Academy of the City Charter School

Academy of the City Charter School in Queens serves students in grades K-5, offering a progressive, hands-on, and collaborative learning environment. The school is known for its commitment to social justice, inquiry-based learning, and a strong focus on social-emotional development, including a dedicated "Peace Curriculum" to foster conflict resolution and acceptance of differences. Parents frequently praise the caring teachers and supportive atmosphere, noting a manageable homework load compared to more academically intense schools. Academically, the school's ELA proficiency is slightly above the citywide median, while math proficiency is below the median. The share of students taking accelerated coursework is above the citywide median. The school occupies a renovated former Catholic school building, designed to support 21st-century learning with features like glass-enclosed breakout rooms for special education and English Language Learners. While parent satisfaction is very high, some online reviews raise concerns about high staff turnover and student behavior issues, particularly in the middle school grades (which are not part of the K-5 data provided here). The school also offers a longer school day and year than traditional public schools.