Harbor Science and Arts Charter School, New York NY

Original Research by School Decision on Harbor Science and Arts Charter School

Harbor Science and Arts Charter School is a small kindergarten through ninth-grade charter school located on East 111th Street in East Harlem. It serves a student body that is predominantly Hispanic and Black, with a substantial majority of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. The school enrolls roughly a mid-sized number of students across its grade band, with enrollment spread relatively evenly from kindergarten through eighth grade and a single ninth-grade student.

The school's state assessment results show mixed performance across tested subjects and grades. In English language arts, proficiency rates range from low in fourth grade to stronger in sixth and eighth grade, where roughly two-thirds of students tested showed proficiency. Math performance is variable: fourth-grade students tested at the low end, while seventh and eighth grade show notably stronger results, with eighth-grade math proficiency reaching above half of those tested. In science, which is tested only in fifth and eighth grade, proficiency rates are quite low. The school's overall proficiency index across all tested subjects and grades falls below the midpoint relative to other districts in New York County. Notably, test participation rates vary considerably by grade and subject, ranging from the low thirties to low seventies, suggesting that the population of students who took each assessment differed in size and composition. Parents may want to look into the school's testing and assessment practices to understand these patterns.

The school's science and arts focus in its charter mission does not appear reflected in strong science assessment results; the low proficiency rates in science in both tested grades suggest this may be an area where the school is still developing its program or where additional support is needed. The school's website and recent reporting provide limited information about specific course offerings or career pathway programs beyond the stated dual focus.

One critical factor for families considering this school: Harbor Science and Arts is permanently closing at the end of June 2026. This is a watershed change. Any family enrolling a student now should understand that the school will cease operations within the school year, and students will need to transition to another school. The school's leadership has directed families toward the Democracy Prep charter network as an alternative pathway.

The neighborhood context is dense, mixed-use urban New York City, where schools are typically woven into residential blocks rather than sited on separate campuses. The area is highly walkable and served by extensive public transit. Housing values in the zip code are substantial, though median rents reflect the broader New York City market. The school's location situates it within the city's transit-accessible network, and the East Harlem neighborhood where it operates has seen demographic change and recent economic development activity.

For a family considering this school, the imminent closure is the decisive factor. For families whose students are already enrolled, the priority is planning their transition to another school before June 2026.

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Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 350%

School 50% · district not reported

▼ 9 pts below state median · ▼ 8 pts below county median

Grade 417%

School 17% · district not reported

▼ 42 pts below state median · ▼ 44 pts below county median

Grade 533%

School 33% · district not reported

▼ 18 pts below state median · ▼ 22 pts below county median

Grade 626%

School 26% · district not reported

▼ 19 pts below state median · ▼ 19 pts below county median

Grade 747%

School 47% · district not reported

▼ 6 pts below state median · ▼ 11 pts below county median

Grade 862%

School 62% · district not reported

▲ 25 pts above state median · ▲ 62 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 360%

School 60% · district not reported

▲ 8 pts above state median · ▲ 4 pts above county median

Grade 417%

School 17% · district not reported

▼ 36 pts below state median · ▼ 47 pts below county median

Grade 550%

School 50% · district not reported

▼ 4 pts below state median · ▼ 15 pts below county median

Grade 665%

School 65% · district not reported

▲ 19 pts above state median · ▲ 18 pts above county median

Grade 747%

School 47% · district not reported

even with state median · ▼ 9 pts below county median

Grade 860%

School 60% · district not reported

▲ 12 pts above state median · ▲ 7 pts above county median

Science

Grade 520%

School 20% · district not reported

▼ 22 pts below state median · ▼ 26 pts below county median

Grade 811%

School 11% · district not reported

▼ 22 pts below state median · ▲ 3 pts above county median

Social studies

Grade 596%

School 96% · district not reported

▲ 4 pts above state median · ▲ 17 pts above county median

Grade 859%

School 59% · district not reported

▼ 19 pts below state median · ▲ 5 pts above county median

This schoolDistrict average, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.