Charter schools are public schools, free and open to all, that have the autonomy and freedom to design classrooms that meet the needs of all students. Every charter school network has its own principles and practices, which can result in different outcomes for students and families. At DREAM Charter Schools, all teachers are NYS-certified and we are committed to a model that welcomes every child and serves all of their needs - academic, social-emotional, and physical.

Students are selected through a lottery process, and it’s free to apply. Applications must be submitted by the lottery deadline, which is typically in early April; applications received after the deadline will be placed on a waitlist in the order in which they are received. You can apply online or by using a print application, which are available in English, Spanish, and French. You can access online and print applications by scrolling to the top or bottom of this page. We are currently enrolling for both the current and upcoming school year.

Breakfast is from 7:30-7:55. The school day begins at 7:45 am and ends at 4:00 pm, with afterschool continuing until 5:45 pm. In a typical year, Friday dismissal is at 1:00 pm or 5:00 pm for scholars participating in afterschool. All DREAM scholars are guaranteed a spot in our free afterschool programming.

DREAM has locations in East Harlem (K-8), Mott Haven (K-12), and Highbridge (K-2 and 6). Our Highbridge location will grow by one grade each year as it expands to serve PK-8. Busing is currently only available for students who have an IEP that requires transportation.

At DREAM, we welcome all children and believe all kids can! Our elementary classrooms feature an integrated co-teaching model, ensuring that every class has two dedicated teachers to support students' learning. At the middle school and high school levels, an integrated co-teaching model is offered in select classes to meet diverse learning needs. We also provide a range of onsite related services, including counseling, speech and language therapy, physical therapy, hearing support, occupational therapy, and paraprofessional assistance. All IEP services are provided in person. Additionally, for students without IEPs, we offer support through Tier 2 interventions, focusing on both academics and social-emotional development.

Yes - DREAM fills seats as they open, so you can always apply for the current school year. To apply, you can fill out a regular application; there will be a space to indicate that you're applying for the current school year.

Please email enrollment@wearedream.org - we're here to help and will get back to you as soon as possible!