Accion Academy

Test scores at Accion Academy are significantly below District 12 averages — ELA proficiency of 31.8% and Math at 27% compare to district averages of 45% and 43% respectively. However, the math trajectory is notable: from a dire 8.6% in 2022, the school climbed to 27% by 2025, a 18-point jump in three years. ELA has been bumpier, hovering around 30% for most of the past decade with a recent uptick to 31.8%. Grade 7 performs best (35.8% ELA, 32.7% math), while Grade 8 math drops to 21.3%. With an overall quality score of 1.18 out of 4, the school is working to build academic momentum in a community where 93% of students face economic hardship.

This is where Accion Academy tells a surprisingly strong story. Parent satisfaction sits at 95%, and trust metrics between families and teachers (97%), families and the principal (97%), and teachers and principal (97%) are exceptional. Teacher-rated instruction quality scores 93%. The discipline picture is also improving dramatically — suspensions dropped from 13 in 2022-23 to just 3 in 2023-24. The challenge is attendance: at 88.1% (below the 90% district average) with a stark 59.3% chronic absenteeism rate, nearly two-thirds of students are missing significant school time. Hispanic students chronic miss at 62%, higher than Black students at 44%. The school has the trust of families who are engaged — an 80% family survey response rate is strong — but getting students through the door consistently remains a core struggle.

With 284 students across grades 6-8, Accion Academy is a small school where nearly three-quarters of students identify as Hispanic (73%), reflecting Longwood's predominantly Latino population. Black students make up 22%, with minimal Asian (1%) and White (3%) enrollment. A striking 93.4% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch — one of the highest economic need indices in the city — and 31% have Individualized Education Programs. The diversity index is 43%, driven largely by the school's two largest racial groups. Class sizes average 21.9 students, on par with the district average, meaning the school isn't overcrowded but also doesn't have significant resources per pupil.

Longwood sits in the South Bronx, a neighborhood defined by high poverty rates (33% of households), low homeownership (13%), and limited college-degree attainment (15% of residents have a BA or higher). Transit access is excellent (93rd percentile), making the school reachable without a car, but the safety score of 4.21 out of 100 is among the lowest in the city. Crime density is high, and environmental health indicators like asthma rates (75.5 per 1,000) and lead exposure (15.2%) reflect long-standing neighborhood health challenges. Despite these constraints, the area has a strong family presence (83rd percentile for family density) and moderate stability (66th percentile). The median home value of $537,000 suggests some gentrification pressure, but household income remains low at $36,500.

Families arrive primarily by public transit given the excellent subway and bus access (93rd percentile). The area is pedestrian-friendly but parents should consider the safety score when planning routes and supervision, especially for younger students.