The top reported proficiency rate is 43% in English language arts. The lowest is 39% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Rochester Academy of Science Charter School
Rochester Academy of Science Charter School is a younger SUNY-authorized charter operating within Rochester's public school landscape as part of the Buffalo Academy of Science network. The school serves kindergarten through ninth grade, with plans to expand to twelfth grade over time, meaning families are enrolling into a school still building out its program year by year rather than one with a fully established upper division.
The school sits at Humboldt Street in Rochester's urban core. Its student body is predominantly Black, with most families qualifying for free or reduced-price meals. The school operates tuition-free with a STEAM-focused college-preparatory curriculum, offers free meals, provides each student a Chromebook, and uses school uniforms. Admission requires no test or interview; families apply through a public lottery if demand exceeds seats.
In third-grade testing results, about four in ten students performed at proficiency in math and roughly four in ten in English language arts, based on the most recent available state data. These results place the school below the midpoint for overall proficiency when compared to other districts in Monroe County. The school's proficiency index across tested subjects sits in that lower range. Testing participation was high, above ninety percent, showing most enrolled students took the assessments.
The enrollment is small by school standards, with a base of roughly two hundred seventy students spread across the early grades and one ninth-grade cohort. The ninth-grade class reflects the intentional grade expansion: the school adds one grade annually toward a full secondary program. This means students entering now will experience the upper grades as the school builds them, which some families view as a strength in terms of shaping school culture and others see as a factor to discuss directly with the school regarding course offerings, staffing, and support systems as grades are added.
A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, and the school prioritizes affordability and access through its tuition-free model and meal program. Special education enrollment and English learner status data were not available, so families seeking information on those services would benefit from asking the school directly about resource allocation and staffing for students with disabilities or language support needs.
The charter operates within Rochester, a mid-sized city working through downtown revitalization after decades of population decline. Housing values in the school's zip code are below state averages, and rental costs are modest, positioning the school in a neighborhood where many families manage tighter housing budgets. The city's economy centers on healthcare, higher education, and manufacturing, with major employers including the University of Rochester Medical Center and Rochester Regional Health. An Olmsted-designed park system, downtown library branches, and regional bus transit shape daily life.
Families considering this school should understand it as a newer, growing charter with STEAM as a defining focus, strong commitment to affordability and equitable access, and deliberately phased growth. The current testing results show room for academic growth; a parent may want to look into further with the school what supports exist for students working toward proficiency, how the grade-by-grade expansion is staffed and resourced, and what specific college-prep coursework and electives will be available as upper grades come online.
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