DREAM Charter Schools
DREAM Charter School is dedicated to ensuring that all young people recognize their potential and realize their dreams by leveling the playing field for students in underserved communities across East Harlem and the Bronx through free, extended-day, extended-year education and youth programs that invest in the whole child. Founded in 1991 as a community volunteer effort, DREAM now operates a network of charter schools and supports thousands of students with a holistic approach that blends rigorous academics, social-emotional learning, health and wellness, and strong family and community engagement.
Guided by core values such as “All Kids Can, This Kid Can,” “DREAM is Family,” and “Fail. Persist. Exceed.,” the organization fosters an inclusive culture of care, teamwork, joy, and high expectations that empowers students from early childhood through early adulthood to achieve success and contribute meaningfully to their communities.
“All kids can. This kid can.”
DREAM’s critically conscious curriculum prepares students to fulfill their vision of success, in the classroom and beyond. Across East Harlem and the Bronx, DREAM Charter Schools serve over 2,600 students from preschool to pre-college, and their scholars consistently outperform city and state peers in ELA and Math.
DREAM believes school should be a place to play, learn, and grow - somewhere that’s about more than just grades and testing, where students can develop both critical thinking skills and compassion. Their Grow the Whole Child Model is rooted in social-emotional learning, which helps children understand and respond to emotions - aiding their development into individuals who have positive identities, healthy relationships, and the ability to manage adversity.
DREAM invests in the mental and physical health of students. They offer robust in-school physical activity, mental health support services, and free, nationally recognized afterschool and summer sports-based programs that help their scholars become confident, competent, and caring community members who know what it means to be part of a team.
