Amani Public Charter School Welcomes First Class of Kindergarten and First Grade Students

On Wednesday, August 27, Amani Public Charter School will welcome new students into its new kindergarten and first-grade program. This historic expansion was approved by the New York Board of Regents earlier this year, a reflection of the significant impact the school has made in the Mt. Vernon community since its founding in 2011.

Following this initial cohort of students, Amani’s elementary program will expand each year to include grades K-4. By 2028, Amani will welcome over 550 students from kindergarten to eighth grade, propelling the school’s mission to prepare Mt. Vernon’s students for competitive high school programs, college, and the career of their choice. Amani School demonstrates strong English Language Arts performance, highlighted by exceptional Grade 8 achievement that significantly exceeds the state average and shows the school's effectiveness in developing students' reading and writing skills.

Amani’s new elementary program embodies the school’s core values of providing a rigorous academic program with an emphasis on a multi-faceted educational experience offering students access to opportunities in the humanities, sciences, arts, and extracurriculars.
“At Amani, we’re committed to providing Mt. Vernon students with an exceptional, well-rounded educational experience to fuel their success far beyond their time in our school building. Being able to extend these opportunities beginning in kindergarten will ensure that we can provide more students with a rigorous and rewarding academic experience that fosters their growth and builds our school community,” said Dr. Debra Stern, founder and executive Director of Amani Public Charter School. “We are grateful to the New York State Board of Regents for recognizing the impact of Amani’s programming and granting our expansion beginning this year.”

Mt. Vernon families interested in enrolling their students in Amani’s elementary programs for the next academic year are encouraged to visit our website, amanicharter.org, and register for an upcoming informational open house session.

Amani Public Charter School began with conversations around a kitchen table. What started as social gatherings in Mount Vernon - a diverse, urban-suburban community of 68,000 residents - evolved into serious discussions about educational equity. Today, Amani serves 355 students in grades 5-8, providing them with the academic and critical thinking skills necessary to succeed in competitive high school programs, college, and their chosen careers.