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Enrolling In Select Grades!
Discover a school where students are challenged, supported and inspired to grow, while families find the encouragement and support they need along the way.
Here, character matters. Our power comes from the deep bonds we form between students, families, and staff, uniting our community.
Join Our Pride
We are the largest independent K-12 charter school in New York City and a tuition-free public school. As three schools under one charter, we serve nearly 1,000 students who have the opportunity to attend a school that supports them from kindergarten through college.
Why Lion?
Passion for learning, self-discovery, leadership, and social conscience are the foundation for success in college and fulfillment in life.
With our family partnership and character development model, we focus on supporting students as they develop the skills and traits they need through rigorous academics, self-reflection, and family engagement.















graduation rate for the LION class of 2025
average increase in 3-8 NYS ELA scores and 10% in 3-7 NYS math from 23-24 to 24-25 school years
of our graduates enroll in college in the first two years after high school
staff retention rate

This past June, LION community members gathered for our High School Baccalaureate Ceremony, celebrating the…

Some milestones are measured by the years that pass. Others are measured by the lives…

Some endings don’t feel like endings at all. They feel like the moment everything begins.…
For 20 years LION has been powered by character. By the decisions we make when no one is watching. By owning our actions and honoring our journey. Dr. Efosa Erhunmwunse embodies what it means to be guided by
character and is an inspiration to all LION students who follow in her footsteps. As LION’s first graduate to pursue a doctoral degree she not only blazed a trail through her own academic pursuits but in recognizing the problem of PWI complacency she created her own organization aimed at addressing inequities in the physical therapy program at Ithaca College. Efosa has worked to dismantle the walls of power so that future generations are welcomed.
Join us on Wednesday, August 12, at 830 Hunts Point Avenue for a day of fun, connection, and community!
Families new to middle school only: From 10:00 to 11:00 a.m., you are invited to our Middle School Brunch with the Principal. Meet the principal, ask questions, and learn more about what to expect before the school year begins.
All K-8 families: From 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., you are invited to our Back to School Readiness Fair. We’ll be bringing together community partners and school resources, along with LION Cares, where families can pick up fresh produce, browse clothing, household items, and more. You’ll also have the opportunity to purchase LION branded uniforms and enjoy sweets and treats.
We look forward to seeing you on August 12!
Justin McMillan was a member of LION Charter school’s founding class of students 20 years ago and is the
true embodiment of a “leader in our neighborhood”. As a student he inspired his peers and teachers to get involved in the Hunts Point community’s long tradition of collective community action. Since graduating Justin has built a successful coffee business but stayed committed to social justice by teaching barista skills to incarcerated men in places like Rikers Island so they might have a chance to rebuild their lives when they rejoin society. We are proud of Justin’s contribution to our community and the legacy of advocacy he has helped LION build.🦁💛💙
#lioncharterschool #prideofhuntspoint #madeinthebronx #nyc #charterschool
Leadership begins with knowing who you are and what you stand for. This is what drives Celia Sosa as LION’s Chief Executive Officer. Celia began her work at LION in 2007 as a history teacher and later served for twelve years as High School Director before becoming Chief Executive Officer. As a leader who has shaped LION for the past 20 years, she is driven by a core believe that our school should be a place where students develop voice, purpose, and agency. 🦁💛💙
#lioncharterschool #prideofhuntspoint #madeinthebronx #nyc #charterschool
Twenty years. Thousands of stories. One incredible journey.
Every school has a history. Ours is told through the people who have walked our halls, the families who have trusted us, and the students who have grown into leaders, changemakers, innovators, and role models.
Over the coming weeks, we’ll celebrate the six pillars that have defined LION from the very beginning: Leadership. Social Justice. Character. Curiosity. Family. Community. These values have shaped our school for the past 20 years and continue to inspire every student who walks through our doors.
The stories you’ll read reflect the heart of LION. They celebrate where we’ve been, the community we’ve built together, and the lasting impact our students and alumni continue to make every day. As we celebrate this milestone, we’re excited for the next generation of LION students and all the stories still waiting to be told.
We’re still enrolling in select grades for the upcoming school year. Apply today by clicking the link in our bio and start your own LION story.🦁💛💙
#lioncharterschool #prideofhuntspoint #madeinthebronx #nyc #charterschool
Let the adventures begin!
Check out our littlest LION cubs as they enjoy our inaugural kindergarten summer camp! Here, students immerse themselves in fun and engaging learning activities that are designed to break the ice, prepare them for their educational journeys and build lifelong friendships. We are so proud of our brave future LION Charter School leaders!
Interested in having your child be part of our wonderful LION community? We are still enrolling for kindergarten and select grades. Apply today or accept your seat if you have an offer available. Questions? Email: admissions@lioncharterschool.org 🦁💛💙#lioncharterschool#prideofhuntspoint #madeinthebronx #nyc #charterschool
The Hill We Climb!
