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SUCCESS ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOLS - NYC
NEW YORK, NY · EIN 364629540 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE B29 · Education · Very Large (>$50M) · successacademies.org
revenue
$452.6M
expenses
$418.5M
net assets
$328.6M
employees
4,142
volunteers
82
program ratio
90%
mission · from form 990

TO BUILD EXCEPTIONAL, WORLD-CLASS PUBLIC SCHOOLS THAT EMPOWER CHILDREN FROM ALL BACKGROUNDS TO SUCCEED IN COLLEGE AND LIFE, AND ADVOCATE FOR POLICIES THAT EXPAND ACCESS TO EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY.

profile · synthesized from sources

Success Academy Charter Schools - NYC operates a network of 59 free public charter schools serving over 22,000 students across New York City. The organization provides a K-12 education focused on academic rigor, college preparation, and holistic development through arts and athletics. It serves primarily low-income communities and plans to expand its model to Florida.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $49.52M
    SPECIAL EDUCATION - SPECIAL EDUCATION IS THE PROGRAM OF EDUCATION THAT A SUBSET GROUP OF CHILDREN SHOULD RECEIVE TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SERVICES, SUPPORT, PROGRAMS, SPECIALIZED PLACEMENTS OR ENVIRONMENTS TO ENSURE THAT ALL STUDENTS' EDUCATIONAL NEEDS ARE PROVIDED FOR.
named programs · 5 · from sources

What they call their work

Arts & Athletics
K-12 integrated curriculum in arts, chess, and sports designed to develop talents and strengths beyond academics
Elementary School
K-4 program fostering curiosity through project-based learning, hands-on activities, and intellectual risk-taking in a structured environment
High School
College preparatory program providing academic excellence, financial aid guidance, and personal narrative development to ensure college acceptance and success
Middle School
Grades 5-8 program emphasizing independence, critical thinking, and evidence-based debate within a knowledge-rich curriculum
Special Education
Individualized support through Integrated Co-Teaching Classrooms and Sprint program to help students with special needs meet academic benchmarks
activities · 6 groups

What they do

  • Student Progress Assessment & Program Evaluation 1 activity
    • Achieve high academic performance on state and national assessments
      Ranked #1 in Mathematics and #2 in Reading/ELA among over 700 K-12 school districts and charter networks in New York State in 2025; students consistently outperform affluent white peers on Regents, AP, and SAT exams.
  • Comprehensive Student Enrichment Programs 1 activity
    • Deliver comprehensive academic and extracurricular programming
      Provides a full educational experience including curriculum, school supplies, books, musical instruments, athletic and art supplies, field trips, after-school clubs, uniforms, iPads, daily arts and athletics classes starting in kindergarten, and access to professional performance venues such as Broadway and Barclays Center.
  • College Access and Success Support 1 activity
    • Ensure 100% four-year college acceptance for graduates
      For nine consecutive years, 100% of graduating seniors have been accepted to four-year colleges, with alumni attending selective institutions nationwide including Boston College, Howard University, Tufts University, Northeastern University, and University of Pennsylvania.
  • Charter School Operations 1 activity
    • Operate K-12 charter schools in New York City
      Operates 59 free public charter schools serving approximately 22,000 students in grades K-12 across the Bronx, Harlem, Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens, with a focus on academic excellence and college preparation.
  • Special Education Support Services 1 activity
    • Provide special education services
      Offers special education support through Integrated Co-Teaching classrooms staffed by two teachers from kindergarten through 12th grade, additional programs, specialized environments, and advocacy for further services as needed to meet the needs of students in the least restrictive environment.
  • Youth & Community Chess Education 1 activity
    • Run competitive debate, chess, and athletics programs
      Operates nationally recognized debate and chess programs in which students win state and national titles and compete internationally; provides soccer programs with world-class coaching that prepare students for elite competition.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$452.65M
Contributions & grants$30.23M7%
Program service revenue$411.58M91%
Investment income$10.83M2%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$418.53M
Program expenses90%
Admin / overhead10%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$202.23M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$374.16M
Cash$90.03M
Investments$11.20M
Liabilities$45.52M
Net assets$328.64M
Liquid reserves2.9 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue 0.0%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 5
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
THOMAS WILSON MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHER AT SA BRONX MS 55 $244K
SHANNON BEATTY SENIOR LEADER AT SA BUSHWICK ES 55 $208K
KALEIGH MAINES SENIOR LEADER AT SA HUDSON YARD ES 55 $192K
SAMANTHA LALLI SENIOR LEADER AT SA SPRINGFIELD GARDENS MS 55 $191K
SARAH COLLINS SENIOR LEADER AT SA HARLEM EAST MS 55 $185K
board members · 12
  • AARON KINNARI — TRUSTEE
  • DERRELL BRADFORD — TRUSTEE
  • EDWIN CESPEDES — TRUSTEE
  • KAMILAH MITCHELL-THOMAS — TRUSTEE
  • LIZETTE ST HILAIRE — TRUSTEE
  • LORENZO SMITH — CHAIRMAN
  • RAMIN BEHESHTI — TRUSTEE (THRU 03/2025)
  • RIPAN KADAKIA — TRUSTEE
  • ROBIN PZENA — TRUSTEE
  • SAMUEL COLE — TRUSTEE
  • SCOTT FRIEDMAN — VICE CHAIR/TREASURER
  • SULEMAN LUNAT — SECRETARY
relationships · 18

