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The overwhelming majority of students in the city’s largest charter-school networks excelled on recent state math and reading exams, unlike those in government-run schools where reading results plummeted.
Success Academy’s results show that of its students in grades 3 to 8 who took the tests, 96% passed or were deemed proficient in math and 91% were proficient in English Language Arts, about the same stellar scores as last year.
By comparison, only about 50% of New York City’s public-school kids were considered proficient in reading, a 6-point drop from the year before, and just 57% made the grade in math, about the same as the previous year.
“Our curriculum is more rigorous,” Bronx Success Academy 4 Principal Nadienka Morillo bluntly told The Post.
Twelve Success Academy schools even saw 100% of their students score proficient in both math and ELA, while at an additional eight of its schools had 100% of their students score proficient in one exam or the other.
Students are graded from Levels 1 to 4. Level 3 is passing, and Level 4 is exceptional.
At Bronx Success Academy 4 elementary school in the Soundview section, not only were all of its students proficient in both subjects, but a stunning 100% of the 195 students who took the math exam scored at a Level 4, as did 96% of students who aced the ELA.
Many of the students at Success Academy are from low-income families. Seventy-two percent are poor enough to quality for free and reduce meals, 13% are current and former English language learners from immigrant families, and 10% have special needs.
As for racial makeup, the students break down into black (42%), Hispanic (36%) multracial (11%) and Asian, white or Native American (11%).
Students at another large charter-school network — Zeta Charter Schools’ 14 campuses — also crushed the exams, with 92% proficient in math and 86% in English Language Arts.
When comparing the charters’ success to the city’s public schools, the pass rate at the charters was 35 to 40 percentage higher than at the traditional public schools on both exams.
The sinking test scores released earlier this month for traditional public schools provoked finger-pointing and questions about even the validity of the tests from city education bigs.
The United Federation of Teachers’ union president, Michael Mulgrew, blamed Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s administration for continued implementation of the city’s Adams era’ phonics-based NYC Reads program. Mamdani defended the program as sound.
But Morillo said, “We don’t make excuses.
“We know our students are capable and they rise to the occasion. These are the results we were seeking.
“It’s always about the adult who is in front of the students,” she said.
Success Academy’s curriculum far exceeds the state’s standards, which Morillo described as the basic or minimum students are expected to meet.
At Success Academy, students spend an hour each day reading, 30 minutes independently and 30 minutes in small groups.
Intense reading starts in kindergarten, and students are expected to read chapter books by second grade.
In math, the curriculum focuses relentlessly on problem-solving.
“Our kids compute well because of the curriculum behind the math,” Morillo said.
Eva Moskowitz, founder and CEO of Success Academy said her students “have proved what’s possible” despite coming from poverty and hardship.
“Success Academy has achieved something extraordinary: 64% of our test takers — 6,000 mostly low-income, children of color — are reading at the advanced Level 4 in reading, the highest level, unlocking one of life’s greatest pleasures and most critical tools,” Moskowitz said in a statement.
“This isn’t just a victory for our educators and children—it’s a fierce wake-up call for leaders who have resigned themselves to failure and cheap excuses. Our children have proved what’s possible; it’s time for leadership to do the same.”
Moskowitz has railed against New York’s elected leaders and education establishment for refusing to lift the cap to allow more charter schools to open, and she issued a withering report in July on the shortcomings of the city-run school system.
The head of Zeta Charter Schools also hailed the performance of her students and educators.
“These results show what our students accomplish when extraordinary educators combine rigorous academics with deep belief in every child,” said Emily Kim, founder and CEO of Zeta Charter Schools.
“More than nine out of ten of our students are proficient in Math and Science. Nearly half are demonstrating the state’s highest level of mastery in Math and ELA, and our Science results are the strongest in Zeta’s history. These accomplishments are a reflection of the incredible effort of students, families, and teachers in close partnership with each other.”
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