacher trust in the principal (74%) and teacher-reported safety (85%) both sit below district averages, which can contribute to staff turnover
- As a charter, admission is by lottery — there is no zoned priority for neighborhood families
- Average class size of 21.9 is essentially identical to the district average, so don't expect charters-style small classes as a given
Based on 2024-25 data
School SummaryDistrict 6
Within the District 6 peer set, this school lands near the top on academics — alongside Zeta Charter Schools - Inwood and Success Academy Washington Heights — and well above the district average overall score of 1.98/4. Its chronic absenteeism rate and lower teacher-side survey scores, though, separate it from the strongest peers on the climate side.
Academics
ELA proficiency (62.4%) and math proficiency (73.9%) both run well above District 6 averages of 47% and 52%, and the overall 2.73/4 score puts the school in strong territory. The trajectory is bumpier than those numbers suggest: ELA has swung between 51% and 69% across the past decade, and math dropped to 57% in 2022 before rebounding. Treat current numbers as a snapshot of a school capable of strong results, but not one that delivers them consistently year over year — grade-by-grade results are strongest in 3rd and 6th-8th and weakest in 5th.
Culture
The 93.6% daily attendance rate looks fine on paper, but chronic absenteeism at 76.6% means the large majority of students are missing 10% or more of the school year — a real warning sign worth asking the school about. Parents are highly engaged: 92% satisfaction and 95% trust with both teachers and the principal. Teachers are more reserved — instruction quality ratings (86%) and teacher-reported safety (85%) both sit below district averages — and just 74% of teachers trust the principal, which can affect staff stability over time.
Community
Of the school's 647 students, 53% are Hispanic and 41% are Black, mirroring the broader Hamilton Heights-Sugar Hill neighborhood where most residents are working- and middle-class renters. The economic need index of 81.4 means most students come from low-income households, and 34% have IEPs — well above typical — so this is a genuinely high-inclusion environment. The school's demographic profile is moderately diverse but dominated by two groups, with very little Asian, White, or multiracial representation.
Neighborhood
Hamilton Heights-Sugar Hill is a mixed-income, family-leaning slice of upper Manhattan: median household income sits around $65,600, about 23% of residents live below the poverty line, and just 14% of households own their homes. Roughly 41% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, giving the area a working-professional-but-not-affluent feel. Three subway lines converge within a couple of blocks, which makes the school unusually easy to reach from anywhere in upper Manhattan or the Bronx.
The 145 St B and D stop and the 145 St A and C stop are each about a 2-minute walk, and the 145 St 1 train is roughly 7 minutes on foot — one of the easier commutes in upper 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
Historical Trends
The dashed line marks 2023, when New York changed its grades 3–8 state tests. Scores before and after it aren’t directly comparable.
2020–2021 data unavailable due to COVID-19
Source: NYC DOE School Quality Reports
Survey Results
NYC School Survey (2025) · 357 families responded (60% rate)
Racial & Ethnic Diversity
NYC DOE InfoHub · 2022-23
Economic Need & Special Populations
Make this school part of your plan
Everything on this page is yours to read. An account keeps your research in one place.
No credit card required
Compare head-to-head
Explore nearby
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Neighborhood Charter School of Harlem a good school?
- On Motley, Neighborhood Charter School of Harlem earns an overall rating of 68/100 — the average of the school's New York State ELA and math proficiency, grades 3–8, shown out of 100. Its state test results run above the District 6 average.
- What grades does Neighborhood Charter School of Harlem serve?
- Neighborhood Charter School of Harlem serves grades K to 8.
- How do students get into Neighborhood Charter School of Harlem?
- Neighborhood Charter School of Harlem is a charter school — it admits through a free public lottery, with no test or attendance zone.
- Is Neighborhood Charter School of Harlem public, charter, or private?
- Neighborhood Charter School of Harlem is a public charter school in NYC Community School District 6.
- What neighborhood is Neighborhood Charter School of Harlem in?
- Neighborhood Charter School of Harlem is in Hamilton Heights-Sugar Hill, Manhattan.