The top reported proficiency rate is 76% in Math. The lowest is 64% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Academy Charter School
Academy Charter School in Hempstead serves kindergarten through 12th grade as a tuition-free public charter school enrolling a student body drawn almost entirely from low-income households. Roughly nine in ten students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The enrollment is approximately split between Hispanic and Black students, with a small enrollment of Asian, American Indian, and mixed-race students and very few white students. The school operates a single, centralized K-12 campus in Hempstead, a diverse village at Nassau County's geographic center that has historically served as a commercial and civic hub and is now in the midst of long-term downtown revitalization.
On state assessments administered in the 2024-25 school year, the school's proficiency results are mixed by grade and subject. In math across tested grades (3 through 8), proficiency ranges from around two-thirds in the middle grades to over four-fifths in grade 3. Reading proficiency is generally in the low to mid-seventies across grades 3 through 8, with one grade (4) landing just under two-thirds. Science proficiency tested in grades 5 and 8 shows the largest spread: just under three-fifths in grade 5 and just under three-quarters in grade 8. Overall, math performance is stronger than reading, and reading stronger than science. The school's mean proficiency across all tested subjects and grades positions it above the midpoint among Nassau County's school districts.
The school operates a college-preparatory model that includes AP coursework and a Project Lead The Way STEM curriculum, giving students explicit pathways toward advanced work and technical skill-building. These program offerings are strengths the field broadly recognizes. A graduation rate is not yet available in the data, though publicly reported figures suggest the school achieves roughly three-quarters of students completing high school.
The school does not report data on students with IEPs or English learners, so a parent seeking that information should contact the school directly. Academic performance trends over multiple years are not yet available for comparison, so a prospective family cannot see whether results are improving, holding steady, or shifting.
Hempstead itself is undergoing significant growth and investment. The village won a major state Downtown Revitalization Initiative award in 2025 and is advancing multiple mixed-use development projects near the LIRR Hempstead Station, which sits adjacent to the downtown. Housing values and rents in the 11550 zip code have risen modestly year-over-year and are above the statewide median. The broader region includes Hofstra University, Nassau Community College, and Molloy College, establishing educational anchors. Daytime foot traffic and transit use are high because of the village's role as a regional commercial and commuting hub.
The Academy has expanded in recent years to include a second full K-12 campus in nearby Uniondale, creating a second tuition-free option for families seeking charter schooling in the area. At the same time, multiple charter schools now serve the region, a dynamic that has drawn enrollment away from the traditional Hempstead public district, a factor some families weigh alongside the school's academic offerings and location when making enrollment decisions.
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