FAQ

You must reside in New York State.  Children must turn 5 on or before December 1 of the year they enter kindergarten.  Weight is assigned within our lottery for siblings, children of Amani staff, special education, English language learners and Mount Vernon residents.  To check your child's GRADE eligibility based on their date of birth, use our GRADE CALCULATOR.

Amani Public Charter School is a free, public school.  There is no cost to parents to attend.  There is no cost to apply for admission.  There are no registration fees.

No entry exam.

New York charter schools set a lottery deadline of April 1 for applications for the next school year.  This means that if Amani receives more applications for any grade than there are seats available, then a lottery is held, shortly after April 1.  The lottery randomly selects which applications are offered a seat.  Remaining applications are placed on a waiting list.  Under the terms Amani's charter, a weight is assigned to each application for siblings of Amani students, children of school employees, special education status, English language learner status, and Mount Vernon residency.

Yes.  Eligible applications received after April 1 will be offered a seat if one is available in the enrolling grade.  If the grade does not have open seats, then the application will be assigned a position on that grade's waitlist.  If a seat becomes available later, then that seat will be filled subject to the lottery criteria.  

Doors open at 7:30 AM.  Dismissal is at 3:30 PM, except for Wednesdays, when school is dismissed at noon.  

Yes, there are intramural athletic teams for boys and girls, including  girls' basketball, boys basketball, lower school basketball, soccer, track, flag football, cheerleading and step. Try-outs are required for all teams. Most teams offer beginner and advanced levels.

Yes. Amani serves breakfast and lunch, at no cost to parents, to all children, daily.  Students are allowed to bring in their own lunch, it is your choice.

No.  Student Metrocards are available at a discounted rate.  There is also a private bus service company, "Mr. G," available for daily dropoff and pickup.  Ask at the front office, if interested.

Amani is a "1:1" program.  Each student in grades 5 through 8 receives a Google Chromebook to be used both inside and outside of school.   Students have access to the full suite of Google for Education applications.  Younger children (K, 1, 2) use iPads in class for specific work.

Yes.  Students are required to wear the Amani academic or athletic uniform, depending on the schedule. Guardians/parents are responsible for the purchase of uniforms.  More info.  Guardians/parents are responsible for the cost of the bus service.

Amani Public Charter School provides a full continuum of services for students with disabilities.  The programs provided are determined by Mount Vernon’s Committee of Special Education (CSE) recommendations. The CSE recommends programs for students based on individual student needs.  Amani Public Charter School is committed to creating alignment for each CSE recommendation.  Ask to speak to our Special Education Coordinator for specific questions.