Celebrate
the Class of 2026!
Your gift supports our College Access and Success Program.
Pride In Our People
K-12 Charter School Hunts Point, Bronx
Here, character matters. Our power comes from the deep bonds we form between students, families, and staff, uniting our community.
Join Our Pride
Watch: We Are LION
At Leaders In Our Neighborhood (LION) Charter School, we are committed to developing character and fostering academic excellence.
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.
Family Engagement
- Family meetings, retreats, and student-led conferences
- Monthly workshops for families and students
- Community resources, printing services, and WiFi access
- LION Cares Pop-ups
Our Lasting Impact
0%
graduation rate for the LION class of 2025
0%
average increase in 3-8 NYS ELA scores and 10% in 3-7 NYS math from 23-24 to 24-25 school years
0%
of our graduates enroll in college in the first two years after high school
0%
staff retention rate
Experience Lion For Yourself!
Visit UsLatest at Lion
Latest News
Academics
Measuring What Matters
At LION, we want every student to graduate ready for the post-secondary path they choose,…
Character Matters
World Scholars 2026
On April 3, 2026, 25 sixth through eighth-grade students departed for Costa Rica, excited for…
Character Matters
A First for Our Third Graders
This May, excitement was building at LION Elementary School as our third-grade scholars prepared for…
Follow Along
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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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“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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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!
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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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This past weekend, LION families from across our K–12 community came together for a truly special Family Retreat centered on connection, community, and growth. From meaningful conversations and team building activities to moments filled with laughter, reflection, and joy, the retreat created space for families to slow down, connect, and strengthen the bonds that make our community so unique.
Throughout the day, families engaged in activities designed to encourage trust, communication, and collaboration while creating new memories together. It was inspiring to watch students, caregivers, and staff come together with openness, support, and a genuine sense of belonging. These moments are such an important reminder that the strength of our school is rooted in the strength of our community.
A huge shout out goes out to all of our incredible staff who helped make this retreat possible, especially our Directors of Family Engagement, Ms. Bautista, Ms. Guerrero, and Ms. Seda, for their leadership, care, and dedication to our families. Thank you for helping create an experience that our families will carry with them long after the weekend ended! 🦁💛💙
#lioncharterschool #prideofhuntspoint #madeinthebronx #nyc #charterschool
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Last week, we had the honor of celebrating our LION Charter School staff during Staff Appreciation Week. We ate delicious food, drank scrumptious lattes, played games, took yoga classes, opened the sweetest gifts from our lovely LION community, and much, much more. It truly gets no better!
As we close out this wonderful week of celebration and gratitude, we want to reiterate how truly remarkable our staff is, how incredibly lucky our students are to be under the care of such amazing humans.
As our CEO, Celia Sosa shares:
“You are the architects of possibility.
You hold the culture of this school in your hands.
You are often the quiet heroes of this work.
You are the backbone of this school,
and your contributions are felt
in every single corner of this building.”
Because of you, LION Charter School continues to shine, continues to grow without limits. You are so loved, admired, and cherished. Thank you! 🦁💛💙
#lioncharterschool #prideofhuntspoint #madeinthebronx #nyc #charterschool
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The LION Dance Company is taking over NYC this weekend!
Our dancers will be representing LION in not one, but two major community events, and we would love to see our staff and families out there cheering them on as they showcase their talent, energy, and Bronx pride!
Saturday, May 16
NYC Dance Parade & Festival
• Parade route performance around 2:00–3:00 PM
• Catch the LION Dance Company float in the parade!
• Community Stage Festival performance at Tompkins Square Park around 6:00 PM
Sunday, May 17
Bronx Week Parade
• Parade begins at 10:00 AM
• Dancing down Mosholu Parkway alongside groups from across the Bronx
Our dancers have been working incredibly hard for these opportunities, and we are so proud to see them represent LION on such big stages. If you are available, come out and support them as they bring the spirit of LION to New York City! 💙💛
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LION loves yoga!
Our LION High School students and K-12 staff really showed up and showed out for a day filled with yoga! These incredible classes were led by LION parent and yoga instructor, Mrs. Singh, owner of Shivani Yoga.
Mrs. Singh remarks: “I loved the energy at LION. I was greeted by many students with so much respect and kindness, which really warmed my heart.
I hope the kids will remember this experience, as yoga is something that helps us connect with ourselves. I wish these students all the best in the years to come, because the sky is the limit for them!”
Thank you so much to Mrs. Singh for sharing your love, passion, and talent with our school community, to Ms. Rivera for putting this event together, and to our awesome students and staff for participating. This was the true embodiment of our family and community pillars, and we couldn’t be prouder!🦁💛💙
#lioncharterschool #prideofhuntspoint #madeinthebronx #nyc #charterschool
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LION loves Broadway!
Recently, 30 members of our junior class were able to attend a show-stopping performance of Hamilton on Broadway. This was a special presentation for high school students only. We love seeing our students embrace the arts and culture in all forms, and can’t wait for our students to participate in similar events in the future. LION believes art should be accessible for everyone, and our students had a fantastic time!
🦁💛💙
#lioncharterschool #prideofhuntspoint #madeinthebronx #nyc #charterschool
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