Recently, LION community members gathered at Lehman College to celebrate an unforgettable milestone as the Class of 2026 crossed the stage at our High School Commencement Ceremony.
Over the past four years, these scholars have challenged themselves, discovered new passions, built lifelong friendships, and grown into remarkable young adults ready for whatever comes next. Their time at LION has been filled with hard work, perseverance, and moments that have shaped them into the leaders they are today.
The excitement throughout the auditorium was impossible to miss as graduates proudly accepted their diplomas, families cheered from the audience, and staff celebrated the incredible accomplishments of a class they have encouraged every step of the way. It was a powerful reminder that every achievement is made possible by a community that believes in its students.
Congratulations, Class of 2026! Every challenge you have faced has prepared you for the next one, and every success has brought you one step closer to your dreams. As you leave LION behind and begin a new chapter, remember that every hill you climb opens the door to an even greater view. We cannot wait to see where you go next!
🦁💛💙#lioncharterschool#prideofhuntspoint #madeinthebronx #nyc #charterschool
A Night to Remember!
Recently, LION community members came together to celebrate the outstanding accomplishments of the Class of 2026 at our High School Baccalaureate Ceremony.
From academic excellence and athletic achievement to leadership, character, and service, each award recognized the dedication, determination, and heart our scholars have demonstrated throughout their high school years. Every student honored has left a lasting mark on our school community, and we could not be prouder of all they have accomplished.
Congratulations to all of our award recipients and to the entire Class of 2026! We are so proud of everything you have accomplished and cannot wait to see all that comes next. 🦁💛💙
#lioncharterschool #prideofhuntspoint #madeinthebronx #nyc #charterschool
The Wonderful Things You Will Be!
Recently, LION Middle School staff, families, and community members gathered together to celebrate an unforgettable moment in the lives of our Class of 2026 scholars at their Middle School Graduation Ceremony.
The excitement in the room was undeniable as families cheered, teachers beamed with pride, and our graduates celebrated everything they have accomplished together. Every smile, every hug, every tear, and every round of applause was a reminder of just how much these students have grown and how many lives they have touched along the way.
To our incredible families and staff, thank you for believing in our scholars from day one. Your love, encouragement, and partnership have helped shape this remarkable class into young people who are ready to make their mark on the world. Congratulations, Class of 2026! 🦁💛💙#lioncharterschool #prideofhuntspoint #madeinthebronx #nyc
Change Sings!
It echoes through hallways; it vibrates through city streets; it permeates the atmosphere. It brings audience members to their feet, roaring and rumbling with applause. Nowhere was this more apparent than when our 3rd grade scholars took the stage to perform at the LION Charter Elementary School 3rd Grade Stepping Up Ceremony. Here, families, staff, and community members came together to celebrate our amazing students at the culmination of their elementary school journey, ready for the biggest change in their young lives thus far. For the past four years, they have excelled academically, demonstrated the true meaning of character, and grown into extraordinary leaders who are ready to take middle school by storm! Thank you to our fantastic families and staff for working together to give our scholars a foundation of love and success. Congratulations to our students; the sky’s the limit! 🦁💛💙
#lioncharterschool #prideofhuntspoint #madeinthebronx #nyc #charterschool
Oh, the Places You’ll Go!
This past Thursday, LION Elementary School staff, families, and community members came together to honor and celebrate the remarkable achievements of our youngest scholars at their Kindergarten Moving Up Ceremony.
Leave it to our tiniest cubs to bring the house down, leaving our guests with the biggest laughs, rivers of tears, and smiles for miles. We basked in the immense joy of our wonderfully bright, incredibly talented, and awesomely kind students as they took us on a journey of their first year at LION through song, dance, and testimonials from their beloved teachers, growing into leaders before our very eyes.
We are endlessly grateful to our wonderful staff and families, who showed the true meaning of community, by working together to pour endless love, time, and dedication to ensuring our students thrived this year. So many milestones not only met, but surpassed. You did that!
Finally, we can’t help but shed a few tears of joy as we watch our youngest go forward with the true bravery of lions; the world is ready for you to shine. Congratulations!
🦁💛💙 #lioncharterschool #prideofhuntspoint #madeinthebronx #nyc #charterschool
Recently, our LION Middle School families and staff came together for Special Person Paint Night, an unforgettable evening filled with joy, creativity, quality time, and reflection. Students were asked to choose one special person who means the world to them, and knowing our families, this was no easy task! Thank you so much to our wonderful scholars for sharing their special person with the LION community, and thank you to our awesome guests who continue to show up for their fantastic children. We cannot wait for the next special person event!
