A Broad Curriculum
- Core academics sit alongside art, music, Latin, debate and fitness.
- Latin begins in third grade.
- Weekly character education adds space to consider how scholars contribute to their communities.
About Classical Charter Schools
A classical purpose. A Bronx community. Classical Charter Schools offers tuition-free public education in the Bronx.
Classical Charter Schools: Rooted in the Bronx.
Classical Charter Schools is a tuition-free, public, open-enrollment charter school network in the Bronx. Our schools combine a broad classical curriculum, character education and high school preparation.
- Our beginning
- Founded in the South Bronx in 2006, when South Bronx Classical I opened.
- Our community
- Five Bronx campuses, including School V in Kingsbridge, which opened in 2026.
- Grades served
- Schools I–IV serve K–8. School V currently serves K–1. Explore our schools for campus details.
School hours: Monday–Friday, 7:00 AM–5:30 PM.
Our History in the Bronx
| Opened | Bronx campus · school profile |
|---|---|
| 2006 | South Bronx Classical I |
| 2013 | South Bronx Classical II |
| 2015 | South Bronx Classical III |
| 2017 | South Bronx Classical IV |
| 2026 | South Bronx Classical V, Kingsbridge |
Each school profile describes its opening year, community and campus resources.
Our Leadership and Accountability
Lester Long is Classical's founder and Executive Director. He taught elementary school in the South Bronx and earned a master's degree in elementary education from Hunter College. Meet our network staff.
Our Board of Trustees supports Classical Charter Schools' mission and governance. Meet the board and review meeting minutes, annual reports and school policies.
Families can also review School I's charter oversight and public reports from the New York State Education Department.
Our Mission
Classical Charter Schools prepares K-8 grade scholars in the South Bronx to excel in college preparatory high schools. Through a classical curriculum and highly structured setting, students become liberated scholars and citizens of impeccable character who achieve proficiency in and advanced mastery of New York State Performance Standards.
Read our Structure & Mission (PDF)A Classical Approach, in Practice.
Responsive Teaching
Teachers use assessment information to understand each scholar’s progress and tailor instruction. Regular observations, instructional coaching, feedback and monthly professional development support educators as they refine their practice.
Families as Partners
Parent Academy, the Family Advisory Council and school events connect families with the school community. From fifth grade, a dedicated advisor helps scholars and families navigate high school admissions.
Explore academic results, school recognition and high school access to see the evidence behind our approach.
Our Core Values
These principles inform our decision making, guide our work as a collaborative staff, and are integral to furthering Classical’s mission.
Accountability
We are responsible for the future of our scholars and hold ourselves accountable for their success by analyzing scholar performance and continuously improving our practice.
Innovation
We prioritize innovation every day. Our success is sustained by continuously weaving small improvements into network-wide systems that impact scholar achievement.
Tenacity
We know that working in education requires daily dedication to feedback and improvement. At Classical, our entire team works together to pursue the common mission of improving the lives of our scholars through education.
Transparency
We welcome constructive criticism to ensure we are constantly growing. Our direct, honest and timely feedback, along with our open door policy, ensures that we are always doing the best for our staff and, by extension, our scholars.
Professionalism
We take the impact we have on scholars incredibly seriously. Exuding professionalism in how we dress, address one another and conduct ourselves sets the tone for the importance and gravity of our work.
Rigor
We expect a lot from our scholars and staff. Year after year, in our quest to constantly innovate, we perform meticulous, data-oriented assessments that allow us to work smarter and more effectively as educators.
Urgency
We realize our scholars face challenges most communities haven’t experienced. Therefore, the education we provide to our scholars has to be better. That’s why we invest in assessment data and time saving technology. It all means more time and energy spent on scholars in the South Bronx who need it most.
Questions About Classical Charter Schools
Do families pay tuition?
No. Classical Charter Schools are public charter schools. Families do not pay tuition to attend.
Where are the schools?
Our five campuses are in the Bronx. School V is in Kingsbridge; Schools I–IV serve South Bronx communities.
Which grades are served?
Schools I–IV serve kindergarten through eighth grade. School V currently serves kindergarten and first grade. Check each campus for grade details.
Find the Right Campus and Next Step
- Compare our Bronx campuses to review locations, grades and school contacts.
- Explore family resources for Parent Academy, school life and high school support.
- Review enrollment information for application guidance and current next steps.
Find Your Place at Classical.
Explore tuition-free Bronx campuses and the next steps to apply for your child.
Explore enrollment