wearedream.orgDREAM | Play, Learn,

Grow Apply now for Fall 2024. We’re currently enrolling Grades PreK-12 in East Harlem and the Bronx. Join the DREAM family today. Enroll your child Blog Donate Careers Enroll Menu Careers Enroll Our Dream Our History Our Mission & Maxims Our Whole Child Model Our Leadership Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Our Press and Awards Schools & Programs Enroll Your Child Explore Our Schools Alumni Programming Summer Programming Our Impact Explore Our Outcomes Meet the DREAM Graduate What’s Next Get Involved Join the DREAM Team Donate to DREAM Partner with DREAM Volunteer with DREAM Our Events The DREAM Teaching Fellowship English English Español Blog Donate All kids can. This kid can. Schools where your child is known, seen, and loved. A community where your family becomes our family. Welcome to DREAM Charter Schools. Welcome home. See what sets DREAM apart The DREAM way DREAM’s unique Grow the Whole Child education model is powered by four distinct yet interconnected elements that drive transformative change for youth. Rigorous Academics DREAM’s critically conscious curriculum prepares students to fulfill their vision of success, in the classroom and beyond. Across East Harlem and the Bronx, DREAM Charter Schools serve over 1,500 students from preschool to pre-college, and our scholars consistently outperform city and state peers in ELA and Math. Social-Emotional Learning We believe school should be a place to play, learn, and grow - somewhere that’s about more than just grades and testing, where students can develop both critical thinking skills and compassion. DREAM’s Grow the Whole Child Model is rooted in social-emotional learning, which helps children understand and respond to emotions - aiding their development into individuals who have positive identities, healthy relationships, and the ability to manage adversity. Athletics, health, + wellness DREAM invests in the mental and physical health of our students. We offer robust in-school physical activity, mental health support services, and free, nationally recognized afterschool and summer sports-based programs that help our scholars become confident, competent, and caring community members who know what it means to be part of a team. Family & Community Engagement DREAM’s families are critical partners. From home visits to daily communication, families and school staff actively work together and share decision-making. We support our families outside the classroom, too, with resources that have ranged from food distributions and clothing drives to direct financial support and case management. explore our model Explore DREAM Charter School at 20 Bruckner We believe that every child deserves a safe, beautiful space to play, learn, and grow. And our newest school delivers on that promise. This year, DREAM Charter School at 20 Bruckner in the South Bronx became the permanent educational home of DREAM Charter High School and DREAM Mott Haven, serving 1,300 DREAM scholars. Join us as we reimagine what a school can be. Explore 20 Bruckner We DREAM big. DREAM provides youth with opportunities to play, learn, and grow. Our mission is to level the playing field by empowering all children to recognize their potential and realize their dreams. Here’s what that looks like. × We’re in this work for the long game. 32 years of impact We build community. 2,500+ youth served annually We believe in all kids. 29% of scholars have identified special needs the dream family Stephen Stephen Samantha Jared Kevin Stephen Samantha Jared Kevin "I was struggling with my behavior and academically. Because of DREAM, my mindset was changed. Now, I want to finish school, go to college, become a doctor." - Stephen, DREAM Student "As a new parent, you can imagine so many fears, and one thing I am so thankful for was DREAM being able to not minimize my fears, but just hold on to the fact that we are here with you, together. That togetherness, which is one of DREAM’s maxims... everyone says that, but really, DREAM is family." - Samantha, DREAM Mott Haven mom DREAM graduates recognize that education is a pathway to intellectual enrichment and long-term success. But even more than that, they also know it’s a critical step toward becoming contributors to building a more just and equitable world for their communities." - Jared Francis, Managing Director of High School and Leadership Development We found a great home at DREAM, and it felt right to be able to put a scholarship in place that would enable first-generation college students to have the same platform." - Kevin Widmaier, DREAM supporter see more of our outcomes read all about it From Scratch: DREAM Partners with Brigaid for Healthy School Meals Learn about DREAM’s innovative new from-scratch food program - and the role it plays in our whole-child education model. Read more All Kids Can: Announcing DREAM’s 2022-23 New York State Test Results Big news: DREAM Charter Schools students achieved the network’s highest-ever ELA and Math proficiency rates on the 2022-23 New York State Test. Read more join us on Instagram DREAM’s origins as a community youth development organization mean we have been providing free and enriching extracurricular activities to students in New York City for more than 30 years. After founding our first DREAM Charter School in 2008, that tradition of afterschool programming became a core component of our Grow the Whole Child education model, built on our belief that an intentional extended-day, extended-year education helps children develop into lifelong learners. Today, DREAM’s free afterschool programming, available to all students, also serves as an opportunity to open children’s minds to the world around them, and provides access to enrichments historically unavailable in the communities DREAM serves. Read our blog post at the link in our bio to learn more about just some of the afterschool offerings DREAM has provided this past school year. #WeAreCharter #CharterLove Open As a charter school network, DREAM’s unique Grow the Whole Child education model is powered by four interconnected elements that drive transformative change for youth: rigorous academics; social-emotional learning; a deep commitment to family and community engagement; and a belief in the foundational importance of physical and mental health and wellness. With DREAM’s roots as a youth-serving nonprofit organization, that commitment to family and community engagement has been a pillar of our work for more than 30 years. Today, we continue to strengthen that partnership through DREAM Family Action Councils (DFAC), a unified, informed team of DREAM families and staff who work together to support our mission and commitment to student learning, while also advocating for charter education at the community and state levels. You can read more about our network of DFACs at the link in our bio. #WeAreCharter #CharterLove Open All week, students at DREAM Charter High School have been hard at work taking their Advanced Placement Exams. We celebrate our scholars` effort and discipline, and we are cheering them on as they continue their AP Exams next week! DREAM`s unique "AP for All" program requires all DCHS students to take at least four AP classes before graduation, because we believe that challenging courses better prepare students for college and other rigorous environments. This program has earned DREAM Charter High School the AP Access Award and a spot on the College Board`s AP School Honor Roll. Open Happy Teacher Appreciation Day! Today and every day, we honor the many incredible educators at DREAM. Teachers - we thank you for your time, your passion, and your dedication to DREAM scholars ??? Open It`s time for another Staff Spotlight, and this month, we`re highlighting Rachel Hefferman! Rachel joined DREAM in 2017 as a Kindergarten Teacher, and now serves as the Dean of Student Support at DREAM East Harlem Elementary School. For Rachel, working in education is all about...