The mission of the Central Queens Academy is to, “prepare middle school students for success in education, the workforce, and the community through a school that integrates literacy, high standards-based academics and culturally responsive supportive services. The school will lay the foundation for students to be able to graduate, attend the competitive high school of their choice, and go on and excel in college.”

The school will implement the following key design elements in pursuit of its mission:

• focus on an English Language Leaner (ELL) target population including an admissions policy that provides for a 30 percent set-aside for ELLs;

• focus on literacy;

• rigorous standards based academics and frequent assessments to foster life-long learning and college and career readiness;

• focus on teacher development and content mastery;

• more time on task, longer school day and year;

• emphasis on social and emotional learning to teach leadership, character and community; and

• culturally responsive education, enrichment and support services.