Bronx Charter School for Excellence 5

These numbers are remarkable. While District 9's average ELA proficiency sits at just 45%, Bronx Charter Excellence 5 hits 88.2% — nearly double. Math is even more striking at 92.4% versus the district's 45%. The three-year trend is extraordinary: ELA climbed from 48.3% in 2022 to 88.2% in 2025, adding roughly 13 percentage points each year. Grade-level data shows strong performance across the board, with 4th grade math hitting 97.5% and 3rd grade ELA at 92.5%. The overall quality score of 3.61/4 puts this school in a different league than its district peers, most of whom cluster below 2.0.

The climate data tells a layered story. Teachers report 100% trust in their principal — a rare perfect score that suggests strong, supportive leadership. Parents are equally connected: 95% trust the principal, 94% are satisfied, and the family survey response rate of 92% indicates strong engagement. Teacher-reported safety is high at 90%, above the district average of 83%. However, the attendance picture is concerning: while the overall attendance rate of 93.6% is solid, chronic absenteeism sits at a staggering 77.3% — among the highest in the city. This suggests many families struggle with consistent school participation despite positive feelings about the school itself. The day-to-day feel appears to be one of strong relational trust, but structural barriers keep many students from attending regularly.

The student body reflects the neighborhood's demographics: 68% Hispanic, 28% Black, with virtually no white or Asian enrollment. With an economic need index of 85.6% — meaning nearly all students come from low-income households — this is a school serving families facing substantial financial hardship. The diversity index of 43% is moderate, and 19% of students have IEPs. Despite these challenges, the community is deeply engaged: 282 families responded to the survey (a robust response) and 92% of families participated, showing that parents who can engage are highly invested.

Tremont is a densely populated, transit-accessible Bronx neighborhood with significant challenges. The median household income of just $32,208 is among the lowest in the city, and 36.2% of residents live in poverty. Only 7.5% of households own homes, and just 15% of residents have a bachelor's degree. Safety scores are low at 4.98 percentile, with elevated crime density and environmental health concerns — lead exposure rates of 15.2% and high asthma emergency visit rates (75.5 per 1,000) are notable. However, the neighborhood has strong family density (81st percentile) and transit access (60th percentile), meaning families can get around without a car. The school sits within a community where resources are stretched but family networks are present.

Tremont has moderate walkability with access to several bus lines and proximity to the Bronx Park area. Many families likely walk or take public transit; car ownership is low given the 7.5% homeownership rate.