Bronx Little School

Test scores here tell a remarkable story. At 61.1% ELA proficiency and 51.7% math proficiency, Bronx Little School runs well above the District 12 averages of 44.6% and 43.3% respectively — not just meeting district standards but exceeding them substantially. The 2025 overall score of 2.26 out of 4 also sits above the district average of 1.76. But the real headline is the trajectory: from 2016 when just 16.7% of students were proficient in ELA, the school has climbed steadily to nearly quadruple that rate. Grade-level data shows particular strength in Grade 3 (62.5% ELA, 75% math) and Grade 5 ELA (73.7%), suggesting the school's approach is working especially well in earlier grades.

The day-to-day culture here is defined by exceptionally high trust between families, teachers, and leadership — parent satisfaction sits at 94%, teacher-principal trust at 99%, and teacher instruction quality rated at 99%. There's a notable disconnect, however, with chronic absenteeism at 78.4%, which is high even for a high-need district. The school has achieved zero suspensions, which suggests a restorative or supportive approach to behavior. Teacher-reported safety at 86% is slightly above the district average of 84.6%, indicating most staff feel secure. The 96% family survey response rate is extraordinary and suggests genuine community engagement.

This is a predominantly Hispanic school (67%) serving a neighborhood where Hispanic families make up a large share of the population. The student body is 16% Black, 15% Asian, and 1% White, with an economic need index of 90.2% — meaning nearly all students qualify for free or reduced lunch. At 319 students across pre-K through 5th grade, the school is small enough for personalized attention. The diversity index of 53% reflects meaningful representation across racial groups, and 23% of students have IEPs, indicating robust special education services.

The Soundview-Bruckner-Bronx River area is a high-need, high-density residential neighborhood in the South Bronx. Safety scores are notably low (15.33 percentile), which is a real concern for families. The neighborhood scores well on family density (71.26 percentile), meaning lots of children in the area, but low on education orientation (27.97 percentile). Transit access is moderate (48.66), and there's a stability score of 83.14, suggesting long-term residents. Environmental health concerns are present, with elevated asthma rates and some lead risk.

Families in this densely populated neighborhood typically walk or use local bus routes; the area is residential with mixed-use blocks.