South Brooklyn Welcomes Its First Charter School After Long Wait
South Brooklyn will celebrate the inaugural opening of its first charter school this Monday, concluding a protracted six-year process hampered by the state’s charter cap. This significant achievement is being warmly embraced by students and their families.
The Math, Engineering, and Science Academy (MESA) Charter High School, located in Dyker Heights, is prepared to welcome its first cohort of 125 ninth graders, including Selina, the daughter of Bay Ridge resident Michael Curcio.
MESA’s co-executive director, Arthur Samuels, expressed feelings of honor with the turnout of families, stating that their trust signifies the importance of education alternatives. However, he emphasized that such hurdles should never exist in offering parents more school options.
Student Selina is keen to dive into her studies. "They prioritize individual learning and personal growth rather than just adhering to grades," she explained. "Their aim is to foster a growth mindset in every student."
MESA II, the school’s second branch following its Bushwick establishment in 2013, has seen overwhelming demand, with 445 applicants vying for the limited 125 slots through a lottery system.
Zahara Asberry, a 13-year-old from downtown Brooklyn, expressed her enthusiasm for the school’s STEM-focused curriculum, stating, "I’m genuinely excited to join this school. The STEM courses are fantastic, and they provide real-world experiences rather than just book learning."
MESA’s journey to this milestone was impeded by state lawmakers’ hesitation to lift the charter school cap in New York City, preventing MESA from launching in Dyker Heights since 2019. The state teachers’ union has voiced opposition to the expansion of privately managed but publicly funded charter schools, particularly those employing non-union staff.
Only in 2023 did the legislature and Governor Kathy Hochul enact legislation to allow the reopening of "zombie" licenses for charter schools that had either closed or were never operational, thus permitting MESA and similar institutions to finally commence operations.
MESA, which previously achieved a graduation rate of 92% at its Bushwick location, plans to expand capacity to 500 students in the coming years, starting with the current enrollment.
Situated at 1222 63rd Street, MESA II is positioned in Community District 20, serving diverse neighborhoods like Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bath Beach, and sections of Bensonhurst and Sunset Park. The school aims to alleviate overcrowding in local public high schools, addressing an urgent need identified by Samuels.
While nearly 90% of charter school students in various parts of New York City are Black and Latino, MESA II is set to reflect a more diverse demographic, incorporating a significant number of Asian students from the expanding Chinese community within southern Brooklyn.
Among the 125 enrollees, nearly all are Brooklyn residents, with 82 specifically from District 20, along with a few from Staten Island and Manhattan.
Numerous parents expressed their excitement over enrolling their children at MESA. Sammi Zhou, whose daughter Minqi will attend, remarked that she hopes the school’s teachers will challenge her child academically. "In charter schools, teachers encourage students to strive for more—unlike in public schools, where the feedback is often just that the student is doing well," said Zhou.
Michelle Perez, a 46-year-old Boro Park resident, favors charter schools for her daughter Amber, 14, stating, "I appreciate charters more; they foster a stronger involvement from both parents and students when it comes to academics."
Currently, New York City is home to 285 public charter schools, serving around 150,000 students, which constitutes roughly 15% of the pupil population in the city, the largest public school district in the nation with about 1,800 schools.
Recently, it was reported that the Success Academy for the Liberal Arts charter school ranked among the top ten public high schools in New York City, as recognized by U.S. News and World Report, alongside the most selective institutions that base admissions on entrance exams.
In addition, over 90% of students from some charter schools in the Bronx’s most disadvantaged neighborhoods passed state assessments in mathematics and reading for grades 3 to 8, with charter schools in the borough displaying 25 percentage points higher overall pass rates compared to traditional public schools.
Passionate journalist and digital news editor with a keen eye for global affairs and emerging trends. As the founder and lead writer of RSS News US, he is dedicated to delivering accurate, insightful, and engaging content to readers seeking trustworthy news in a fast-paced world.
