Original Research by School Decision on Success Academy Charter School-bronx 5 Upper
Success Academy Charter School–Bronx 5 Upper is a small charter school in Bronx County serving grades 2 through 4, with total enrollment of roughly a hundred students spread fairly evenly across the three grade levels. The school is part of the Success Academy network, which operates multiple charter schools across New York City and has set ambitious academic benchmarks across its schools.
The student body is predominantly Hispanic and Black, with a small representation of other groups. Detailed demographic data including free-or-reduced-price lunch eligibility, students with IEPs, and English learners was not available, so a parent seeking full context on the school's student composition and support landscape may want to contact the school directly.
State testing results for this school were not provided in available data. This reflects that the school serves grades 2 through 4, and New York State testing under the current system does not measure grades 2 and 3. Grade 4 results may exist but were not accessible through standard reporting channels. A parent interested in academic performance should reach out to the school or Success Academy's public data to see what assessment information is available.
Chronic absenteeism at the school is in the bottom quartile among Bronx County's districts, meaning absenteeism rates here are notably higher than the county median. A parent may want to look into this further with the school, understanding what patterns drive attendance and what supports or expectations the school has around regular participation.
The Success Academy network undertook a major curriculum redesign called the "Education Moonshot" beginning in the 2024-25 school year, reverse-engineering content from college-preparedness benchmarks back to early grades. Since Bronx 5 Upper uses the network's shared curricular materials and instructional approach, this redesign affects the pedagogical pathway students follow. This represents a network-wide shift that families enrolling should understand as a lasting feature of the school's academic program.
The school is also in a period of approved growth. It is chartered to expand from its current configuration toward a K-4 model by the end of its current charter term in 2027, substantially increasing the number of seats. This trajectory affects grade availability and enrollment windows that families planning entry points should track.
In 2026, the SUNY Charter Schools Institute renewed the Success Academy network schools through July 31, 2027, confirming their continued operation. However, the renewal came with a corrective action plan requirement around teacher certification to be addressed by July 2026. This compliance issue is resolved on paper but worth noting as a real-time staffing matter that could affect teaching continuity.
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