The top reported proficiency rate is 41% in Math. The lowest is 30% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Citizenship and Science Academy of Rochester Charter School
Citizenship and Science Academy of Rochester is a charter school in its fourth year of operation, serving kindergarten through third grade on East Henrietta Road. It opened in 2022 with the first two grades and has been adding one grade each year with a plan to eventually become a full K-12 school. A family choosing this school is making a long-term commitment to grow with the institution rather than needing to transition elsewhere when grades cap out.
The school's enrollment is small, around a few hundred students. A substantial majority qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, and the student body is predominantly Black, with a sizable Hispanic population and a small share of other backgrounds. Grade distribution is uneven by design: the school has more kindergarteners than third graders, reflecting the sequential grade-level expansion.
Academically, the school is still in early stages relative to its county peers. In mathematics, third and fourth graders show modest proficiency, with fewer than half meeting state standards in either grade. In English language arts, results are notably lower, particularly in third grade, where proficiency drops to less than one-fifth of tested students. Fourth-grade reading is stronger than third-grade but still below where many peer schools operate. Participation in state testing is very high, indicating the school is not excluding students from assessments. The school sits in the bottom quartile when compared to other districts in Monroe County on overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades.
The curriculum follows the Science Academies of New York network model, with emphasis on STEM and citizenship learning through a student-centered approach. The school day is extended compared to a traditional public school, and the school year is longer. Class sizes are kept small. Students wear a dress code. After-school tutoring and activities are part of the design.
Housing in the school's zip code is moderately valued and rents are stable. Rochester itself is a mixed city built around the Genesee River with a compact downtown core anchored by civic institutions, surrounded by residential neighborhoods ranging from historic to contemporary. The city is in the midst of downtown revitalization after decades of population decline, with significant state and local investment in adaptive-reuse housing and new development. Transit is provided by a regional bus system operating several dozen lines.
For a family drawn to a young, mission-driven school with a STEM and citizenship focus, an extended day and year, and small classes, this school offers that experience. A parent may want to look further into the early test results, the school's plans for addressing the literacy gap between third and fourth grades, and how the school's instructional model scales as the school grows upward. Families should also plan for the fact that students will need to stay through multiple years as grades are added; there is no established exit pathway for those who need to leave before the school reaches 12th grade.
See more original research from School Decision →