East Side Community School

Test scores here hover right around the district average — 51.7% ELA versus 51.7% district, and 52.3% math versus 47.4% district — meaning students are performing comparably to peers across District 1. The math advantage is real: 52.3% proficiency beats the district average by nearly 5 points. But the story is in the trend: scores climbed steadily from 2016 to 2019 (ELA from 43% to 58%, math from 40% to 56%), then dropped sharply during COVID (math cratered to 30% in 2022), and are now rebuilding. Grade 7 stands out as a bright spot with 61% ELA and 75% math proficiency, while Grade 6 struggles at 44% and 30% respectively — suggesting the middle school transition may need attention.

This is where East Side Community School truly shines. Parents report 94% satisfaction — well above the 88% district average — and trust metrics are extraordinary: 94% parent-teacher trust, 96% parent-principal trust, and a stunning 99% teacher-principal trust. Teachers rate instruction quality at 97%, nearly 10 points above the district average. The discipline record is immaculate: zero suspensions. Yet there's a tension: chronic absenteeism sits at 73.8%, which is high, even though overall attendance (92.7%) beats the district average. This suggests a community where families value the school and show up consistently, but may struggle with the daily logistics of getting kids to class in a neighborhood with limited family infrastructure.

The student body is majority Hispanic (54%) with substantial white enrollment (21%) and Black (15%) and Asian (8%) students — a diverse mix reflected in the 70% diversity index. With 65% economic need and 29% IEP students, the population is working-class and includes a significant special education population. The neighborhood itself is only 6.6% households with children, meaning most students commute from elsewhere, making the strong sense of community inside the building even more impressive. Nearly a quarter of the neighborhood lives below the poverty line, yet the school draws from more affluent areas given its selective admissions.

The East Village scores extremely high on transit (93.1) but very low on safety (14.94) and family density (57.09). Only 6.6% of households have children, meaning families are rare in this neighborhood. Median home values exceed $1 million and homeownership is just 14%, so most residents rent — and many are young adults without kids. There are parks and good transit, but the area is more known for nightlife than family life. Parents considering this school should expect to commute; living in the immediate neighborhood with school-age children is uncommon.

Walkable if you live nearby, but with only 6.6% of East Village households having children, most families commute — the strong transit score helps