Success Academy Charter School - Upper West

Success Academy Charter School - Upper West is a large K-8 charter school in Manhattan, serving nearly 1,000 students. It is widely recognized for its exceptional academic performance, with students achieving ELA and Math proficiency rates (95% and 96% respectively) that are significantly above citywide medians. The school consistently ranks among the top in New York for overall test scores, demonstrating particularly strong math and reading proficiency. Its rigorous, inquiry-based curriculum emphasizes critical thinking, rich texts, and conceptual reasoning, with middle school students taking New York State Regents exams in subjects like Algebra I and Global History, where pass rates are nearly perfect. Official parent surveys indicate exceptionally high satisfaction, with 100% positive responses across various questions. While many parents praise the academic excellence and nurturing teachers, some describe a highly structured and disciplined environment, with concerns raised about the intensity of the academic culture and support for students with special education needs. The school maintains a very low suspension rate.