Who they work with

  • Bloomberg Philanthropies Funder — Benefactor and co-chair of the 2026 Spring Benefit, providing financial support.
  • College Access & Preparedness team Partner — Works with students and families to identify best-fit colleges and secure financial aid and scholarships.
  • Committee on Special Education (CSE) Government — Collaborates with the Committee on Special Education to guide families through the special education evaluation and IEP process.
  • Goldman Sachs Funder — Member of the Dinner Committee for the 2026 Spring Benefit, providing financial support.
  • Hobson/Lucas Family Foundation Funder — Member of the Shaping the Future donor group for the 2026 Spring Benefit.
  • JPMorganChase Funder — Member of the Love of Learning and Shaping the Future donor groups for the 2026 Spring Benefit.
  • Joe and Clara Tsai Foundation Funder — Benefit Co-Chair for the 2026 Spring Benefit, providing financial support.
  • LinkedIn Partner — Hosts the SA Alumni Association group for alumni to connect.
  • NY Knicks Partner — Partners with the NY Knicks to support student basketball programs and personal development.
  • New York Road Runners Partner — Collaborates to organize Team Success participation in the TCS New York City Marathon.
  • New York State Government — Administers state tests used to evaluate academic performance of Success Academy schools.
  • PNC Funder — Benefit Co-Chair for the 2026 Spring Benefit, providing financial support.
  • Paulson Family Foundation Funder — Benefactor at the Bigger, Bolder, Faster level for the 2026 Spring Benefit.
  • Sonia and Paul Tudor Jones Funder — Member of the Dinner Committee for the 2026 Spring Benefit, providing financial support.
  • Success Academy Network — Network of charter schools operating under the Success Academy brand in NYC
  • Success Academy Florida Partner — Expansion of Success Academy model to Miami, Florida in 2027.
  • The David Geffen Foundation Funder — Member of the Dinner Committee for the 2026 Spring Benefit, providing financial support.
  • The Paul E. Singer Foundation Funder — Benefactor at the Bigger, Bolder, Faster level for the 2026 Spring Benefit.
strategies · 3

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • High-Expectations, Merit-Based Academic Model
    methodology: high_expectations_model
    By maintaining rigorous academic standards and a culture of merit where excellence is expected and achievement is earned, we produce high levels of student engagement, self-efficacy, and college readiness because students rise to the level of expectations set for them.
  • Inquiry-Centered, Experiential Learning Framework
    methodology: inquiry_based_experiential_learning
    By using inquiry-based, hands-on, and place-based learning methods—including project-based curricula, field studies, and experiential exploration—we produce deeper mastery and critical thinking because active engagement fosters durable understanding more effectively than passive instruction.
  • Systemic Reengineering of Public Schooling
    methodology: systemic_reengineering
    By comprehensively reimagining and reengineering all aspects of public schooling—including curriculum design, instructional models, spending, and service delivery—we produce better educational outcomes because systemic innovation addresses root causes of underperformance rather than symptoms.