Public School Match
Amber Charter School
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Amber Charter School

Grades K-5 · 220 EAST 106 STREET · Manhattan

Vasthi Acosta, Principal · 212-534-9667

84M705Charter

About

Amber Charter School in East Harlem, established in 2000 as New York State's first Latino-led charter school, serves students in grades K-5 with a mission to provide an academically rigorous and well-rounded education alongside strong character development. The school emphasizes a core curriculum in literacy, mathematics, science, and social studies, complemented by enrichment in visual arts, music, physical education, and technology. All students receive instruction in Spanish as a second language from kindergarten, with a strong focus on developing English Language Learner skills. Academically, the school's ELA proficiency rate of 56% is just above the citywide median, while its math proficiency rate of 53% is just below the median. Notably, the 4th-grade math proficiency rate has been reported as significantly above the citywide average. Parents express overwhelmingly positive sentiment, with survey results showing 96-100% positive responses regarding their experiences. The school fosters a supportive learning environment, with K-2 classes benefiting from two teachers and grades 3-4 from a teacher and academic tutor, aiming for personalized learning and social-emotional growth. It also maintains partnerships with cultural institutions and community organizations.

Sources (16)

Academics

State test proficiency rates and acceleration.

ELA proficiency

56%

Math proficiency

53%

Proficiency rates are from the Grade 3–8 NYS state test (school-level).

Attendance rate

—

Avg class size (general ed)

—

Avg class size (ICT)

—

Community & climate

Demographics, attendance, school survey results, and DOE quality ratings.

Quality signals

FacultyExcellentAI-estimated

Parent survey · overall positive

89%100% response rate

Teacher survey · overall positive

72%52% response rate

Survey topics

Safety88%city 89%
  • My students are safe…outside around this school.85%
  • My students are safe…traveling between home and this school.83%
  • My students are safe…in the hallways, bathrooms, locker rooms, and cafeteria of this school.100%
  • My students are safe…in my class(es).100%
  • Conflicts are resolved fairly in my school.71%

Each question’s favorable response rate; the topic score (88%) is their average, vs 89% citywide.

Bullying prevention43%city 42%
  • At this school students harass, bully, or intimidate other students.43%

Each question’s favorable response rate; the topic score (43%) is their average, vs 42% citywide.

Emotional support87%city 84%
  • How many adults at this school…help students develop the skills they need to complete challenging coursework despite obstacles?.87%
  • How many adults at this school…tell their students they believe they can achieve high academic standards?.87%
  • How many adults at this school…teach students how to advocate for themselves?.93%
  • How many adults at this school…recognize disruptive behavior as social-emotional learning opportunities?.80%

Each question’s favorable response rate; the topic score (87%) is their average, vs 84% citywide.

Academic expectations68%city 87%
  • In this school, the staff believes that all students can learn, including English language learners (ELLs), Emergent Multilingual Learners (EMLLs), and students with disabilities.93%
  • How many students in your classes…have to work hard to do well?.43%

Each question’s favorable response rate; the topic score (68%) is their average, vs 87% citywide.

Family outreach91%city 94%
  • At this school…teachers understand families' challenges and concerns.80%
  • At this school…teachers work closely with families to meet students' needs.87%
  • At this school…staff regularly communicate with families about how they can help students learn.93%
  • At this school…school staff value families' race, ethnicity, culture, family structure, and background.86%
  • School staff regularly communicate with me about how I can help my child learn.94%
  • Teachers work closely with me to meet my child's needs.93%
  • My child's school communicates with me in a language that I can understand.97%
  • I am greeted warmly when I contact or visit the school.96%
  • My child's school will make me aware if there are any concerns about my child’s social or emotional well-being.94%

Each question’s favorable response rate; the topic score (91%) is their average, vs 94% citywide.

Parent–teacher trust97%city 95%
  • I feel respected by my child's teachers.98%
  • Staff at this school work hard to build trusting relationships with parents/guardians like me.96%
  • My child's teachers treat me as a partner in educating my child.97%

Each question’s favorable response rate; the topic score (97%) is their average, vs 95% citywide.

Show all survey topics

Rigorous Instruction

Strong Core Instruction97%city 93%
  • In planning my last instructional unit, I had the resources and tools I needed to include multiple opportunities for…reading and writing experiences grounded in evidence from text, both literary and informational. [ELA].100%
  • In planning my last instructional unit, I had the resources and tools I needed to include multiple opportunities for…students to interact with complex grade-level text and tasks. [ELA].86%
  • In planning my last instructional unit, I had the resources and tools I needed to include multiple opportunities for…students to engage with texts and tasks reflective of their diverse racial, cultural, and linguistic perspective. [ELA].100%
  • In planning my last instructional unit, I had the resources and tools I needed to include multiple opportunities for…students to engage in meaningful discussion that critically examines topics that connect to the daily lives of students. [ELA].100%
  • In planning my last instructional unit, I had the resources and tools I needed to include multiple opportunities for…focusing deeply on the concepts emphasized in the standards to help students build strong foundations for learning. [ELA].100%

Each question’s favorable response rate; the topic score (97%) is their average, vs 93% citywide.

