The top reported proficiency rate is 99% in Math. The lowest is 0% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Success Academy Charter School-south Jamaica
Success Academy Charter School–South Jamaica is a small elementary school in Queens serving kindergarten through fourth grade, with fewer than five hundred students spread across its five grades. The school sits in Jamaica, a dense, transit-rich neighborhood in central Queens with a strong civic and commercial downtown anchored by Jamaica Station, the Long Island Rail Road's largest hub. The area has seen substantial new residential construction over the past decade and draws a diverse population; the school's enrollment reflects that, with students from Black, Asian, Hispanic, and other backgrounds.
Academically, the school's most recent state testing data shows consistently strong proficiency across mathematics and English language arts in both tested grades. In math, the great majority of third and fourth grade students scored at proficient or advanced levels. In English language arts, proficiency rates remain high, though slightly lower than in math. Science testing data from an earlier school year shows no reported results, which reflects the reality that New York does not assess science at the elementary grades where this school operates. The school's overall proficiency index places it in the top tier among elementary schools in Queens County.
The student population is economically modest; a substantial share of the school's enrollment qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, typical of schools in this part of Queens. The school is a charter rather than a traditional district school, meaning it operates under a separate authorization. In 2026, the State University of New York's Charter Schools Institute recommended renewal of the school's charter, which is the mechanism ensuring the school can continue to operate. That renewal carries one condition: the network must submit a corrective action plan by July 2026 to bring all teachers into full state certification compliance. Families considering this school may want to ask administrators directly about the current teacher certification status and the network's timeline for resolution.
Success Academy, the network operating this school, is now accepting applications for grades K through 6 for the 2026-2027 school year, meaning the network is expanding its elementary footprint and creating a pathway through sixth grade. Admission is free and determined by lottery after April 1st each year, with priority given to applicants living in the community school district where the school sits. That expansion signals the network's confidence in continued growth in this corner of Queens.
Jamaica itself is undergoing substantial change. Major housing developments have risen in the downtown, and a recent city rezoning is intended to unlock many more new residential units in the coming years. The neighborhood's schools and institutions sit integrated with the commercial and civic downtown rather than isolated on separate campuses. Major employers include Jamaica Hospital Medical Center and Queens Hospital Center nearby, York College, and direct or indirect jobs tied to John F. Kennedy International Airport. The transit hub means families have access to the full subway and commuter rail network without a car, though street-level conditions downtown include congestion and sidewalk challenges that residents have flagged to the city.
This is a charter school in a neighborhood in transition, with strong recent test results, a modest but growing enrollment, and a network that has just secured renewed authorization to continue operating, pending teacher certification compliance. It serves a racially and economically diverse population and fits families who want a smaller, more structured elementary environment within a citywide charter network and who live in or are willing to travel to south-central Queens.
See more original research from School Decision →