Merrick Academy

A Strong Community. A Stellar Education. The mission of Merrick Academy is to become one of the finest public schools in America. Merrick Academy is built on the philosophy that all children can learn, and the Academy ensures that all students meet or exceed New York State performance standards. The focus of the Academy is built on the core skills of reading, language, and mathematics. Merrick Academy is organized to provide an extended day, a high degree of individualized instruction, and an innovative research-based academic curriculum. About Merrick Academy Founded in 2000, Merrick Academy is one of the first charter schools to open in New York City and the very first to open in Queens. Merrick Academy is located in Springfield Gardens and serves nearly 500 students in Kindergarten through 6th grade. An extended school day with classes from 8:00 AM to 3:45 PM allows parents greater flexibility and ensures that children’s learning time with their teachers is maximized. Our academic program is built on the Core Knowledge curriculum, which covers history, science, geography, literature, and the fine arts. Parents receive regular student progress reports, and students are held to high academic and behavioral standards, abiding by a behavior management plan that fosters social development and maturity. Every day, our teachers and staff give their best and lead our students in a community committed to lifelong learning. Philosophy The fundamental belief at Merrick Academy is that ALL CHILDREN CAN LEARN. All children have the right to attend schools in which they can progress and learn. They shall have a real opportunity to learn equally rigorous content. We hold our school accountable to the same standards as those of the highest performing schools in our state. The Academy encourages teachers to engage in “performance-based” instruction, so that our students learn both the basics and the higher-level skills they will need after graduation. Performance-based classes are more difficult to design and teach than the lecture approach, but they help children learn better and become excited about learning presentations, that they have mastered knowledge and skills in language arts, social studies, mathematics, and science.