Merrick Academy-queens Public Charter School, Springfield Gardens NY

Original Research by School Decision on Merrick Academy-queens Public Charter School

Merrick Academy-Queens Public Charter School is a kindergarten-through-fifth-grade public charter school serving a small enrollment in Springfield Gardens, a predominantly residential neighborhood in southeastern Queens. The school has expanded into middle grades and relocated, now operating with both lower and upper school campuses and planning to serve through eighth grade by the 2026-27 school year. The expansion allows families to keep children in the school longer rather than having to seek placement elsewhere after elementary grades.

Springfield Gardens is a quiet, family-oriented community of single- and two-family homes with yards, developed in the mid-twentieth century. It sits near JFK International Airport, which drives local employment in logistics, transportation, and air cargo. Tree-lined streets and a generous street grid reflect its origins as a garden suburb. Daily commercial life concentrates along a few corridors like Merrick and Springfield Boulevards, where small grocers, eateries, and services cater to a community with a strong Caribbean-American and African-American presence. Green space is substantial for the city: Springfield Park, Brookville Park, and wetlands nearby offer trails, ponds, and recreation. The neighborhood lacks direct subway service but is served by buses and dollar vans, with LIRR access nearby. Housing is rising in value as development interest grows, though prices remain relatively affordable by Queens standards. A zoning protection maintains the low-density suburban character, though density proposals are emerging.

On academics, the school's testing profile shows proficiency across grades three through six in math and English language arts, with science data reported only for fifth grade. In English, fourth through sixth grades cluster around proficiency levels in the low-to-mid range; fifth-grade ELA results are notably stronger than third grade. In math, fourth and fifth grades show proficiency slightly above the lower grades, while sixth-grade math performance drops notably lower. Science proficiency at fifth grade is below the math and ELA range. The school sits above the midpoint in overall proficiency compared to other district schools in Queens County. State testing results from social studies are dated and not current. A parent may want to ask the school directly about recent curriculum focus and support in areas where proficiency is lower, particularly sixth-grade math and fifth-grade science.

The enrollment includes a substantial share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, signaling an economically vulnerable student body. The school is predominantly Black, with a smaller Hispanic enrollment and very limited Asian, white, or multiracial representation. Data on special education enrollment and English learner rates were not available. Special populations support information was also not provided; a parent seeking details on services for students with disabilities or English learners should inquire directly with the school.

The school describes itself as pursuing International Baccalaureate authorization through its Primary Years Programme and emphasizes a STEAM-focused, inquiry-based approach. It has two separate campuses accessible via bus. Candidate status for IB carries no guarantee of authorization. Families should clarify whether the middle school expansion and dual-campus model align with their needs, particularly regarding commute and continuity of learning environment across sites.

See more original research from School Decision →

Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 359%

School 59% · district not reported

▲ 1 pts above state median · ▼ 11 pts below county median

Grade 459%

School 59% · district not reported

▲ 1 pts above state median · ▼ 8 pts below county median

Grade 567%

School 67% · district not reported

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

Grade 639%

School 39% · district not reported

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

English language arts

Grade 355%

School 55% · district not reported

▲ 3 pts above state median · ▼ 6 pts below county median

Grade 463%

School 63% · district not reported

▲ 10 pts above state median · ▲ 2 pts above county median

Grade 564%

School 64% · district not reported

▲ 10 pts above state median · ▲ 3 pts above county median

Grade 664%

School 64% · district not reported

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

Science

Grade 546%

School 46% · district not reported

▲ 5 pts above state median · ▲ 2 pts above county median

Social studies

Grade 599%

School 99% · district not reported

▲ 7 pts above state median · ▲ 9 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.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 3Lower-income46%Higher-income74%28 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income64%Higher-income62%1 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income63%Higher-income68%6 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income59%Higher-income73%14 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income55%Higher-income68%13 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income52%Higher-income71%19 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income56%Higher-income85%29 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income38%Higher-income40%1 pp gap