🦁💛💙#lioncharterschool #prideofhuntspoint #madeinthebronx #nyc #charterschool
“LION Charter School means so much to me because it is more than just a school, it’s a community, a family and a place where children are encouraged to grow, learn and believe in themselves.”- Ernesa Mozon,
LION parent and staff member.
This past Wednesday, we had the pleasure of honoring LION families who have gone above and beyond for their children and the LION community at our annual Family Celebration. Families received awards, dined, laughed, played competitive hands of Uno and Dominoes, and even boogied together on the dance floor. In addition to beautiful testimonials from parents, we were treated to a lovely dance performance from LION staff, and a surprise video of thanks from our wonderful students. A huge thank you to our amazing Directors of Family Engagement for putting this gorgeous event together, to our awesome staff who gave so much time and effort to making our families feel so special, and of course, to our fantastic families who are the beating heart of LION. We can’t wait to do it again next year!
🦁💛💙#lioncharterschool #prideofhuntspoint #madeinthebronx #nyc #charterschool
Talk about a fairy tale ending!
Recently, our students brought Shrek the Musical to life and absolutely wowed audiences across all three performances!
From larger-than-life characters and laugh-out-loud moments to incredible student-created artwork, props, and costumes, every scene was packed with creativity, talent, and heart. Whether you were rooting for Shrek, cheering for Donkey, or singing along with the fairy tale crew, there was something magical for everyone.
A huge congratulations to our performers, crew, and staff for all of their hard work, and thank you to everyone who joined us on our journey to Far Far Away!
The swamp may be quiet again, but we’re still smiling as we look back at these unforgettable moments. Swipe through to see some of our favorite highlights!🦁💛💙
#lioncharterschool #prideofhuntspoint #madeinthebronx #nyc #charterschool
Check out our awesome LION eighth graders as they explored Washington DC this past week. Students immersed themselves in the rich history and culture of our nation’s capital while also attending their eighth grade prom on a gorgeous yacht! Thank you to our wonderful staff and chaperones for keeping our children safe, engaged, and amazed. Taking a trip of this magnitude takes a village, and we were thrilled to hear that our scholars represented LION well and had an incredible time doing so! 🦁💛💙
#lioncharterschool #prideofhuntspoint #madeinthebronx #nyc #charterschool
A huge congratulations to our awesome LION scholars who were inducted into the National Elementary Honor Society and the National Junior Honor Society. Your dedication, determination, and unwavering spirits are present in all you do; we are immensely proud! We are honored to be a part of your incredible journey as you continue to strive for excellence and grow as true leaders in your neighborhood. You are a shining example for your peers and the LION community! 🦁💛💙
#lioncharterschool #prideofhuntspoint #madeinthebronx #nyc #charterschool
This past Wednesday, LION Charter School staff attended a very special and very joyous K-12 meeting, featuring our annual LION Longevity Celebration. This event honors all staff who have called LION their home for a minimum of five years, some of which who were here our founding year! This was also a moment to recognize our extraordinary 97% retention rate, a number unheard of in education. The room roared with applause and emotions as we inducted our five year members with heartwarming speeches from their colleagues, and distributed one-of-kind LION jackets and commemorative pins to all honored staff. It was truly a beautiful experience for all. Congratulations to our newest inductees and all our honoraries. Thank you for being the heart of our wonderful family.🦁💛💙
#lioncharterschool #prideofhuntspoint #madeinthebronx #nyc #charterschool
It’s a big, bright, beautiful world, and we’re bringing it to the stage!
Join us for Shrek the Musical, where our talented LION Charter School students will take audiences on an unforgettable journey through Far Far Away. Filled with laughter, friendship, adventure, and plenty of fairy tale fun, this is a performance you won’t want to miss!
Performance Schedule
Thursday, June 4 at 5:30 PM
Friday, June 5 at 10:00 AM (Elementary School)
Friday, June 5 at 1:00 PM (Middle School)
Come cheer on our incredible students as they bring this beloved story to life. We can’t wait to see you there!
20 incredible years. What started out as a small idea from several thoughtful and invested individuals grew into a bastion of success and radical joy for thousands of students, staff, families, and community members. Through trial and error, a few tears, and myriad open hearts, minds, and ears, we built LION Charter School from the ground up. On Character. Social Justice. Community. Family. Curiosity. Leadership. We did this TOGETHER. We celebrated milestone after amazing milestone, cheered at champion sporting events, cried at a plethora of graduations and moving up ceremonies, even healed as a community when the world around us was sometimes frightening and unwelcoming. There is no other school in the world as special as LION Charter School, because of you, our community, our family, our supporters.
Please take a moment to check out some of our wonderful moments from this past Thursday’s 20th Anniversary Spring Social, the crown jewel of our shared experience at LION Charter School. We laughed, cried, swayed to the music and were left in awe from our amazing performances, speeches, and testimonials. Thank you to every single staff member, alumni, student, family member and community member who helped make this event such a huge success; your dedication is remarkable, your love permeated the room.
