SPOTLIGHT Zeta Charter Schools
Zeta Charter Schools opened its first two schools in 2018 with a bold mission: Deliver rigorous academics and whole-child education to New York City’s most underserved students. In 2020, Robin Hood’s HQSF awarded Zeta a $650,000 grant to support the launch of two new elementary schools in the Bronx: Zeta Bronx Mount Eden and Zeta Bronx Tremont Park. The investment was targeted to special education-focused teacher training and professional learning, helping all teachers build capacity to meet students’ academic and social-emotional needs . Building Pathways from Elementary to College Readiness
Charter schools have long struggled to equitably serve students with disabilities. National studies show persistent gaps in enrollment and services for students with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), raising concerns about access and accountability across the sector. Robin Hood’s investment in Zeta aimed to help close those gaps — by backing a model in which special education wasn’t siloed but fully integrated into strong core instruction and ambitious student outcomes. That integration paid off. By 2023, 87% of students at both Zeta campuses were passing math and 76% were passing English language arts (ELA) on the NY State Exams. Students receiving special education services made notable gains: the share of students with IEPs meeting proficiency standards in math rose to 73% in 2023, far outpacing the average for students in NYC District Schools, where only 28% of students with disabilities were proficient in math.
math and 92% in ELA. Looking at students with IEPs, 88% passed math and 81% passed ELA (roughly three times the pass rates from the NYC District Schools on both accounts). The results, along with the strength of Zeta’s leadership and instructional systems, made a clear case for continued investment. In 2024, as the network prepared to grow its first two middle schools (opened in 2023), Robin Hood awarded a second HQSF grant to support the design of a rigorous, replicable middle school model grounded in academic challenge, real-world learning, and student voice. The network is now planning its next chapter: launch- ing its first high schools in 2026 to complete a full pre-K through 12 continuum. Today, Zeta serves more than 3,900 students across 11 schools. Nearly 90% are economically disadvantaged, 14% have IEPs, and 16% are multilingual learners. Robin Hood’s investment helped Zeta grow with purpose — proving it’s possible to deliver academic excellence without leaving high-need students behind.
“My daughter started the year behind in reading and lacking confidence. But thanks to Zeta’s teachers and their high expectations, she jumped six reading levels in a few months — and she’s now a whole grade ahead. More importantly, she’s proud of herself. She walks into rooms differently. Zeta didn’t just catch her up — they unlocked something in her.” — Zeta parent
By 2025, Zeta’s students were among the top perform- ers in New York City, with 95% achieving proficiency in
12 ROBIN HOOD HIGH-QUALITY SCHOOLS FUND REPORT
ROBIN HOOD HIGH-QUALITY SCHOOLS FUND REPORT 13
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