Success Academy Charter School - Bronx 1

ELA proficiency of 92.2% and math at 92.8% are nearly double the District 7 averages of 51% and 49%, placing this school in the top tier citywide. After a pandemic-era dip to 51.7% ELA in 2022, the school rebounded aggressively — 2025 ELA is the highest score in nearly a decade, and math has held above 90% for three straight years. Scores are remarkably consistent across grades: Grade 4 ELA hits 94.8%, Grade 6 ELA 91.4%, and Grade 7 ELA a perfect 100%. Every grade tested posts math proficiency above 87%, which is rare for any elementary/middle school.

The survey numbers look extraordinary — 100% parent-teacher trust, 100% parent-principal trust, 97% parent satisfaction, 95% teacher instruction quality — but only six families responded (a 1% rate), so these reflect a small, likely enthusiastic sample rather than the full parent body. Average attendance of 94.2% beats the district's 91.1%, but the chronic absenteeism rate of 80.2% is striking: it suggests a sizable share of students miss significant school time even though most students attend regularly. Day-to-day, expect a structured charter culture with consistent instruction and clear behavioral expectations.

With 497 students, the school is 56% Black and 36% Hispanic — demographics that closely mirror Mott Haven-Port Morris itself. The economic need index of 88.5 means roughly nine in ten students come from low-income households, and 12% are classified as students with IEPs, in line with city norms. As a charter, the school draws from across the borough rather than a strict attendance zone, so the student body is more of a citywide mix than the immediate block.

Mott Haven-Port Morris has a median household income around $29,000 and a poverty rate above 40%, with homeownership under 7% and only about 12% of adults holding a bachelor's degree. The neighborhood is densely populated with families who, despite real economic headwinds, prioritize their children's education — and the school draws from that motivated base. Three subway lines serve the immediate area, making it accessible from across the South Bronx and into Manhattan.

Families can reach the school via the 6 train at 3 Av-138 St or the 4/5 at 138 St-Grand Concourse, each about a 5-minute walk, with the 2/5 at 149 St-Grand Concourse roughly 7 minutes away.