By: Jordan Baker

South Brooklyn is finally getting its first charter school after years of waiting, a milestone first reported by the New York Post and one that parents and students are celebrating after a six-year fight against Albany’s restrictive charter cap.

The New York Post reported that Math, Engineering and Science Academy (MESA) Charter High School opened its new Dyker Heights campus Monday, welcoming 125 ninth graders, including Bay Ridge dad Michael Curcio’s daughter, Selina. Curcio told the New York Post that charter schools offer “more individualized attention” and “challenge the kids more,” sentiments echoed by many parents at the opening.

Selina herself told the New York Post she was drawn to the school’s approach, which emphasizes growth over grades. “They focus more on you learning and growing from mistakes, instead of just a number on a notecard,” she said, highlighting what she and other students see as a fresh alternative to overcrowded public schools.

Demand for the new school, called MESA II, has already been overwhelming. According to the New York Post, 445 students applied for just 125 slots through a random lottery. The new location follows the success of MESA’s first campus in Bushwick, which has boasted a 92 percent graduation rate, the New York Post reported.

The fight to open the school underscores the political battle over charter expansion in New York City. As the New York Post first reported, the Dyker Heights project was stalled since 2019 because of the state’s cap on charter schools, a policy backed strongly by teachers’ unions. It wasn’t until 2023, when Gov. Kathy Hochul and the legislature approved reissuing unused “zombie” licenses, that MESA won approval to launch its South Brooklyn campus.

Arthur Samuels, MESA’s co-founder and co-executive director, told the New York Post that seeing families walk through the doors made the years of delay worth it, but he added pointedly, “It should never be this hard to give parents options.” Principal Anna Spoden echoed that sentiment, saying the staff feels humbled by the community’s trust.

The New York Post reported that MESA II will eventually grow to 500 students across four grades. Located at 1222 63rd Street, the new campus sits in Community District 20, covering Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bath Beach, and parts of Bensonhurst and Sunset Park — areas where overcrowded traditional high schools have left families scrambling for options.

Parents told the New York Post they wanted schools that push their children harder than the district system does. “The teacher in the charter school will push the student to study. In public school, they only say your student is very good,” said Sammi Zhou, whose daughter Minqi enrolled at MESA. Michelle Perez, a Boro Park resident, said charters “feel more engaged” than district schools when it comes to both academics and parent involvement.

The student body at MESA II will be notably diverse compared to other charters, according to the New York Post. Nearly all of the 125 students are Brooklyn residents, with heavy representation from the area’s growing Chinese community, alongside Black and Latino students.

The New York Post noted that New York City currently has 285 public charter schools serving roughly 150,000 students — about 15 percent of the city’s total. Charter advocates say MESA’s opening is proof that families continue to seek alternatives to the traditional system, while critics argue charters undermine union jobs and drain resources.