Success Academy Charter School - Harlem 3

Test scores at this school are in a league of their own within District 4 — 92% ELA proficiency compared to the district average of 50%, and 97.5% math versus 45% district-wide. Looking at grade-level data, performance is strong across all grades, with 8th grade math hitting a remarkable 100% and 7th grade ELA at 97.9%. These numbers aren't a recent flash — the school has consistently outpaced both district and city averages for years, though there was a dip during the pandemic years (2022-2023) before a strong rebound in 2024-2025.

The school reports 92.5% attendance, above the district average of 87.7%, but there's a notable tension: chronic absenteeism sits at 71.6%, which is high. Teacher instruction quality scores 87.3% and parent satisfaction is 91%, suggesting families who stay are generally happy with what the school delivers. Teacher-reported safety is 86.9%, reasonably positive. However, the high chronic absenteeism rate suggests some families may be struggling with the school's structure or expectations — a pattern worth exploring for prospective families.

The student body is predominantly Black (51%) and Hispanic (36%), reflecting the demographics of East Harlem. With an economic need index of 79.4% and 16% of students having IEPs, this is a high-need population that the school serves well academically. The diversity index of 63% indicates a reasonably diverse school community, though the population is not as varied as some Manhattan schools.

East Harlem is a high-density, transit-rich neighborhood with strong family infrastructure (family density score: 96) but significant safety concerns (safety score: 12.26). The area has seen rapid gentrification with home values now at $828,171, yet median household income remains low at $44,054 and poverty affects 29.5% of residents. There are parks and community resources, but families should be aware of the neighborhood's safety realities — crime density and asthma rates are notably high.

The neighborhood scores 80.46 for transit, making it highly accessible by bus and subway. Many families likely walk to school given the area's density, though parents should consider route planning given safety concerns.