Cardinal McCloskey Community Charter School

The headline here is math. At 67.9% proficiency, Cardinal McCloskey sits roughly 24 percentage points above the District 10 average of 43.5% — a meaningful gap, especially in a charter serving a high-need population. ELA at 55.7% also beats the district average of 45%. The trend matters as much as the level: in 2022, only about 15% of students were meeting ELA standards and 36% in math. By 2025, those numbers jumped to 55.7% and 67.9% respectively — the steepest single-year improvement in ELA occurred between 2024 and 2025. Third-graders lead the way (77% ELA, 83.8% math), while fourth and fifth grade scores dip, suggesting the strongest gains are concentrated in the early grades and instruction may need reinforcement as students age up. Overall quality rating is 2.47 out of 4, well above the district average of 1.77.

Survey responses paint a notably warm picture. Parents give the school a 96% satisfaction mark (above the district's 94%), and trust between parents and both teachers and the principal sits at 97%. Teachers rate their own principal's leadership at 99%, instruction quality at 96%, and school safety at 98% — all above district averages. The softer spot is collegial trust among staff (75%), and the teacher survey is based on only 17 responses, so those numbers should be read with some caution. The harder data point is attendance: the chronic absenteeism rate is 58%, which is high and notably heavier among boys (60%) and Black students (61%). In practical terms, more than half of students miss 10% or more of school days, which is a real obstacle to building on the academic gains. Day-to-day, families clearly feel respected and safe — the school just faces a deep attendance challenge that goes well beyond what the building can control.

The student body reflects Belmont and surrounding neighborhoods: 76% Hispanic, 18% Black, with small numbers of Asian, White, and Native American students. The economic need index of 89.6 (out of 100) signals a population facing significant financial pressure — most students qualify for free or reduced lunch and many are coming from households below the poverty line. Nineteen percent of students have IEPs, which is on the higher side for an elementary school and signals real inclusion of students with disabilities. The diversity index of 41% reflects the fact that the school is fairly homogeneous — most families share similar cultural and economic backgrounds.

Belmont is a densely built, predominantly renter neighborhood in the central Bronx. Median household income hovers around $33,000, with more than a third of residents living below the poverty line. Only about 11% of households have children, which is relatively low and reflects the young-adult, immigrant character of much of the area. Homeownership is rare (under 4%), and bachelor's-degree attainment among adults is about 13%. The neighborhood is lively and walkable in the everyday sense — bodegas, churches, subway stops — but no subway station is close, so getting to and from school requires planning.

No subway station is truly close. The nearest options are the 2/5 at West Farms Square–E Tremont Avenue (about an 18-minute walk), the B/D at 182–183 Streets (about 16 minutes), or the 2/5 at 174th Street (about 20 minutes). Most families likely walk, take a bus, or get a ride.