The Equality Charter Middle School

Founded in 2009, Equality Charter is a solid choice for middle and high school students in the northeastern section of the Bronx. While many students come in with a low level of skills they make steady progress and most graduate on time. Students do internships outside of school in pediatrics offices, with assembly members, or at businesses like Bronx Net, while some apply to work as paid tutors within the school.

The middle school is located in sprawling Co-op City—the largest cooperative housing development in the world—in a building shared with PS 160 and a program for children with disabilities. The high school is four miles south in Castle Hill. 

While there are some concerns about safety and order, founder and director Caitlin Franco said the school prides itself on working with even the most challenging students. "We don't give up on any kids," she said.

“We want kids to know that we genuinely care about them,” said executive assistant Megan Benway, adding this usually leads to behavioral changes over time.

The instruction is mostly traditional. Teachers present material via lecture, slideshow or Power Point, although some staff try to get teens talking more. Students in a government elective participated in a mock political campaign, for example, creating campaign videos and holding a live debate. 

High-achievers may take high school-level math in middle school, and Advanced Placement math and science in high school. While most students go on to CUNY and SUNY schools, about 20 percent attend private colleges and about five percent work after high school. 

There is limited access to the gymnasium in the middle school. The teacher leads dance, calisthenics and sprints in the hallway or takes kids outside to play ultimate Frisbee, team handball or other games. The distance between the schools is a deterrent for some middle school families who choose not to continue in the high school, Benway said.

Admissions: A lottery is held in April. The middle school is located at 4140 Hutchinson River Parkway East. The high is at 2141 Seward Avenue. Preference for high school goes to continuing Equality Charter students, who fill about 80 percent of the seats. The school fills any seat that opens in any grade at any time of year, “regardless of credits,” Benway said. (Lydie Raschka, web reports and interview, March 2019)