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HELLENIC CLASSICAL CHARTER SCHOOL

BROOKLYN, NY · EIN 383719653 · Form 990 · FY2019 · Medium ($1M-$10M) · hccs-nys.org
revenue
$9.0M
expenses
$8.8M
net assets
$1.6M
employees
79
volunteers
9
program ratio
80%
mission · from form 990

PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL THAT PREPARES STUDENTS INTELLECTUALLY, SOCIALLY AND EMOTIONALLY, SO THEY MAY GAIN ENTRY TO AND SUCCEED IN THE BEST HIGH SCHOOLS IN NEW YORK CITY.

profile · synthesized from sources

Hellenic Classical Charter School is a public charter school network in New York City with campuses in Brooklyn and Staten Island. It serves students in grades Pre-K through 8, providing a classical education focused on academic rigor, character development, and preparation for competitive high schools. The school emphasizes Greek and Latin studies, Socratic dialogue, and holistic student growth.

named programs · 4 · from sources

What they call their work

Classical Education Program
Rigorous Pre-K–8 curriculum emphasizing Greek and Latin languages, Socratic questioning, and classical studies to prepare students for top high schools.
Greek Mythology Curriculum
Integrated K–8 program teaching Greek mythology and culture as part of the classical education framework.
In-Class Chess Program
Enrichment program funded by PTA snack sale proceeds, promoting strategic thinking and cognitive development.
Paideia Seminar
Monthly (increasing to bi-monthly) Socratic seminars for students in grades K–8 to develop critical thinking, discussion skills, and intellectual rigor.
activities · 7 groups

What they do

  • Charter School Admissions Lottery Management 1 activity
    • Conduct school admissions through public lotteries
      Administers student admissions through public school lotteries conducted annually in early April, in compliance with charter school regulations.
  • Classical Christian K–12 Education 1 activity
    • Deliver a classical education with enhanced Greek and Latin language instruction
      Provides a rigorous classical education using a standards-based curriculum enriched by instruction in Greek and Latin languages, including a dedicated Greek Mythology curriculum for grades K–8 and high-quality Greek language instruction focused on accurate language acquisition.
  • Charter School Operations 1 activity
    • Operate tuition-free public charter schools for Pre-K through 8th grade students
      Runs two campuses in New York City—Park Slope and Staten Island—providing tuition-free education to students in grades Pre-K through 8th grade, with the Staten Island campus expanding to 8th grade in the 2026-2027 school year. The schools serve students from diverse backgrounds and adhere to a nondiscriminatory policy in admissions and programming.
  • High School Placement Support 1 activity
    • Prepare students for competitive high schools and global citizenship
      Prepares students intellectually, socially, and emotionally for admission to and success in top New York City high schools, including Brooklyn Tech, Stuyvesant, and LaGuardia. Supports eighth-grade students in securing $338,910 in Catholic high school scholarships and gaining placement in competitive academic and arts-focused high schools for 2026.
  • Individualized Academic Support 1 activity
    • Provide ongoing academic and personal development support for students
      Offers continuous academic support from kindergarten through fourth grade and maintains a supportive, challenging learning environment for elementary and middle school students. Dedicated teaching staff support students’ academic and personal development across both campuses.
  • Youth & Community Chess Education 1 activity
    • Support in-class chess program through snack sales
      Uses proceeds from snack sales to fund and sustain the in-class chess program, integrating strategic thinking into student learning.
  • Structured Critical Thinking Curriculum 1 activity
    • Use classical teaching methods including Socratic questioning and Paideia Seminars
      Employs didactic instruction, coaching, and Socratic questioning in daily teaching. Conducts Paideia Seminars for students in grades K–8 approximately once per month (increasing to twice monthly) at both campuses since 2005 (Park Slope) and 2018 (Staten Island), using them to foster intellectual rigor, goal-setting, self-reflection, and college and career readiness.
financials · form 990 · fy2019
revenue
Total revenue$8.99M
Contributions & grants$455K5%
Program service revenue$8.52M95%
Investment income$20%
Other revenue$14K
expenses
Total expenses$8.84M
Program expenses80%
Admin / overhead19%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$6.43M
Grants paid out$6K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$12.31M
Cash$1.41M
Investments$0
Liabilities$10.71M
Net assets$1.60M
Liquid reserves1.9 mo
1 years on record · 2019–2019
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2019

Who runs it

paid leadership · 5
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
CHRISTINA TETTONIS PRINCIPAL 35 $306K
JOY PRETRAKOS DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS 35 $179K
NATASHA CABAN ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL 40 $159K
PETROS FOURNIOTIS DEAN OF DANCE & THEATRE 40 $134K
CHRISTINA PORTELOS DIRECTOR OF FINANCE & OPS. 35 $129K
board members · 9
  • BASIL DEAN ANGELAKOS — BOARD MEMBER
  • BIANCA RAJPERSAUD — BOARD MEMBER
  • CHARLES CAPETANAKIS — CHAIRMAN
  • DR LIANA THEODORATOU — BOARD MEMBER
  • EFFIE LEKAS — BOARD MEMBER
  • GRAZIA SVOKOS — BOARD MEMBER
  • HARVEY NEWMAN — SECRETARY
  • NIKIFOROS MATTHEWS — BOARD MEMBER
  • NIKOLAOS LEONARDOS — TREASURER
relationships · 3

Who they work with

  • Greek Ministry of Education Partner — Collaborates with the Greek Ministry of Education, reflecting the school's Hellenic cultural and educational focus.
  • Paideia Institute Partner — Partners with the Paideia Institute to implement Paideia Seminars in K–8 classrooms.
  • Staten Island Campus Partner — Coordinates admissions process with the Park Slope campus for Pre-K–8th grade enrollment.
strategies · 2

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.

  • Classical Education with Socratic and Paideia Methods
    methodology: classical_education
    By grounding the curriculum in classical education and integrating the study of Greek and Latin with Socratic questioning and Paideia Seminars, the school fosters deep intellectual engagement, critical thinking, and academic rigor because these methods promote active inquiry, cumulative understanding, and disciplined discourse.
  • Holistic Student Development through Structured and Supportive Environment
    methodology: holistic_student_development
    By combining rigorous academics with social and emotional support in a safe, structured, and encouraging environment, the school enables holistic student development because this integrated approach ensures intellectual, emotional, and social growth necessary for success in competitive high schools.