Harlem Academy Reviews

Harlem Academy changed my life. It gave my the conference to pursue my academic dreams and professional ambitions. Almost six years later, I still visit and spend time with old staff and classmates. HA isn't just about academics, but community. I cannot recommend this school enough.

Harlem Academy is a great school that is filled with wonderful teachers and staff members who create a safe and friendly atmosphere for the students.

I entered Harlem Academy in the sixth grade and graduated in the Class of 2014. Harlem Academy was the perfect place for me to learn, grow, and find my interests.

The teachers were amazing. They were dedicated to our learning, always encouraged us to push ourselves, and reminded us to not limit our abilities. I will always be thankful to them.

The amount of activities that I was able to participate in during my time there was tremendous as well. We took two annual trips. One was to the Princeton Blairstown Center in New Jersey. There, we had fun with activities like rappelling down bridges and rock climbing, we got out of comfort zones by camping out in cabins, and we learned the importance of teamwork.

The other trip was to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in Troy, NY. There, we were introduced to the world of STEM by actual college professors. If you were in grades 7-8, you got to present the work you did with the professors at the end of the 3-day trip. We even got to live in the dorms and go to the dining halls like we were college students. It was a great experience. Actually, it was such a great experience that I kept RPI on my radar for when it was time for me to look at colleges to attend. Years later, I am now a rising junior at RPI, majoring in chemical engineering.

I can't say enough good things about Harlem Academy. HA guided us through the process of helping our son to apply to a selective boarding school. (he got in- to his first choice- with nearly 100% financial aid). Virtually all of the students from his class are attending selective high schools- whether boarding, independent day, or parochial- most with significant or total financial aid. Our son is the first person in our family to attend this type of school, and this wasn't even on our radar until HA. Most importantly, our son has remained close to his HA friends- they are like family. Mr. Dotoli has remained a mentor and a friend to our family. HA was truly a gift and I would wholeheartedly recommend this school to anyone lucky enough to be able to attend. The classes are small, the children receive personalized attention, and the academic successes and outcomes speak for themselves.

Harlem Academy is an amazing school that has helped to shape me into the person I am today. The teachers are some of the best who went to amazing schools and are more interested in helping children learn than giving a grade. There are trips that older students go on where they stay over night that teach teamwork, leadership, trust and more. It was truly an amazing experience, and there is such a close-knit community. I am still receiving help from Harlem Academy whether that be with scholarship information or internships. There is really no school like Harlem Academy, and I would not be attending an amazing university if it was not for this school.

"As a black mother I was looking for a better fit for my children specially my boy. Harlem Academy was what I was looking, my children are respected and treated fairly. The school makes powerful statements that they care for each student through their actions. Whenever I have had concerns, the school has been swift and thorough in helping. There is also very good diversity amongst the teachers and students. For my son who have been in Harlem Academy for 4 years I can said that he is more outgoing, likes to do his classwork, and is more motivated than he was. Harlem Academy build a strong personality on him which makes him more determined on all his actions. My daughter just started, the beginning of the school tear was a little hectic because of Covid-19 but now everything is smooth and she loves it. I am grateful to Harlem Academy staff who are always ready to go beyond expectations. THANKYOU!"
Legah Kokouet.

Before you apply to this school, check @blackatharlemacademy to see the way this school is actually run. The mission statement is very misleading.

Harlem Academy definitely shaped me into the person I am today. I went there for 7 years of my life and grew special bonds with my peers, the teachers, and the staff. Harlem Academy has a really strong family feeling and you know all the teachers want you to succeed because of how they go above and beyond the call of duty for you. Even though I graduated in 2016, about 6 of my classmate and I got together a couple of days ago to visit our second grade teacher, that speaks value!

Harlem Academy has opened so many doors for my daughter! Best school ever...If you want your child to succeed then send them to HA...the compassion the teachers and staffs have for the students is incomparable to any other school in New York!