Academic Leadership Charter School

These scores are exceptional for District 7: 89.2% ELA proficiency versus a district average of 51.3%, and 92.3% math proficiency versus 49% — this school is essentially running laps around its peers. The trajectory tells a real story too. ELA proficiency climbed from 56.4% in 2016 to a peak of 89.2% in 2025, with math jumping from 58.8% to 92.3% over the same window. There was a noticeable COVID-era dip in 2022 (math dropped to 54.2%), but the school has more than recovered and is now at its highest point on record. Science proficiency at 75.5% is solid, though the gap between ELA/math and science is worth noting. Grade-by-grade, the results are remarkably consistent — every tested grade posts 80%+ ELA and 89%+ math.

Parent-facing numbers here are about as strong as you'll see in any New York City school: 96% parent satisfaction, 98% parent-teacher trust, 97% parent-principal trust, and 95% of teachers rate instruction quality highly. Teacher-reported safety is a perfect 100%. The day-to-day feel, based on surveys, is one of high trust between families and the school. However, two numbers tell a more complicated story: attendance is 90.9%, slightly below the district average of 91.1%, and chronic absenteeism sits at 65.8% — meaning roughly two-thirds of students miss 10% or more of the school year. That gap between extremely positive parent sentiment and very high chronic absenteeism is unusual and worth asking the school about directly. Teacher survey responses were modest (14 teachers), which limits how much weight to give those data points.

The student body is 52% Hispanic and 44% Black, with small shares of White, Asian, Multi-Racial, and Native American students — a demographic profile that mirrors the surrounding Mott Haven-Port Morris neighborhood closely. The economic need index of 93.3% places it among the higher-need schools in the city, meaning the vast majority of students come from low-income households. With 13% of students classified as IEP, the special education population is slightly below the citywide average but still meaningful. This is a school where the overwhelming majority of families are working-class Bronx residents of color choosing a charter alternative to their zoned schools.

Mott Haven-Port Morris is one of the poorest neighborhoods in the Bronx, with a median household income around $29,000 and a poverty rate over 40%. Only about 12% of adults have a bachelor's degree, and homeownership is exceptionally low at 6% — most families rent. Despite that, the median home value is surprisingly high (over $800,000), a reflection of new development and market pressure rather than existing residents' wealth. Just 12% of households include children, which is low for New York City and signals that this is a young, transient, predominantly adult neighborhood where the families who do live here often have to seek out schools deliberately.

The school is well-served by the 6 train, with Cypress Av about a 4-minute walk, E 143 St-St Mary's St about 6 minutes, and Brook Av about 8 minutes — plenty of subway options for families coming from other parts of the Bronx or Manhattan.