Quality of Student Discussion52%city 67%
  • How many students in your classes…build on each other’s ideas during class discussions?.71%
  • How many students in your classes…use data or text references to support their ideas?.36%
  • How many students in your classes…show that they respect each other’s ideas?.50%
  • How many students in your classes…provide constructive feedback to their peers/teachers?.23%
  • How many students in your classes…participate in class discussions at some point?.79%

Each question’s favorable response rate; the topic score (52%) is their average, vs 67% citywide.

Collaborative Teachers

Peer Collaboration83%city 87%
  • At this school…the principal/school leader, teachers, and staff collaborate to make this school run effectively.69%
  • At this school…teachers design instructional programs (e.g. lessons, units) together.87%
  • At this school…teachers make a conscious effort to coordinate their teaching with instruction at other grade levels.92%

Each question’s favorable response rate; the topic score (83%) is their average, vs 87% citywide.

Innovation and Collective Responsibility81%city 79%
  • How many teachers at this school…help build a welcoming school environment in the entire school, not just their classroom?.94%
  • How many teachers at this school…are actively trying to improve their teaching?.88%
  • How many teachers at this school…take responsibility for improving the school?.75%
  • How many teachers at this school…are eager to try new ideas?.69%
  • How many teachers at this school…feel responsible that all students learn?.81%

Each question’s favorable response rate; the topic score (81%) is their average, vs 79% citywide.

Cultural Awareness and Inclusive Classroom Instruction79%city 92%
  • I am able to...receive support around how to incorporate students' cultural and linguistic backgrounds in my practice.73%
  • I am able to...modify instructional activities and materials to meet the developmental needs and learning interests of all my students.87%
  • I am able to...ensure instruction represents multiple perspectives, cultures, and backgrounds.87%
  • I am able to…ensure instruction represents multiple genders, gender identities and expressions and sexual orientations.87%
  • I am able to…ensure instruction represents multiple races and ethnicities.87%
  • I am able to...design appropriate instruction that is matched to students' need (e.g. English language learners (ELLs) or Emergent Multilingual Learners (EMLLs) proficiency and students with disabilities).60%
  • I am able to...apply my knowledge of parents' various cultural backgrounds when collaborating with them regarding their child's educational progress.73%
  • I am able to...develop appropriate Individualized Education Programs for my students with disabilities.88%
  • I am able to...monitor progress on Individualized Education Program goals for my students with disabilities.94%
  • I am able to...distinguish linguistic/cultural differences from learning difficulties.81%
  • I have conversations about race and racism at my school that help me examine my own beliefs around identity.53%

Each question’s favorable response rate; the topic score (79%) is their average, vs 92% citywide.

School Commitment77%city 83%
  • I usually look forward to each working day at this school.81%
  • I would recommend this school to parents/guardians seeking a place for their child.75%
  • I would recommend this school to other teachers as a place to work.75%

Each question’s favorable response rate; the topic score (77%) is their average, vs 83% citywide.

Quality of Professional Development71%city 82%
  • Overall, my professional development experiences this year have...included enough time to think carefully about, try, and evaluate new ideas.67%
  • Overall, my professional development experiences this year have...Included opportunities to engage in inquiry-based, professional collaboration with peers and/or mentors from other schools.67%
  • Overall, my professional development experiences this year have...directly related to my students’ needs.79%

Each question’s favorable response rate; the topic score (71%) is their average, vs 82% citywide.

Supportive Environment

Classroom Behavior82%city 66%
  • How many students in your classes…listen carefully when the teacher gives directions?.93%
  • How many students in your classes…follow the rules in class?.80%
  • How many students in your classes…respond to challenging questions in class?.60%
  • How many students in your classes…do their work when they are supposed to?.93%

Each question’s favorable response rate; the topic score (82%) is their average, vs 66% citywide.

Effective School Leadership

Inclusive Leadership94%city 95%
  • The principal/school leader at this school…puts decisions made with families into action.93%
  • The principal/school leader at this school…works to create a sense of community in the school.95%
  • The principal/school leader at this school…ensures families are comfortable communicating with the school.95%

Each question’s favorable response rate; the topic score (94%) is their average, vs 95% citywide.

Program Coherence84%city 83%
  • At this school…once we start a new program, we follow up to make sure that it’s working.80%
  • At this school…it is clear how all of the programs offered are connected to our school’s instructional vision.79%
  • At this school…curriculum, instruction, and learning materials are well coordinated across the different grade levels at this school.92%

Each question’s favorable response rate; the topic score (84%) is their average, vs 83% citywide.

