Access Bronx Charter School

Test scores at Access Bronx sit below district averages — ELA proficiency of 44.8% trails the district's 51.3%, and math at 41.6% falls short of the 49% district average. Science stands out at 75.7%, a genuine bright spot. The historical trend shows volatility: ELA peaked at 61.7% in 2018 before declining, then recovered to the mid-40s in recent years. Math has been particularly inconsistent, dropping to 26.5% in 2022 before climbing to 53.9% in 2024 only to slide back to 41.6% in 2025. Grade-level patterns reveal older students perform stronger — 8th graders show 67.4% ELA and 64.9% math proficiency, while younger grades struggle, with 4th grade ELA at only 20.9% and 5th grade math at 15.2%.

Survey data paints a trusting, collaborative environment — 91% of teachers trust the principal, 88% rate instruction quality as good, and 85% report feeling safe, outpacing the district average of 80.5%. Parents echo this sentiment with 92% trusting the principal and 93% expressing overall satisfaction. However, the family survey response rate of just 16% (72 responses) raises questions about how broadly these positive perceptions reach. The most pressing concern is chronic absenteeism: a striking 68.1% of students are chronically absent, with female students (71.2%) and Hispanic students (69.5%) most affected. This level of absenteeism — far above typical benchmarks — undermines academic progress regardless of what happens in the classroom.

The student body reflects its neighborhood's demographics: 72% Hispanic and 25% Black, with virtually no Asian or white students — the diversity index sits at 40%, indicating moderate within-school diversity but a student population that mirrors the surrounding community's composition. With 94.4% economic need index and 15% IEP students, the school serves a population facing substantial challenges. The average class size of 20.5 matches the district average exactly, so class sizes aren't a distinguishing factor.

Mott Haven-Port Morris is a high-poverty, high-density urban neighborhood in the South Bronx with significant challenges. The median home value of $819,494 reflects gentrification pressures, but median household income remains extremely low at $29,110 with a 40.1% poverty rate. Only 12.2% of residents have a bachelor's degree, and just 6.1% own homes. Safety concerns are real — the safety score of 16.86 (percentile) is among the lowest, with high crime density. Environmental health is also a worry: asthma emergency department visits run at 75.5 per 1,000, and 12.1% of homes have elevated lead levels. Transit access is moderate (48.28 percentile), and family density is low at 23.75 percentile.

Families typically walk or take public transit — the neighborhood is dense and walkable, though safety concerns on surrounding streets are a parent consideration.