We also want to let everyone know that our online auction has been extended to Wednesday, so there’s still plenty of time left to bid on a variety of fantastic items, experiences, and services, all benefitting our College Access and Success Program. Click the link in our bio to bid.
Thank you again. Here’s to another 20 years of LION❤️
🦁💛💙
#lioncharterschool #prideofhuntspoint #madeinthebronx #nyc #charterschool
Thank you to everyone who joined us last night for our 20th Anniversary Spring Social! As we gather the incredible photos, videos, and memories from this special celebration, we want to remind you that our online auction is officially LIVE.
Don’t miss your chance to bid on amazing experiences and one-of-a-kind items, including:
• Two premium Champions Suite tickets to NYC FC vs. Chicago Fire, including behind-the-goal seating, suite access, and all-inclusive food and beverages.
• A private four-hour Long Island Sound boat excursion for six, featuring stunning coastal views and a catered three-course lunch aboard a comfortable 29-foot cruiser.
• A four-night stay in a beautiful two-bedroom beachfront penthouse in the Dominican Republic, just steps from Playa Dominicus and the Caribbean Sea.
And much, much more!
Whether you’re looking for an unforgettable getaway, a unique experience, or the perfect gift, there’s something for everyone in this year’s auction.
Click the link in our bio to start bidding today. Bidding closes June 2! 🦁💛💙#lioncharterschool #prideofhuntspoint #madeinthebronx #nyc #charterschool
Our middle schoolers had the best time at Field Day, a full morning of teamwork, laughter, and friendly competition across all five grades. From basketball shootouts to relay races, students cheered each other on, tried new challenges, and showed incredible sportsmanship. Teachers even jumped in on the fun too!
Field Day is one of our favorite traditions because it brings out the joy, confidence, and community spirit in all of us. Thank you to our amazing staff for creating such a safe, energetic, and memorable experience for our students.🦁💛💙
#lioncharterschool #prideofhuntspoint #madeinthebronx #nyc #charterschool
As we get ready to celebrate 20 incredible years of LION Charter School, we’ve been reflecting on the stories that define our community and remind us what makes LION so special.
For so many students, getting accepted into college is only the beginning. Behind the excitement of dorm room shopping, making new friends, and preparing for a brand new chapter, many students are also carrying the very real stress of figuring out how to afford tuition bills, books, transportation, meal plans, and everyday necessities.
For LION alum Abrianna, receiving a LION scholarship helped make continuing her college journey possible.
“Receiving the LION Scholars scholarship took a huge weight off my shoulders. I didn’t have to worry about how I’d pay my bill while also stressing about finals… Without the scholarship, I don’t think I would’ve been able to return to school next year.”
Stories like Abrianna’s are a powerful reminder of the impact community support can have on a student’s future.
Join us on Thursday, May 28th from 6:00–8:00 PM at The BankNote Building for LION’s 20th Anniversary Spring Social as we celebrate two decades of impact, honor the Class of 2026, and come together in support of LION students and alumni. Tickets can be purchased by clicking the link in our bio!🦁💛💙
#lioncharterschool #prideofhuntspoint #madeinthebronx #nyc #charterschool
Behind every college acceptance, scholarship, and milestone is a student who dared to dream big and a counselor who helped them believe they could get there.
At LION, college counselors become trusted mentors, sounding boards, advocates, and steady sources of support during one of the most important transitions in a young person’s life.
LION alum Layla shared:
“Throughout my senior year, Ms. Hernandez was a constant source of guidance and encouragement as I navigated the college application process… Knowing that I had someone who genuinely cared about my success and well-being meant more to me than I can express.”
This is the impact your support makes possible.
Join us on Thursday, May 28th from 6:00–8:00 PM at The BankNote Building as we celebrate 20 years of leadership, community, and opportunity at LION’s 20th Anniversary Spring Social!Tickets can be purchased by clicking the link in our bio.
Together, we’ll honor the Class of 2026, celebrate the journeys of our alumni, and invest in the future of LION students for generations to come.🦁💛💙
#lioncharterschool #prideofhuntspoint #madeinthebronx #nyc #charterschool
At LION, wellness is a priority, and high school students in our Bring Change 2 Mind club show us what that looks like in action.
All year long, these student leaders work to break the stigma around mental health and remind their peers that caring for your mind, body, and emotions is something to be proud of.
This week, they teamed up with our Counseling Office to host Mental Health Awareness Week, with a different theme each day, from mindfulness and movement to rest, connection, and confidence.
We are so proud of our students for creating space, sparking conversations, and building a culture of care at LION.
#MentalHealthAwareness #BringChange2Mind #LIONCharterSchool
#PrideofHuntsPoint
#WellnessMatters StudentLeaders
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