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Our Insights

What’s Special

Extra support for students with disabilities

The Downside

Some concerns about discipline and order

Opportunity Charter School serves a uniquely challenging population—more than half its students have a moderate to severe learning disability, and many have failed at other schools.

Founded in September 2004, Opportunity’s middle school was on the brink of closing due to poor performance in 2017, but it was granted a reprieve after pushback from parents, students and leaders. The school says it accepts students that other schools shun, either because they have poor grades or behavior problems. It asked the city to take this into consideration when evaluating their performance. 

The school has a ways to go to create a safe and welcoming environment, according to school surveys. More than half the teachers report discipline and order are not maintained, and the suspension rate is almost four times the citywide average. 

On the positive side, Opportunity offers free medical and dental care, mental health counseling, eye glasses, sex education and help with money management as part of a partnership with Children’s Aid-Carrera Program. “Life-time sports,” such as squash, swimming and tennis, are offered to help build healthy habits and as impulse control, according to the school website. Music, dance, writing and theater help teens find other avenues of expression and talent to boost self-esteem, even if they haven’t found success in academics. 

Opportunity Charter has two programs to give teens a leg up in the job market whether they choose to attend college or not: Culinary Arts and Microsoft Certification. 

The school shares a building with PS 241, STEM Institute and Harlem Success Academy 4.  

Admissions: A lottery is held in April. Priority is given to District 3 residents. (Lydie Raschka, web reports, February 2019) 



 

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School Stats

Citywide Average Key
This school is Better Near Worse than the citywide average
Citywide Average Key
This school is Better Near Worse than the citywide average

Is this school safe and well-run?

From the 2019-20 NY State Report Card

How many students were suspended?
19%
1% Citywide Average

From 2023 End-of-year Attendance and Chronic Absenteeism Report

How many teachers have 3 or more years of experience teaching?
86%
79% Citywide Average
Years of principal experience at this school
2.0

How do students perform academically?

From the New York State 2022-2023 Assessment Database

How many middle school students scored 3-4 on the state math exam?
10%
42% Citywide Average
How many middle school students scored 3-4 on the state reading exam?
29%
51% Citywide Average

From 2023 End-of-year Attendance and Chronic Absenteeism Report

How many 8th-graders earn high school credit?
85%
60% Citywide Average
How many students graduate in 4 years?
87%
91% Citywide Average

Who does this school serve?

From the 2022-23 Demographic Snapshot

Enrollment
379
Asian
0%
Black
51%
Hispanic
47%
White
0%
Other
2%
Free or reduced priced lunch
91%
Students with disabilities
62%
English language learners
8%

How does this school serve special populations?

From 2023 End-of-year Attendance and Chronic Absenteeism Report

How many students with disabilities graduate in 4 years?
88%
84% Citywide Average
How many English language learners graduate in 4 years?
92%
77% Citywide Average

From the New York State 2022-2023 Assessment Database

How many English language learners scored 3-4 on the state math exam?
0%
7% Citywide Average
For more information about our data sources, see About Our Data · More DOE statistics for this school

Contact & Location

Location

240 West 113th Street, 4th Floor
Manhattan NY 10026

Trains: B Line, C Line to Cathedral Parkway-110th St; 2 Line, 3 Line to Central Park North-110th St

Buses: M2, M3, M4, M7, M10, M116


Contact

Principal: Kaitlin Francis

Website

Other Details

Shared campus? Yes

This school shares the building with Success Academy Harlem 4 Charter School and PS 241

Uniforms required? No
Metal detectors? No

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