Instructional Leadership53%city 86%
  • The principal/school leader at this school...makes clear to the staff their expectations for meeting instructional goals.62%
  • The principal/school leader at this school...understands how children learn.46%
  • The principal/school leader at this school...sets high standards for student learning.69%
  • The principal/school leader at this school...participates in instructional planning with teams of teachers.38%
  • The principal/assistant principal(s) at this school…supports teachers in implementing what they have learned in professional development.50%
  • The principal/assistant principal(s) at this school…carefully tracks student academic progress.46%
  • The principal/assistant principal(s) at this school…knows what’s going on in my classes.46%
  • The principal/assistant principal(s) at this school…provides teachers with formative feedback to improve practice.64%
  • How many adults at this school…have access to school-based supports to assist in behavioral/emotional escalations?.53%

Each question’s favorable response rate; the topic score (53%) is their average, vs 86% citywide.

Teacher Influence31%city 66%
  • At this school…the principal/school leader encourages feedback through regular meetings with families and teacher leaders.46%
  • How much influence do teachers have over school policy in...hiring new professional personnel?.8%
  • How much influence do teachers have over school policy in...planning how discretionary school funds should be used?.8%
  • How much influence do teachers have over school policy in...selecting instructional materials and/or curriculum used in classrooms?.31%
  • How much influence do teachers have over school policy in...setting standards for student behavior?.62%

Each question’s favorable response rate; the topic score (31%) is their average, vs 66% citywide.

Strong Family-Community Ties

Strong Relationships90%city 90%
  • At this school, my child receives what they need to achieve their Individualized Education Plan (IEP) goal(s). [Families of students with IEPs].90%

Each question’s favorable response rate; the topic score (90%) is their average, vs 90% citywide.

Parent Involvement in School72%city 63%
  • Since the beginning of the school year, how often have you…communicated with your child's teachers about your child's performance?.98%
  • Since the beginning of the school year, how often have you…seen your child’s projects, artwork, homework, tests, or quizzes?.99%
  • I know how to contact the Parent Coordinator at my child’s school.18%

Each question’s favorable response rate; the topic score (72%) is their average, vs 63% citywide.

Trust

Parent-Principal Trust93%city 94%
  • I feel respected by my child's principal/school leader.94%
  • I trust the principal/school leader at their word (to do what they say that they will do).92%
  • The principal/school leader is an effective manager who makes the school run smoothly.93%

Each question’s favorable response rate; the topic score (93%) is their average, vs 94% citywide.

Teacher-Teacher Trust90%city 86%
  • Teachers in this school trust each other.94%
  • It's OK in this school to discuss feelings, worries, and frustrations with other teachers.81%
  • I feel respected by other teachers at this school.94%

Each question’s favorable response rate; the topic score (90%) is their average, vs 86% citywide.

Teacher-Principal Trust50%city 84%
  • I feel respected by the principal/school leader at this school.64%
  • The principal/school leader at this school is an effective manager who makes the school run smoothly.50%
  • The principal/school leader has confidence in the expertise of the teachers at this school.50%
  • I trust the principal/school leader at their word (to do what they say that they will do).43%
  • The principal/school leader looks out for the personal welfare of the staff members.36%
  • The principal/school leader places the needs of children ahead of personal interests.46%
  • The principal and assistant principals function as a cohesive unit.62%

Each question’s favorable response rate; the topic score (50%) is their average, vs 84% citywide.

Overall positive % is averaged across every Pos/Neg survey question per respondent group (school year 2023-2024). Survey topics are the DOE’s framework measures (each the average favorable response across its questions; expand a topic to see them and the citywide average); the dimension scores themselves are no longer in the public data file.[3]

Operational health

Attendance

—

Chronic absenteeism

33%

Suspension rate

4%

Teachers[7]

Teachers with 4+ years' experience

64%

Students per teacher

12:1

Teaching out of certification

61%

Teacher experience and certification from the NYSED School Report Card (2024–25); students per teacher = enrollment ÷ reported teachers. Fewer than 4 years counts as inexperienced.

Student body

Race / ethnicity[4]

  • Black 24%
  • Hispanic 69%
  • White 3%
  • Multiracial 2%

School-level totals; may not sum to 100% due to rounding and small subgroup suppression.

Gender[4]

  • Female 54%
  • Male 46%

Female / male shares as published by the DOE; other gender identities aren’t reported in the source data.

Enrollment

287

Economic Need Index

91%

Free / reduced lunch

93%

English learners

11%

Students with IEPs

24%

Location & commute

Where the school is and how to get there.

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Data sources

  1. 3.NYC DOE School Survey: Parent, teacher, and student survey results.
  2. 4.NYC DOE Demographic Snapshot: Enrollment and demographic breakdowns.
  3. 7.NYSED School Report Card: Teacher experience, certification, and pupil-teacher ratio.