At a Glance
A high-achieving K-8 Success Academy in Hell's Kitchen, drawing lottery applicants from across Manhattan for its standout math results.
Best suited for
Families committed to a structured, high-expectations charter model who want a single K-8 home and are willing to gamble on the lottery.
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 has hovered near 98% for nearly a decade, an extraordinary level of consistency.
- K-8 continuity means families don't have to navigate a middle school application or transition.
- Sits among the top-scoring schools in District 2 alongside P.S. 77 Lower Lab and P.S. 290 Manhattan New School.
- Student body is far more racially and economically diverse than the surrounding Hell's Kitchen neighborhood.
- Charter structure means a longer school day and extended academic calendar compared to district schools.
Things to consider
- Chronic absenteeism of 82% is unusually elevated, even with strong daily attendance — worth asking the school directly about.
- Lottery admission means no guarantee of a seat; families should have a backup plan.
- Family survey data is essentially empty (2 responses), so parent satisfaction can't be reliably assessed.
- Average class size of 25.8 matches the district average — this is not a small-class-size school.
- Success Academy's structured, high-expectations model is not a fit for every family; visit a classroom before committing.
Based on 2024-25 data
School SummaryDistrict 2
District 2 is one of the highest-performing districts in New York City, and this school sits comfortably among its top tier — comparable to P.S. 77 Lower Lab, Success Academy Union Square, and P.S. 290 Manhattan New School. Its 3.83/4 overall score meaningfully outpaces the district average of 2.91.
Academics
Math proficiency has been remarkably steady near 98% for nearly a decade, dipping only slightly during the post-pandemic 2022 year before bouncing back to 99.4% in 2023. ELA has been more variable — climbing from 84% in 2016 to a peak of 96% in 2018-19, falling to 85% in 2022, and now sitting at 93%. Both subjects remain far above the District 2 averages of 73% ELA and 73% math, and the overall score of 3.83/4 outpaces the district's 2.91.
Culture
Average daily attendance of 94.1% is solid and above the district's 92%, but the chronic absenteeism rate of 82.3% is striking — more than 8 in 10 students missed enough school to be classified as chronically absent. The family survey drew only 2 responses, a 0% rate, so there's no real parent satisfaction signal to interpret. Day-to-day culture at Success Academy schools is known for being structured and disciplined; parents considering this school should expect a longer school day and a firm academic routine.
Community
The student body is Hispanic (41%), Black (26%), Asian (19%), and White (12%) — meaningfully more diverse than the surrounding Hell's Kitchen neighborhood, which skews heavily white and college-educated. The economic need index of 64 indicates significant poverty among enrolled families, which makes sense given that charter lotteries pull from across the borough rather than just the surrounding blocks. Nineteen percent of students have IEPs, a higher share than many charters.
Neighborhood
Hell's Kitchen is a dense, high-income Manhattan neighborhood with a median household income over $102,000 and a 71% college-educated adult population — but only about 5% of households contain children, making it one of the less family-dense corners of the borough. Homeownership sits at just 16%, so most neighbors are renters, often young professionals or empty nesters rather than school-age families. The area around the school is walkable and well-connected by subway.
Families can reach the school via the C or E at 50 St (about a 5-minute walk), the 1 train at 50 St (about 8 minutes), or the A, C, or E at 42 St-Port Authority (about 9 minutes).
Enrollment & applying
Enrollment availability is tracked from the school's published listings and refreshed daily. Confirm cycle dates on the school's own site before applying.
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
Racial & Ethnic Diversity
NYC DOE InfoHub · 2022-23
Economic Need & Special Populations
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Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Success Academy Charter School - Hell's Kitchen a good school?
- On Motley, Success Academy Charter School - Hell's Kitchen earns an overall rating of 96/100 — 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 2 average.
- What grades does Success Academy Charter School - Hell's Kitchen serve?
- Success Academy Charter School - Hell's Kitchen serves grades K to 8.
- How do students get into Success Academy Charter School - Hell's Kitchen?
- Success Academy Charter School - Hell's Kitchen is a charter school — it admits through a free public lottery, with no test or attendance zone.
- Is Success Academy Charter School - Hell's Kitchen public, charter, or private?
- Success Academy Charter School - Hell's Kitchen is a public charter school in NYC Community School District 2.
- What neighborhood is Success Academy Charter School - Hell's Kitchen in?
- Success Academy Charter School - Hell's Kitchen is in Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan.