Success Academy Unsuccessful in Co-Location Proposal

By Olayemi Okeniyi

Due to push back from unions, parents, teachers, and elected officials, the NYC school system has dropped its plans to co-locate a Success Academy Charter Elementary School in Building Q072 located on Guy R. Brewer at the start of the 2023-2024 school year. This is currently the co-location of Catherine & Count Basie Middle School, Redwood Middle School, and P.S. Q993, where several of Rochdale’s younger cooperators attend school.

The city is required to provide charter schools with room in existing school buildings or reimburse them for the cost of leasing private spaces if they are unable to accommodate them in public schools. There is currently a statutory limit on the number of charter schools that can open in New York State. This limit is the main reaon By York State. This limit is the main reaon behind the drive to accommodate the charter schools by add- ing grade levels to existing schools. While Success Academy’s other locations are praised for its curriculum, high standards, and is highly sort after the purposed Q072 location does not have the capacity to accommodate another school.

According to Sheree Gibson, who was appointed to the Panel for Educational Policy by the Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, there is no space for another school. “Once I walked the space, I just didn’t see it,” she said.

Both Richards and City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, whose district includes the school, have spoken out against the proposal.

Now that this option has been closed, it remains unclear what the charter school’s next step will be.