The Equity Project Charter School

The Equity Project (TEP) Charter School, serving grades K-8 in Manhattan, is known for its distinctive model of investing significantly in teacher salaries to attract and retain highly qualified educators. This approach has garnered national attention and is central to its mission of achieving educational equity for students from traditionally underserved communities. The school serves a predominantly Hispanic student population with high rates of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, English Language Learners, and students with IEPs. Academically, TEP demonstrates strong performance in math proficiency, well above the citywide median, and an exceptionally high percentage of students engaged in accelerated coursework, placing it well above the 75th percentile citywide. A long-term study found that students at TEP achieved significant gains in math, English language arts, and science. The school offers a rigorous curriculum that emphasizes academics, arts, and athletics, featuring daily music and physical education classes, and a variety of extracurricular activities. The school operates on a longer school day and a year-round calendar. Parent sentiment is overwhelmingly positive according to official surveys, with exceptionally high favorable ratings. However, some online feedback from parents and students describes concerns about frequent bullying and fights, and a perception that staff do not always intervene effectively. Student survey data also indicates areas for improvement regarding conflict resolution fairness and the prevalence of bullying and physical altercations. The school maintains a zero suspension rate.