Success Academy Charter School - Hudson Yards Elementary - New York, New York

Dave C.

My first grader loves it here. We would have changed schools if he wasn't happy. He qualified for G&T and I chose SA, as have other families. There is good diversity in economic, race, even neighborhood. There are kids commuting from FiDi, Brooklyn, Queens etc. There are classmates living in government housing, kids living in luxury apartments. The common factor is the parents and the school prioritize high quality academics. But it's not just about academics here, there is regular science, dance, art, chess, yoga taught by respective specialty teachers.

It's not for everyone, and tougher to come in after K. It can be hard for new kids (and parents) to get adjusted to SA Math, HW/work load, uniforms and classroom discipline and behavior methods.

Dale T.

My child goes here! The material taught is is excellent and the expectations are high. They do a great job communicating my child’s learning challenges. They are helpful and encouraging to my child. My child loves this school. I think that child is receiving the best education here.

D M.

This school is horrible for the student's mental health, I am a student here by the way. If you look at which countries have the best schools Finland comes up, their school assign about 5 minutes of homework. The school day in Finland is 6 hours and 30 minutes long and they have 15 minute break between each class. We have 8 hours 45 minutes of class. They give us 3 minutes to get from class to class. We also get about 1 hour and 30 minutes of homework to 2 hours of homework. Also during our very limited lunch and recess period we have to be silent for the last 2 minutes fine what ever but if one person talks they have to stay after school for an additional 15 minutes, but not only that but the whole entire grade has to stay for 2 minutes and they're kids that get 45 minutes of detention after school (The max) everyday and so it doesn't affect them but they are making the entire grade stay longer and this is only if 1 person talks this goes on for a long time. We still have to go to the park which is about a 7 minute walk, so we normally would have 20 minutes of play time but with these kids we have no joke about 5 to 7 minutes of time outside. For about 8 and a quarter hours of school, that's stupid. Don't send your children to these school.

jessica S.

Well where should i start? The vision EVA has is IDEAL she, has something good going, i think is a great idea, making children's learning experiences and growth, according to their ability and not focusing on their age. Who wouldn't want their child skipped, if they are performing above grade level expectation regardless of age?... I LOVE THE DIGNITY, INTEGRITY, AND RESPECT concept, love the uniforms, like the structure, but wish they act or treat kids, the same in front or behind the parents back, some show more aggression that they wont show in front of a parent. The first two years in SA schools are tough, on many students as it is for many parents too, things improve and you'll find yourself understanding their routine and expectations... I personally know there are some employee in this company "Success Academy" who could get better training in communication as in respecting parents also. they should be more welcoming and make parents feel good to see them every morning. some of the workers for Hudson yards specifically, could make a parent and their child's experience challenging, Some think they could speak to a child aggressively, make rude remarks to a child and or parents. some just look stress and so tense or serious at times. this is what changes every parents experience. there's always Pros and Cons to everything school if you ask me but we must always ask ourselves if some situation is worth the headache and at times this is what makes parents hesitant about the school... I have been involved with success academy for 7 years now and i could definitely say every school is run differently according to who is in control, hell kitchen and midtown west success was great to us, so i wont say this is a matter of "SA" its a matter of the employees... when my child wasn't meeting expectations in SA hell kitchen school, the teachers would stay after school for 30 min and work with my child, in Hudson yards when my child was in school less then a month wasn't meeting expectations instead of working with the child, they stop testing the child kept the child back without test grades or a better solution. they (elementary) didn't even offer midday tutor or didn't work with the child according. Now lets talk about Middle school...Recently, they just hired a new "middle school assistant principal" who I am sure, didn't take the time to review my child records, because if she did, she would know my child has always had great grades, from elementary to middle school. This assistant principal contact me to tell, me my child needs to attend "intervention" (intervention dont tutor)… all this just because my child was one book level behind ALL classmates but my child was meeting expectations, the assistant principal, kept calling me, she always said "As a professional, I advice your child to attend intervention. I was very hesitant about this, because that means my child will be in school from 8am-430pm, I think this is a lot for a child who dont need intervention but was suggested. the child GPA was 86 and passed all state exams, I also refused because my child has a life aside from school, I refused and worked with my child on our own pace, and "AS A MOTHER", I'm glad I followed my instincts … My child passed two book level in two days and is reading on LEVEL Z...

Jackie R.

Wish this school was a caring place for students but it's not. They don't care about the students or the students feelings. They should be caring specially for the Kindergarten. I think the kids that going to kindergarten should not go to a character school. Maybe for a little older students.

TMJ V.

The school is alright. But they really only care about how they look and also how other people see them. And they are very hard about uniforms and when they have a PJ day I dont want my child to dress up bc other days u want to stress about uniforms and what I heard some of the teachers were rude. And some where nice but over all it was a ok school.If u like a more strict school this is the one for u😌

Kat S.

My daughter started school this Monday and the improvement is night and day. She went from not knowing to do her homework to finishing her assignments in an hour compare to 3 hrs on day 1. Im excited to see my daughter’s education progress with S&A

cutiebean

This is a good school all the teachers are nice, but it has is cons, the school sometimes only cares about how they look for other people, and they have high expectations, but otherwise pretty good