Saved Schools

Hempstead Upper Elementary School

Hempstead Upper Elementary School, nominated by an anonymous organization, is an elementary school in Hempstead, New York, that describes itself as a public charter school serving learners from a primarily suburban area.

Location Hempstead, New York

Governance Public Charter School

Grades Elementary

Students 467

Locale Suburban

Chief Academic Officer Dr Nicholas Stapleton

Demographics

Percentage of students*

73%

English Learners

93%

Free/Reduced Lunch

8%

Students with Disabilities

African American or Black 25%

American Indian/Alaska Native

Asian 1%

Hawaiian or Pacific Islander

Hispanic or Latino 73%

White

2+ Races

Why Hempstead Upper Elementary School was nominated

The Academy has significantly developed it's high school program in recent years with a heavy investment in CTE and STEM programming to provide career-connected learning and pathways, with a focus on aviation and drone technology, digital media arts, robotics, and other important modern fields that lead to stable and trajectory-changing career paths.

Student experience design

The student experience at the Academy Charter Upper Elementary School is designed to promote academic mastery, strong character, and disciplined learning habits within a structured, high-expectations environment. Instruction is standards-aligned with the New York State Education Department and emphasizes literacy, numeracy, and data-driven teaching to ensure all scholars achieve proficiency. Students engage in mastery-based learning, supported by differentiated instruction, targeted interventions, and extended learning time. At the same time, the school fosters character development, emphasizing responsibility, perseverance, and accountability through consistent routines and clear expectations. Overall, the experience prepares scholars to be academically successful, self-directed, and ready for middle school and future college and career pathways.

Core Practices

Core Practices Length of Use

Adaptive Learning Software

5+ years

Assessments For Deeper Learning

5+ years

Extended Learning Time

5+ years

1:1 Mentoring

5+ years

Peer To Peer Support

5+ years

All Practices

Advancement On Mastery

Student Advisories

AI Literacy

AI For Learning Materials

AI For Teacher Productivity

Anti-racist Practices

Assessments For Social-emotional Skills

Blended Learning

Career Exploration

Co-leadership

Family And Community Support Services

Competency/mastery-based Education

Culturally Responsive Practices

Grading Policies Focus On Mastery

All Courses Designed For Inclusion

Individual Learning Paths

Mental Health Services

Multi-tiered System Of Support (MTSS) In Academics

Project-based Learning

Performance Based Assessment

High Quality Instructional Materials

Restorative Practices

SEL Curriculum

SEL Integration School-wide

Student-led Conferences

Students Access Their Own Data

Student-led Goal Setting

Self-paced Learning

Students Develop Projects

Trauma-informed Practices

Tutoring

Universal Design For Learning

Career Prep

key reasons for innovating

Improve academic achievement

Improve school culture

Increase student agency

Date Updated: 4/1/2026

*Canopy profile data is self-reported or sourced from NCES data, then verified by school leaders.