The top reported proficiency rate is 54% in Math. The lowest is 28% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on New Heights Academy Charter School
New Heights Academy Charter School is a grades five through twelve charter school located on Amsterdam Avenue in upper Manhattan, serving a student body in which a substantial majority qualify for free or reduced-price lunch and an overwhelming share identify as Hispanic or Latino. The school enrolls students across a wide band, from elementary through high school, making it both a middle school and a secondary pathway for families in the neighborhood.
The school's academic performance shows uneven but rising proficiency across tested grades and subjects. In mathematics, proficiency climbs sharply with grade level: fifth grade shows very low proficiency, sixth grade roughly two-in-five students, but by seventh grade proficiency reaches roughly three-in-four, and eighth grade exceeds that, with strong proficiency rates. English language arts performance is more moderate across the board, ranging from roughly two-in-five to just over one-half proficient across grades five through eight. Science proficiency is notably weaker, particularly in the elementary grades, where fewer than one-in-five fifth graders reach proficiency; eighth-grade science improves to roughly two-in-five. The pattern suggests that the school's strength lies in middle and high school mathematics, while reading and especially science remain areas where a parent may want to look into instructional supports and resource allocation with the school directly.
The school's position relative to other districts in New York County sits below the midpoint on overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades, meaning schools in the county show higher average performance. Graduation rate and chronic absenteeism data were not available, making it impossible to assess secondary outcomes or attendance patterns from this data.
Recent institutional changes position the school for stability and capacity growth. In May 2025, the New York State Board of Regents granted a full five-year charter renewal, confirming the school's continued operation through roughly 2030. The school completed a three-story building expansion that added substantial classroom space, increasing its capacity to serve more students. Academically, the school has established a hands-on STEAM program emphasizing project-based learning, and a new middle school cell phone policy now restricts device use during instructional time.
The school sits in upper Manhattan, an area of sustained housing growth and density. New York City is a highly walkable environment where schools are typically woven into neighborhood blocks rather than set on separate campuses. The broader area benefits from one of the world's largest rapid transit networks and serves a neighborhood with mixed-use residential and commercial character. This setting shapes the student experience: families rely on transit, streets serve multiple civic purposes, and school facilities sit within living neighborhoods rather than isolated from them.
The enrollment is relatively small for a grades five through twelve school, and the substantial free-or-reduced-price lunch rate reflects a student population with significant economic need. For families considering New Heights, the school offers middle-school strength in mathematics, a committed STEAM pathway, charter stability through 2030, and expanded physical capacity. The areas of softer performance in reading and science, along with the absence of graduation and attendance data, merit direct conversation with the school about supports, coursework quality in high school grades, and college and career outcomes for students who complete the program.
See more original research from School Decision →