A nice cap to this year’s National Charter Schools Week occurred last night as the famed Apollo Theater in Harlem played host to a celebration of one of the country’s most successful charter schools, Harlem Village Academies.

The star-studded evening included MC Hugh Jackman and singer John Legend. Surprise guest Gov. David Paterson who has supported a lift in the state’s charter school cap and wants to see more schools like HVA enter the landscape.

The night’s big news was made by media mogul Rupert Murdoch who donated $5 million to the school, which will be used to build a new high school facility. He also pledged another $500,000 he intends as a challenge grant for others to join.

Harlem Village Academies continues to earn accolades from all over, including NYC’s Mayor Bloomberg who recently held it up as an ideal in the charter community.

And why not? New achievement numbers for New York are out, and once again, HVA outshone the competition, scoring 100% in reading and 98% in math. Big congratulations to all of the HVA students and to school founder Deborah Kenny.

Talk about money going to a proven program where it will do the most good for kids.

Too bad the latest Administration budget proposal doesn’t do the same.