At a Glance
A small, arts-rich high school where families feel deeply trusted and suspension is virtually nonexistent
Families who prioritize a small-school feel, strong family-school relationships, robust arts and extracurricular programming, and a discipline-free environment over top-tier test scores. Parents comfortable with a school where teacher leadership trust is a work in progress, and who value community connection over competitive academic metrics, will find a good fit here.
- Zero suspensions in a district where the average is 0.42%
- Near-perfect parent trust scores (100% parent-teacher, 99% parent-principal)
- Exceptional family survey response rate (98%) indicating strong community engagement
- Very high parent satisfaction (98% vs. 94% district average)
- Rich program offerings with a 90/100 program richness score — particularly strong in arts, theater, and dance
- 14 different sports offered including unique options like Double Dutch and wrestling
- Special education services integrated with 28% IEP student population
- No test score data provided, making academic performance difficult to assess
- Teacher trust in leadership (70%) is notably lower than parent trust — a potential leadership gap
- Very low PTA fundraising ($1/student vs. $4.43 district average) indicates limited parent financial resources
- Teacher survey response rate was very low (24 responses), which may affect reliability of teacher-reported data
- Located in a neighborhood with lower safety scores and elevated environmental health concerns
- The school lacks the strong academic performance metrics of nearby charter peers (Icahn Charter at 99/100, Success Academy at 93-97/100)
Based on 2024-2025 data
School SummaryDistrict 9
District 9 is dominated by high-performing charter schools — the top five schools by quality score are all charters, with Icahn Charter School 1 at 99/100 and Success Academy Bronx 2 at 97/100. As a traditional district school with limited unscreened admissions, DreamYard sits in a challenging competitive landscape where charters capture much of the high-performing student demand. That said, this school offers something the charters largely don't: a deeply family-connected culture with near-zero exclusionary discipline.
Test score data was not provided for DreamYard, but the school operates in District 9 where the average ELA proficiency is 45% and math is also 45% — both well below citywide averages. Without direct proficiency data, it's difficult to assess academic performance relative to district peers, though the school's rich AP and arts offerings suggest academic ambition. The small enrollment of 324 students allows for an average class size of 20.8, matching the district average.
The survey results here are extraordinary and deserve attention. Parent satisfaction hits 98% — well above the district average of 94% — with parent-teacher trust at a perfect 100% and parent-principal trust at 99%. Teachers report 88% instruction quality (slightly below the district average of 90%) but notably lower trust in leadership at 70%, with collegial trust at 79%. These teacher trust gaps are worth noting. The discipline record is exceptional: zero suspensions in a district where the average suspension rate is 0.42%. Attendance averages 90%, matching the district average.
The student body is predominantly Hispanic (69%) and Black (28%), with minimal Asian (1%) and White (1%) representation — reflecting the neighborhood's demographics in the Mount Eden-Claremont area. The diversity index of 41% is moderate. Notably, 28% of students have IEPs, a significant population that the school appears to serve through its special education programming. The school draws 405 applicants for 86 seats, yielding a 20% offer rate — competitive for a limited unscreened school in the Bronx.
Mount Eden-Claremont (West) is a high-density, family-heavy Bronx neighborhood with a 32% poverty rate and only 4.4% homeownership. Median household income sits at $45,405, and just 16.2% of residents have a bachelor's degree or higher — indicating a working-class community. Transit access is excellent (83.52 percentile), making the school accessible. The area scores lower on education orientation (25.29) and safety (0.77), while family density is very high (94.64). Environmental health indicators show elevated asthma rates and some lead exposure concerns, common in older Bronx housing stock.
Strong transit access makes this a commutable neighborhood, though the low safety score and limited walkability infrastructure suggest families should consider transportation logistics carefully.
Survey Results
NYC School Survey (2025) · 288 families responded (98% rate)
Programs & Activities
Admissions Demand
Students will take arts classes each year of high school. In 9th and 10th Grades, students take an Arts Elective Class each semester in Choral Music, Dance, Theater, or Visual Arts. In 11th and 12th grades, students choose a major in one of these areas. Each semester, students are expected to participate in an arts exhibition or performance. Students with a strong interest in the arts can participate in summer intensives in their area of choice.
Racial & Ethnic Diversity
NYC DOE InfoHub · 2022-23
PTA Fundraising
Source: DOE Local Law 171 disclosure
Economic Need & Special Populations
Discipline
NYSED Student & Educator Database
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is DreamYard Preparatory School a good school?
- Published quality ratings aren't available for DreamYard Preparatory School yet on Motley. It's a public school serving grades 9 to 12 in Mount Eden-Claremont (West).
- What grades does DreamYard Preparatory School serve?
- DreamYard Preparatory School serves grades 9 to 12.
- How do students get into DreamYard Preparatory School?
- DreamYard Preparatory School uses the Educational Option (Ed-Opt) method, ranking applicants across performance levels so seats go to a mix of abilities.
- Is DreamYard Preparatory School public, charter, or private?
- DreamYard Preparatory School is a public school in NYC Community School District 9.
- What neighborhood is DreamYard Preparatory School in?
- DreamYard Preparatory School is in Mount Eden-Claremont (West), Bronx.
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