FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM MARCH 17, 2022 • THE QUEENS COURIER 37
Check out these charter schools in Queens
BY JOE PANTORNO
EDITORIAL@QNS.COM
@QNS
Th e school choice movement has provided
parents in New York City and across the
United States with more options on where
to send their children. While the only legitimate
options in the past were between
public, private and homeschooling, charter
schools have become a viable and attractive
option for a child’s education.
A charter school is an independentlyoperated
public school that usually operates
under a contract with a government
agency or nonprofit organization. It
allows the school to not have to follow a
mandated curriculum, thus designing their
classrooms and lessons to fi t individual
students’ needs.
While the idea of charter schools has
been met with plenty of criticism, there
are overarching advantages of sending
your child to such an institution, such as
adapting to challenges; specialization with
no tuition; statistically better performance
than public schools; and, arguably more
support.
Here are some charter schools to
consider in Queens:
Academy of the City
Charter School
31-29 60th St., Woodside
718-487-9857
academyoft hecity.org
Academy of the City fosters community,
supports families, welcomes children of
all backgrounds, celebrates diversity and
promotes social justice. With a challenging,
hands-on liberal arts experience, the
school strives to develop joyful, creative,
independent and successful lifelong learners.
With a progressive educational model, the
academy’s goal is to motivate and prepare
students to engage in a lifelong love aff air
with learning, resulting in a meaningful
and productive life. Th e school’s teachers
are fi rmly committed to empowering students
to embrace their profi ciencies, skills
and interests, and to eventually take their
place as citizens of today’s increasingly
global world. Th e academy believes in an
integrated educational approach, where even
the youngest students experience personal
and educational growth as a result of a diverse
student body that more closely mirrors
the world outside the academy’s doors. Th e
school’s rich and varied curriculum and
our focus on the uniqueness of each child’s
needs and aspirations is a proven model for
long-term success.
Elm Community Charter School
69-26 Cooper Ave., Glendale
347-474-3288
mainoffi ce@elmcharterschool.org
elmcharterschool.org
Elm Community Charter School is a K-4
elementary school servicing the families in
Central Queens (District 24). Elm’s mission
is to cultivate student leaders with the
character and capacity to form their own
identity, seize any opportunity and shape
the world around them. Elm has a focus on
small group learning, inquiry-based learning,
social emotional learning, and creative
courses. At Elm, the schedule allows for
two to three hours of small group learning
daily. Elm’s academic program is designed
to equip students with the fundamental
reading, writing, math, and science skills
they need to engage with relevant everyday
problems and questions. Elm additionally
has a social emotional curriculum that
empowers students to advocate for themselves
and others. Visit elmcharterschool.
org/apply to apply to Elm.
Forte Prep
51-35 Reeder St., Elmhurst
929-666-4430
forteprep.org
Forte Prep is a charter middle school
open to students in grades fi ve through
eight. Th e school is driven by a philosophy
of achieving excellence in all facets of life
and learning with the belief that education
can transform the lives of students from
diverse backgrounds. Th rough rigorous
academics, creative and technological
enrichment and leadership development,
students are prepared to excel at college
preparatory high schools and beyond.
Forte Prep graduates can enroll in topquality
public, independent and charter
high schools across the city and beyond,
and the staff works with students and families
to help them get there starting Day 1.
Middle Village Prep
68-02 Metropolitan Ave., Middle Village
middlevillageprep.org
Middle Village Prep prepares students
for success at a selective college prep high
school of their choice. Th e curriculum is
rigorous and designed to meet and surpass
the New York State Education Department
requirements. Central to the instructional
model is a longer school day and increased
classroom instructional time that is devoted
to curriculum subjects. Students will
master skills and attain subject profi ciency
by the end of the eighth grade. Included
is a requirement that all students study
Latin, a key language for building a strong
vocabulary and understanding romance
languages such as Spanish and Italian,
for three years. Mathematics and English
language arts are prioritized by allocating
twice the amount of instructional time
that is customarily devoted to these critical
instructional areas. Science, social studies,
the arts, physical education and health,
along with time allocated for enrichment
and extracurricular activities, round out
the typical daily schedule. It requires that
all students take available Regents-level
courses, such as algebra 1, Earth science
and U.S. history 1 in grade eight.
New Vision Advanced
Math & Science H.S. IV
156-10 Baisley Blvd., South Jamaica
newvisions.org/ams4
For inquiries: ams4admissions@charter.
newvisions.org
AMS IV is a STEAM school where
the culture is centered on PRIDE – perseverance,
respect, integrity, discipline
and excellence. Scholars experience a
family-like atmosphere that prioritizes
project-based learning and supporting
their social and emotional needs.
Th rough an advisory structure, AMS IV
ensures a strong connection between the
school community and families. AMS
IV off ers scholar supports that foster
life skills beyond graduation by way of
courses focused in college and career
readiness, entrepreneurship and health
and wellness. AMS IV’s grade level
school counselors work with scholars
from ninth grade through 12th grade,
and a social worker is designated to the
lower house (ninth and 10th grade) and
upper house (11th and 12th grade).
The Renaissance Charter School
35-59 81st St., Jackson Heights
718-803-0060
Th e Renaissance Charter School 2
60-02 Maspeth Ave., Maspeth
rencharters.org
Th e Renaissance Charter School is a pre-
K through 12 public school whose mission
is to foster educated, responsible young
leaders who through their own personal
growth will spark a renaissance in New
York. Renaissance has been a leader in
national progressive education through
its example, outreach and collaboration
for over 20 years. As a leading charter
school, Renaissance commits to serving
as a strong model of public school reform.
Renaissance has a unique “three-tiered
curriculum” consisting of core studies,
experiential learning and community
involvement.
Th e Renaissance Charter School 2, located
in Community School District 24, is
accepting applications for kindergarten
through second grade. Like Renaissance,
TRCS 2 provides a rigorous, innovative
and progressive educational program
that will help students become lifelong
learners, global citizens and leaders in
the renaissance of New York City. TRCS
2 continually accepts applications for any
available seats throughout the school year.
Applications for both schools are available
through the NYC Charter School Center
common application.
Charter schools
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