At a Glance
A K-8 charter in Parkchester where math scores climbed from middling to near-perfect in less than a decade
Best suited for
Families seeking exceptional academics in a diverse, high-trust charter community — and who are comfortable with lottery admissions and a K-8 commitment through 8th grade.
Overall Rating
Rating = average of NY State ELA + math proficiency, grades 3–8
Bands are Motley's thresholds on a 0–100 scale, not New York State performance levels.
How this is scored→What stands out
- Math proficiency of 94.5% is one of the highest in the Bronx and well above every district school in the peer list.
- 100% of teachers who responded say they feel safe at school — a rare, unanimous signal.
- Math scores climbed roughly 26 percentage points in three years, an unusually steep and sustained trajectory.
- 99% teacher-principal trust points to unusually aligned leadership and a coherent school culture.
- A 41% Asian student body is distinctive for the Bronx and reflects a specific, engaged community of families.
Things to consider
- Charter with lottery admissions — there is no guaranteed neighborhood seat, and demand likely exceeds supply.
- The 90.4% chronic absenteeism figure is unusually high and inconsistent with the strong 95.5% attendance rate, so it's worth asking the school directly what it reflects.
- At 830 students across K-8, this is a large school — less intimate than many small charters.
- Being a K-8 school means no natural middle-school transition; families commit through 8th grade or look elsewhere for high school.
- An economic need index of 71.5% means a significant share of students come from lower-income households, which is worth understanding in context.
Based on 2024-25 data
School SummaryDistrict 11
In District 11, this school sits in the top tier of peer rankings — second only to Icahn Charter School 4 and ahead of three other Icahn charters, with an overall score of 3.73/4 against a district average of 2.25. It is a clear standout rather than a typical option.
Academics
ELA proficiency of 92.1% and math proficiency of 94.5% sit roughly 35 percentage points above the district averages of 56.7% and 55.6%, placing this school among the strongest in the Bronx. The growth is striking — math jumped from 68.8% in 2016 to 94.5% in 2025, ELA from 63.9% to 92.1%, with most of the acceleration happening since 2022. Science proficiency of 76% is also well above typical district results, and scores by grade are remarkably consistent — every grade from 3 through 8 lands in the 84–99% range in both subjects. The 3.73/4 overall score, against a district average of 2.25, is consistent excellence, not a fluke.
Culture
Survey results are uniformly excellent: teacher-reported safety is at 100%, teacher-principal trust at 99%, parent satisfaction at 96%, and 97% of teachers rate instruction quality positively — all well above district norms. The 95.5% attendance rate sits comfortably above the district's 91.2%, and the 78% family survey response rate suggests families are unusually engaged. The chronic absenteeism number of 90.4% is unusually high and doesn't align with the strong attendance rate, so it's worth asking the school directly what it reflects. With 21 teachers and 609 families responding, the survey signals a community where parents feel heard and teachers feel supported by leadership.
Community
This is a remarkably diverse student body — 41% Asian, 28% Black, 29% Hispanic, with smaller shares of White, multi-racial, and Native American students — reflecting Parkchester's mixed residential character and the charter's citywide draw. The 71.5% economic need index means a substantial share of students come from lower-income households, and 11% are classified as IEP. The combination of a strong demographic mix, high family engagement (78% survey response), and the academic results above suggests families from a wide range of backgrounds are choosing this school and committing to it.
Neighborhood
Parkchester is a dense, transit-accessible residential neighborhood where the typical household earns about $59,700 a year and roughly a quarter of residents live below the poverty line. Only about 15.8% of households have children under 18, and homeownership sits at 20.5%, so this is largely a renter neighborhood with a mix of working- and middle-class families, retirees, and singles. About 30% of adults hold a bachelor's degree and the median home value is $225,973, both moderate figures for the borough. The neighborhood has a settled, residential feel with strong subway access.
The 6 train stops at Parkchester about a 3-minute walk from the school, with Castle Hill Avenue (about 8 minutes) and St Lawrence Avenue (about 11 minutes) also within reach on the same line.
Enrollment & applying
Enrollment availability is tracked from the school's published listings and refreshed daily. Confirm cycle dates on the school's own site before applying.
Academic Performance
ELA Proficiency
Students scoring proficient or above on the NY State ELA exam.
NYC DOE InfoHub · 2022-23
Math Proficiency
Students scoring proficient or above on the NY State Math exam.
NYC DOE InfoHub · 2022-23
Science Proficiency
Students scoring proficient or above on the NY State Science exam.
NYC DOE InfoHub · 2022-23
Historical Trends
The dashed line marks 2023, when New York changed its grades 3–8 state tests. Scores before and after it aren’t directly comparable.
2020–2021 data unavailable due to COVID-19
Source: NYC DOE School Quality Reports
Survey Results
NYC School Survey (2025) · 609 families responded (78% rate)
Racial & Ethnic Diversity
NYC DOE InfoHub · 2022-23
Economic Need & Special Populations
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Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Bronx Charter School for Excellence a good school?
- On Motley, Bronx Charter School for Excellence earns an overall rating of 93/100 — the average of the school's New York State ELA and math proficiency, grades 3–8, shown out of 100. Its state test results run above the District 11 average.
- What grades does Bronx Charter School for Excellence serve?
- Bronx Charter School for Excellence serves grades K to 8.
- How do students get into Bronx Charter School for Excellence?
- Bronx Charter School for Excellence is a charter school — it admits through a free public lottery, with no test or attendance zone.
- Is Bronx Charter School for Excellence public, charter, or private?
- Bronx Charter School for Excellence is a public charter school in NYC Community School District 11.
- What neighborhood is Bronx Charter School for Excellence in?
- Bronx Charter School for Excellence is in Parkchester, Bronx.