Bronx Studio School for Writers and Artists

ELA proficiency sits at 31.6% and math at 30.2%, both well below the District 8 averages of roughly 46% and 48%, and the school's overall score of 1.24 out of 4 is the lowest among peer schools. The trajectory, though, tells a different story: math has climbed from 8.2% in 2016 to 30.2% in 2025, and ELA has nearly doubled from 19.1% to 31.6% over the same window. Science proficiency is weaker at 20.7%, and incoming 6th graders score notably stronger in math (40%) than 7th graders (22%), suggesting the gains are real but uneven across grades.

The day-to-day feel here leans warm and stable rather than punitive: zero suspensions were recorded last year, and teachers report strong trust in their principal (90%) and in one another (91%). Parents rate teacher instruction at 88% and parent-principal trust at 93%, both strong, though overall parent satisfaction at 88% runs below the district average of 93%. Attendance is a concern — 88.6% of students attend regularly and 58.6% are chronically absent, well above what you'd want to see, and the gap is wider for girls (63.3%) than boys (53.8%).

The student body is 78% Hispanic and 19% Black, with an economic need index of 92.2% — meaning almost every family qualifies for economic support — and 24% of students have IEPs. The diversity index is relatively low at 34%, reflecting the school's deep roots in the surrounding Hispanic-majority neighborhood. This is a school where almost every family is working-class and many are navigating poverty, and the staff's work centers on that reality rather than running from it.

Hunts Point is one of the Bronx's most working-class neighborhoods, with a median household income near $39,000, a poverty rate above 30%, and a homeownership rate under 10% — meaning most families rent and many are financially stretched. Only about 13% of adult residents hold a bachelor's degree, and roughly 13% of households include children, a relatively low share for a school zone. The school sits in a dense, transit-dependent community where car ownership is uncommon and most families rely on the subway to get around.

Three subway stops serve the school: the 6 train at Hunts Point Avenue is about a 3-minute walk, and the 2 and 5 trains at Simpson Street and Intervale Avenue are both within a 5- to 6-minute walk.