The top reported proficiency rate is 50% in English language arts. The lowest is 20% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on City College Academy of the Arts
City College Academy of the Arts is a grades 6-12 school in upper Manhattan serving almost entirely Hispanic students, the vast majority from low-income households. State testing data shows achievement well below the county median across math and English language arts, with a pattern of lower results in the early middle grades that improves somewhat by eighth grade.
In sixth grade, the school's math proficiency sits in the bottom quartile relative to other schools in New York County, and seventh-grade math proficiency drops further. Eighth grade is notably stronger in both math and ELA, though both subjects still fall below county norms. English language arts shows a slightly better trajectory: sixth grade is low, seventh grade lifts measurably, and eighth grade reaches toward the middle of the range, with near-universal test participation in that year. Science testing, available only for eighth grade, shows particularly weak results. The small number of students taking the science exam and the low overall participation rate in that grade suggest science instruction may face real constraints or that the school's focus lies elsewhere.
The school's name indicates an arts focus, but the publicly available data does not detail what arts offerings exist, how they are integrated, or whether the school operates as a magnet with selective admissions or as a standard district school open to all. The school's website was not available in the search materials, so specifics about curriculum, program structure, student support, and arts course offerings could not be confirmed here. A parent should check the school's own site or contact the school directly to understand the depth and scope of arts programming and how it relates to the academic structure.
The school sits in the Broadway corridor of upper Manhattan, in a neighborhood where public transit is extensive and mixed-use buildings are the norm. Local housing costs are moderate relative to the city overall, though the median home value is above the national average. District 6, which includes this school, has undergone enrollment decline and consolidations over recent years; the district's elementary and middle-school population has dropped, partly due to rising charter enrollment. That context matters for school stability and resource allocation.
The overwhelming majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, and Hispanic students make up more than ninety percent of enrollment. With very few Asian or white students, the peer environment is distinctly homogeneous by race and ethnicity. The school also serves a meaningful but small population of American Indian, Black, and multiracial students. The data provided does not include counts or rates for students with IEPs or English learners, so it is unclear what share of enrollment those populations represent; a parent may want to ask the school directly about these numbers and the supports available.
The school does not report a graduation rate in the data, which is consistent with the fact that high schools in New York City often do not report a standard four-year ACGR the same way district high schools do, or the data may not yet be available for this particular school. A parent should seek that figure directly from the school or district office.
Overall, the academic results suggest a school serving a high-need population with lower achievement in core subjects, particularly math and science. The arts mission may be a strength and a draw for families, but the academic data points to a school where students arrive significantly below grade level and the school has not yet closed those gaps by the high school grades. A parent considering this school should understand both its arts focus and its academic profile, visit if possible, and ask detailed questions about how arts and academics are integrated, what supports exist for students below grade level, and what trajectory students follow through the school.
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