Charters have become not just a powerful educational force in the city but a powerful force for good.

Ten New York City public schools earned a Blue Ribbon designation this year, an honor given to just 329 schools nationwide.

The award is given to schools for overall academic excellence or their work to close the achievement gaps between student groups. Schools from all five boroughs were honored.

Nationwide, 329 public and private elementary, middle and high schools were selected based on overall academic excellence or progress in closing achievement gaps.

The event, which included rapper and civil rights activist Common, drew 25.000 people, according to Families for Excellent Schools, the pro-charter advocacy group that organized the event.

Thousands of charter school supporters have rallied to demand that New York City double the number of students attending privately run, publicly funded charter schools by 2020.

Cheering and chanting for choice, an unprecedented crowd of roughly 25.000 parents, children and teachers swarmed Prospect Park on Wednesday to demand the doubling of city charter school seats by 2020.

About 25.000 students, parents, and educators marched in Prospect Park today alongside city officials, including Central Brooklyn Congressman Hakeem Jeffries and rap artist Common in support of New York City’s public charter school system to double in size to serve 200.000 students by 2020.

Thousands of parents, students and educators were joined by rapper Common in Brooklyn Wednesday to call for New York City to double its public charter school sector to 200.000 students by 2020.

“Four years ago, it was like only 60.000 kids,” organizer Yvonne Guillen said. “And now four years down the line, we have 100.000. I think it’s doable.”

This year’s Path to Possible March marks something remarkable: Truly equal educational opportunity is now in reach.

Thousands of charter students, parents, teachers and prominent elected officials will march Wednesday. Heading the parade are such prominent voices for justice as Rep. Hakeem Jeffries and actor/activist Common.

Earlier this month, Families for Excellent Schools put out a report proving that public charter schools are the Path to Possible for the highest-need kids in New York City. They have been responsible for almost all of the gains made in the worst performing school districts.