Success Academy Charter School - Far Rockaway

Test scores here are a clear outlier in District 27 — 80.4% ELA and 85.8% math proficiency puts this school far above the district averages of 56% and 57%. Looking at the trend, scores have fluctuated since 2019 (when math hit 93.9%), with a dip during the pandemic years and recovery to strong numbers by 2025. The grade-level breakdown shows particular strength in the upper grades — seventh graders hit 92.1% ELA proficiency and eighth graders reached 94.9% math — suggesting the school builds solid academic foundations as students move through the grades. An overall score of 3.32 out of 4 reflects this consistent high performance.

The attendance picture is mixed — the overall attendance rate of 93.6% exceeds the district average of 90%, which is a positive sign. However, chronic absenteeism sits at a concerning 77.4%, meaning nearly 8 in 10 students miss at least 10% of the school year. On the positive side, teachers report strong instruction quality (90.9%) and high safety perceptions (92.6%), and parent satisfaction comes in at 92.6%. The suspension rate matches the district average at 0.5%, suggesting discipline is managed without heavy reliance on exclusions. Families considering this school should dig into what drives the chronic absenteeism number — it may reflect transportation challenges, health factors, or family circumstances specific to this community rather than school climate issues.

This is a predominantly Black school in a neighborhood with similar demographics — 78% of students are Black, 18% Hispanic, with very low Asian and White enrollment. The economic need index of 72.7% is high, indicating most families here face significant financial challenges. The diversity index of 39% is relatively low, reflecting the school's homogeneous demographics. With 13% of students having IEPs, the school serves a meaningful population with special education needs. The community is clearly working-class and family-dense, with 22.4% of households having children — a neighborhood where multigenerational families are common.

Far Rockaway-Bayswater is a seaside community on the Rockaway Peninsula with a small-town feel despite being in Queens. The neighborhood scores well on health environment (90) and stability (53), indicating established community roots, but scores poorly on safety (42), transit (24), and education orientation (41). The median home value of $625,822 and homeownership rate of 29% suggest a working-class to lower-middle-class community. Families here rely heavily on cars — the low transit score reflects limited subway access. The area has beach access and community parks, which are family positives, but parents should be aware the safety score is notably low compared to other Queens neighborhoods.

Getting to this school typically requires a car — the neighborhood's transit score of 24 reflects limited subway access, and Beach 110 Street is not within easy walking distance of major subway lines. Many families drive or rely on school transportation.