Success Academy announced it ranked No. 1 in New York State for math for grades 3–8, reporting a 96% pass rate and a 92% pass rate in English Language Arts. The charter network, founded in 2006, serves more than 22,000 predominantly low-income Black and Hispanic students and is one of the state’s largest districts. Founder Eva Moskowitz framed the results as evidence the network is closing the achievement gap, while the United Federation of Teachers has opposed co-location plans and filed a lawsuit citing class-size restrictions.
Success Academy Tops New York State Math Rankings, Reporting 96% Pass Rate
New York charter school Success Academy outperformed public schools in math rankings statewide, according to New York State Education Department’s newly released test score data for grades 3–8.
Success Academy, the charter network founded by Eva Moskowitz, announced it ranked first statewide in math for grades 3–8 after the New York State Education Department published new test-score data. According to the results, 96% of Success Academy students passed the state math exam; the network also reported a 92% pass rate in English Language Arts, placing it one percentage point behind the Scarsdale Union Free School District.
Founded in 2006, Success Academy has grown into a large charter network that serves more than 22,000 students and describes itself as operating at the "district" level because it provides district-style services across its schools. The network's student population is predominantly low-income and largely Black and Hispanic, a point Success Academy highlighted when contrasting its results with those of wealthier, less diverse districts.
Context and National Trends
Success Academy ranked number one in the state in math, with 96% of students passing. The K-12 charter network also ranked number two in English Language Arts with a 92% pass rate, trailing only a point behind Scarsdale Union Free School District.
Success Academy emphasized its performance amid a broader national decline in math and reading proficiency. The National Assessment of Educational Progress reported that in 2024 just 39% of fourth graders and 28% of eighth graders scored at or above proficiency in math — framing Success Academy’s results as an outlier compared with nationwide trends.
Quotes and Reactions
"It's time we stop accepting excuses, exacerbating inequity, and denying parents access to quality education," Success Academy founder and CEO Eva Moskowitz said in a press release. She added that the network set out to close the achievement gap and is delivering results "consistently, holistically, and at scale."
Fox News Digital reported Moskowitz described the organization as comparable to a school district because it serves more than 22,000 students and delivers district-level services.
Success Academy faced challenges in expanding its institution as it applied for co-locations due to opposition from the United Federation of Teachers. The UFT filed a lawsuit against Success Academy citing the current state cap on class size to try to invalidate the co-location of two Success Academy charter schools at public school buildings in Queens and Brooklyn.
Controversy and Union Opposition
Success Academy’s expansion plans have faced opposition from the United Federation of Teachers (UFT). The union filed a lawsuit citing the state’s class-size cap in an effort to block co-locations of two Success Academy schools inside public school buildings in Queens and Brooklyn. Success Academy teachers are not represented by the UFT. Critics and unions often argue that charter schools compete with neighborhood public schools for per-pupil funding and enrollment, while charter supporters point to high academic outcomes and parental choice.
The New York State Education Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
