Bronx Charter School for Better Learning II

This school saw a dramatic academic turnaround. In 2022, proficiency had cratered to 37.5% ELA and 38.4% Math — well below district averages at the time. By 2025, ELA jumped to 62%, outpacing the district average of 56.7%, while Math reached 53.9%, sitting just below the district average of 55.6%. The overall quality score of 2.32/4 is slightly above the district average of 2.25. Grade 3 leads with 69.9% ELA proficiency, while Grade 5 Math lags at 44.3%. The trend direction is clearly upward, but Math proficiency has slipped slightly from its 2023 peak of 60.6%.

The survey data tells a story of strong relational foundation. Teachers rate instruction quality at 96% and report 96% safety — both above district averages. Parent satisfaction matches the district average at 92%, but parent trust metrics are exceptional: 97% parent-teacher trust and 98% parent-principal trust. Teachers show solid trust in leadership at 89%, though collegial trust among staff is lower at 79%. The attendance rate of 90.7% is slightly below the district average, but chronic absenteeism at 63.8% is a red flag — meaning nearly two-thirds of students missed at least 10% of the school year. This is a school where families and staff trust each other deeply, but getting kids to school consistently remains a challenge.

With 443 students, this is a mid-sized elementary school. The student body is 83% Black and 14% Hispanic, with minimal representation of other groups. The economic need index of 63.1% indicates significant poverty, though the neighborhood around the school is relatively affluent with median income above $90,000 and a 56.5% homeownership rate. Ten percent of students have IEPs, matching the demographic profile of the surrounding community. The school maintains a notably Black and Hispanic enrollment in a neighborhood that's stable and homeowner-dominated.

Pelham Gardens is a stable, residential Bronx neighborhood with a 95% stability score — meaning many families have lived here for years and plan to stay. Median home values exceed $640,000, and more than half of residents own their homes. The safety score of 60 is moderate, and transit access is limited with a score of 32. Family density is relatively low at 33%, which may contribute to the school's struggles with chronic absenteeism — families may be spread out and commuting from other areas. There are parks and family resources in the broader area, but this isn't a neighborhood where kids walk to multiple friends' houses.

Transit access is limited, so most families drive or take buses. The neighborhood is residential and car-oriented, with moderate walkability within the immediate blocks but few families walking long distances.