Chess has been an integral part of SA’s curriculum from day one, both as a regular part of the K-4 day and as an after-school option. SA chess teacher Christopher Johnson reflects on why the game — along with the lessons it can instill in young people — is such a source of joy.

The SA Chess program held our annual end-of-the-year tournament and for the first time in SA history, the tournament was virtual.

Rooms buzzing with energy; blue and orange backs hunched over chessboards; the murmur and occasional shout of unsolicited advice; cheering and a little good-humored trash talk from scholars looking on as their peers scrimmage between tournament games; coaches doling out words of encouragement, guidance — and occasional remonstrance; and child after child heading off to […]

We asked eighth graders from across our middle schools to tell us about what they loved in middle school. Not surprisingly, many recounted how much they loved their electives and team experiences. We’re excited to share with you the reflections of three eighth graders, from Success Academy Harlem North Central, SA Harlem West, and SA […]

The Greater NY Scholastic Chess Championships, held each year in downtown Brooklyn, is one of the most competitive scholastic chess tournaments in the country. Our scholars did amazingly well as teams and individuals, with five individual wins in the top three, and seven team wins in the top three!

A select group of Success Academy scholars headed south this past weekend to compete in the 2018 National K-12 Grade Chess Championships. This event, held in Orlando, Florida, is set apart from other national tournaments in that scholars compete in teams and divisions based on their grade in school rather than on their chess ranking. Scholars from SA Upper West (3rd grade), SA Union Square (4th grade), SA Hudson Yards (5th, 6th, 7th grades), SA Bed Stuy 1 Middle School (8th grade), and the SA High School of the Liberal Arts (11th grade) gave it their all during seven intense games, and they returned laden with trophies!

One hundred and six students from 14 Success Academy schools traveled to Nashville this past weekend, joining thousands of players from across the country to duke it out in what is considered the Super Bowl of scholastic chess: the National Elementary School Championships.

At the 15th Annual All-Girls National Chess Championships, Success Academy scholars knocked it out of the park! Twenty-seven scholars from seven schools travelled to Chicago to compete this past weekend, and they dominated the tournament.

Sixteen Success Academy scholars took on some of the nation’s toughest chess competition at the Junior High Championships in Atlanta, Georgia, earlier this month. They tested their skills and stayed focused over seven rounds. Sean O’Hanlon, SA senior manager of chess, noted that our scholars demonstrated high levels of effort and fortitude — even under […]

During this year’s New York State Chess Championships, spectators likely saw a sea of Success Academy blue and orange: about one in eight competitors at the event was an SA scholar, with 135 participants representing 14 Success Academy schools.

This past weekend, Success Academy Myrtle Middle School scholars (above, with Coach Alex Beltre) became New York City chess champions in the Under 1100 division!

Last week, 35 scholars from across the Success Academy network traveled to Orlando, Florida for some sunshine — and chess! Competing in the prestigious National K-12 Grade Championships, Success Academy improved from last year’s already stellar performance at both the individual and the team levels.

It’s safe to say my family loves the game of chess. Whether my son Aston is challenging an adult chess player at Washington Square Park, or my daughter is asking me to review her opening moves after a tournament game, chess is often the focus of our free time. My kids are learning so much through SA’s chess program — and so am I!

Last weekend, 136 scholars representing 16 Success Academy schools travelled to Nashville, Tennessee, for the United States Chess Federation’s Chess SuperNationals VI.

This weekend, 151 scholars representing 15 Success Academy schools traveled to Saratoga Springs, N.Y., to compete in the 50th Annual New York State Scholastic Chess Championships.

This past weekend, 36 Success Academy scholars from seven different schools traveled to Nashville to compete in the National K-12 Grade Chess Championships — and they put in a stellar performance.

Chess is an essential component of SA’s school design starting in Kindergarten, and the program creates super-fans

Earlier this month 11-year-old Shadman Khan got a chess chance of a lifetime: to compete against one of the world’s top-ranked chess players.

In the months leading up to the U.S. Chess Federation National Elementary Championship in May, 13 of my chess students at Success Academy Harlem North West kicked their training into high gear.

Three lessons that extend beyond chess and can inform every teacher’s practice.

Judit Polgar — the best woman chess player in history — recently coached 40 Success Academy scholars attending a one-week chess camp at the historic Marshall Club, home to such famous players as Bobby Fischer and Fabiano Caruana.

I have to extend sincere thanks to my children’s coaches and to the Success Academy network. They have instilled in my children not only passion and persistence, but also certain grace and equanimity.

Earlier this month, almost 100 chess queens from 20 Success Academy schools made their best move yet!