Dream Charter School Mott Haven, Bronx NY

Original Research by School Decision on Dream Charter School Mott Haven

Dream Charter School Mott Haven is a charter school serving kindergarten through eighth grade in the South Bronx neighborhood of Mott Haven. The school sits on a newly built campus completed in early 2023, converted from a former icehouse into a six-story purpose-built facility that consolidated elementary and middle grades on one site. The campus includes a gymnasium, STEM laboratories, an art wing and library, two cafeterias, and a rooftop outdoor learning space. This represents a shift for families toward a more stable, full-service physical plant than many charter schools operate.

The school enrolls roughly a typical-sized population for a K-8 charter school, with substantial growth across its grade bands. A very large share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, and the student body is predominantly Hispanic and Black, reflecting South Bronx demographics. The school does not report specific counts of English learners or special education students, so parents seeking clarity on supports for either population should contact the school directly.

State test results for this year show a mixed academic picture. In mathematics, proficiency rates run roughly in the low-to-mid range across grades three through seven, with a notable dip in sixth grade where proficiency is the lowest. In English language arts, the pattern is more uneven: students in third, fifth, and eighth grades show stronger proficiency rates, but grades four, six, and seven show notably lower proficiency, particularly sixth grade where less than half of students meet the standard. Science data is thin—only grade five has been tested, showing proficiency near the fifty percent mark. Participation rates are strong across subjects, typically in the high nineties, indicating students are taking the assessments.

When compared to other districts in Bronx County, the school's overall proficiency index places it in the top quartile, a meaningful strength. This suggests that while individual grade-level results vary, the school's performance across tested grades and subjects outpaces typical performance in the county. A parent may want to look into what accounts for the variation between grades, particularly the weaker sixth-grade results in both math and ELA, and whether there are changes in curriculum, staffing, or student supports at that grade level that influence outcomes. The school does not report a graduation rate or chronic absenteeism data, which is expected given that it only serves through eighth grade.

The broader Bronx context matters for families considering this school. Mott Haven itself is dense and urban, with White Plains Road serving as a bustling commercial spine and the South Bronx Hub nearby offering cafes, galleries, and restaurants. The area is walkable and well-served by subway transit, with the 4 line offering access to Midtown. Housing in the zip code runs slightly above the statewide average and has appreciated modestly year-over-year, reflecting broader Bronx development pressure. The borough is in a strong growth phase, particularly for affordable housing, with major projects bringing new units and families to the area, so the school sits in a neighborhood gaining population and investment.

Dream Charter is part of a larger network that has built out toward a full K-12 pathway, meaning families can theoretically enroll a kindergartner and have that child continue through high school at one institution. This can appeal to families seeking continuity and a known environment. The school's website and direct inquiry would clarify what specific programming, electives, or career pathways it offers, as these details are not available in the data provided.

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Academic performance

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

New York Regents Exams

4 courses reported · 2024-25

End-of-course exams required for a New York Regents diploma. Each row shows the cohort size and the share of students scoring at the proficient level or higher.

Course	Students tested	% proficient
Math	244	50.0%
Social Studies	227	77.0%
Science	224	33.0%
Ela	169	72.0%

Math

Grade 377%

School 77% · district not reported

▲ 18 pts above state median · ▲ 19 pts above county median

Grade 474%

School 74% · district not reported

▲ 15 pts above state median · ▲ 21 pts above county median

Grade 572%

School 72% · district not reported

▲ 21 pts above state median · ▲ 26 pts above county median

Grade 667%

School 67% · district not reported

▲ 22 pts above state median · ▲ 27 pts above county median

Grade 772%

School 72% · district not reported

▲ 19 pts above state median · ▲ 23 pts above county median

Grade 80%

School 0% · district not reported

▼ 37 pts below state median · ▼ 37 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 365%

School 65% · district not reported

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

Grade 467%

School 67% · district not reported

▲ 14 pts above state median · ▲ 17 pts above county median

Grade 576%

School 76% · district not reported

▲ 22 pts above state median · ▲ 23 pts above county median

Grade 655%

School 55% · district not reported

▲ 10 pts above state median · ▲ 15 pts above county median

Grade 759%

School 59% · district not reported

▲ 12 pts above state median · ▲ 12 pts above county median

Grade 865%

School 65% · district not reported

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

Science

Grade 554%

School 54% · district not reported

▲ 13 pts above state median · ▲ 23 pts above county median

Grade 80%

School 0% · district not reported

▼ 33 pts below state median · ▼ 28 pts below 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-income63%Higher-income86%23 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income69%Higher-income43%26 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income74%Higher-income100%26 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income55%Higher-income57%2 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income58%Higher-income70%12 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income74%Higher-income100%26 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income74%Higher-income71%2 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income70%Higher-income100%30 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income65%Higher-income86%21 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income69%Higher-income90%21 pp gap