H.E.R.O. High (Health, Education, and Research Occupations High School)

School-level proficiency rates aren't reported in the data provided, so direct comparison to district averages (about 51% ELA, 49% math) isn't possible. The indirect signal is strong though: teachers rate instructional quality at 92%, well above the district average of 88%, and 94% of teachers say they trust the principal — a climate often associated with academic follow-through. With a career-pathway focus on health and research occupations, the academic program leans toward applied learning rather than test-prep culture.

The day-to-day feel here is unusually calm: zero suspensions across the entire school, against a district average suspension rate of 0.84%, is a remarkable data point that suggests real investment in restorative practices. Parent satisfaction (95%) and parent-teacher trust (94%) both clear the district average, and parent-principal trust at 90% is a sign families feel heard. The one caveat is that only 16% of families returned the survey — those 109 voices are positive, but they may not fully represent the whole parent body.

HERO's 667 students reflect the South Bronx around them: 64% Hispanic and 31% Black, with small Asian, White, and Native American populations rounding out the body. The economic need index of 91.2% — meaning roughly 9 in 10 students come from low-income households — mirrors the neighborhood's 40% poverty rate. Twenty-three percent of students have IEPs, higher than a typical comprehensive high school, suggesting the school serves a meaningful share of students with disabilities alongside its ed-opt admits.

Mott Haven-Port Morris is a predominantly renter neighborhood — only 6% of households own their homes — where median household income sits near $29,000 and four in ten residents live below the poverty line. Just 12% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, and only about 12% of households include children, which means HERO draws families from across the Bronx rather than just the immediate blocks. The median home value near $819,000 is striking against the income figures and reflects new construction reshaping parts of the area.

HERO is well-served by the 6 train at E 143 St-St Mary's St (about 3 minutes on foot) and E 149 St (about 5 minutes), with the 2 and 5 lines at Jackson Av roughly 9 minutes away.