Bronx School for Law, Government and Justice

State test proficiency sits below the district average — 36.9% in ELA versus 44.8% districtwide, and 33.6% in Math versus 44.7% — meaning students are performing below their peers in District 9. The historical trend is volatile: scores peaked in 2018 at 53.9% ELA and have generally declined since, with a sharp dip in 2022 math (15.1%) followed by partial recovery. Grade-level data shows Grade 7 outperforming others (40.7% ELA, 47.7% Math), while Grade 8 lags in math at just 25.3%. The overall quality score of 1.41/4 places this school below the district average of 1.79, indicating that on paper, academic outcomes are a real concern.

The culture data tells a more complicated story than test scores alone. Teacher instruction quality (92%) actually exceeds the district average (90.2%), and parent trust metrics are strong: 94% trust between parents and teachers, and 94% trust in the principal. Parent satisfaction sits at 90% (slightly below the 94% district average, but still high). However, chronic absenteeism is a significant issue at 72.1% — far exceeding what you'd expect from a 92% attendance rate — with female students missing substantially more school than males (78.3% vs 66.2%). The school reports zero suspensions, which is notably better than the district average. Teacher collegial trust (72%) and teacher-principal trust (85%) suggest some friction among staff, but families report feeling heard and respected.

The student body is predominantly Hispanic (75%) with significant Black enrollment (22%), reflecting the demographics of the Concourse-Concourse Village neighborhood. With 90.8% economic need and 24% of students receiving IEP services, this is a high-need population. The diversity index of 38% is relatively low, meaning the student body is fairly homogeneous — most students share similar backgrounds and lived experiences. Family survey response rates were decent (293 responses), though teacher responses were limited (56), which may affect the reliability of some staff survey data.

Concourse-Concourse Village is a high-density Bronx neighborhood with significant challenges. Median household income is just $40,255, and 34% of residents live below the poverty line. Only 15.8% of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher, and homeownership is extremely low at 11.1%. The area scores very low on safety (2.68 percentile) with high crime density and elevated environmental health risks (15.2% elevated lead rate, high asthma emergency department rates). However, transit access is strong (66.67 percentile) and family density is high (77.39 percentile). Parents should know that the neighborhood presents real quality-of-life considerations — safety and environmental health are areas of concern compared to more affluent parts of the city.

The area has decent transit access (subway and bus lines nearby), and the neighborhood is densely populated, so many families likely walk or take public transportation. However, the low safety score suggests parents may be cautious about walkability, especially during certain times of day.