High School of American Studies at Lehman College

Test score data isn't available for this school, but the admissions stats tell the story — this is one of the city's most selective public high schools, drawing academically advanced students from across all five boroughs. Class sizes match the district average at 22.9 students, and the program richness score of 67.8 reflects solid but not exhaustive offerings including AP courses, multiple world languages, and humanities tracks.

The survey numbers paint an unusually positive picture. Teachers report 100% instruction quality — the highest in the district — and parent-principal trust hits 98%. There's a notable gap between parent satisfaction (93%) and the district average (94%), which may reflect the high-pressure SHSAT culture or families' expectations for a specialized school. The zero suspensions is remarkable and suggests either exceptional student behavior or very conservative disciplinary approaches. Teacher response rate to the survey was very low (28 responses), so some caution is warranted in interpreting the teacher trust numbers.

The student body diverges sharply from its neighborhood — 38% white, 24% Asian, only 17% Hispanic and 9% Black, compared to a neighborhood that's predominantly Hispanic and Black with low homeownership and high poverty. The diversity index of 77% is strong, but this is a school that draws from the entire city rather than reflecting its local community. At 3%, IEP students are markedly underrepresented, suggesting the specialized admissions process may not be capturing the full range of learners.

Bedford Park is a dense, transit-rich Bronx neighborhood with significant challenges. The safety score of 9.2 is extremely low — crime density and environmental health risks (elevated lead rates at 15.2%, high asthma emergency department rates) are serious concerns for families. That said, transit access scores 75.1, making the school accessible by subway. The area has high stability (76%) but low education orientation (33%) and few households with children (14%), which explains why this specialized school draws from outside the neighborhood rather than serving local families.

Families travel from across the city — this is an SHSAT school, so walkability from the immediate neighborhood matters less than transit access. The area is served by subway lines and buses, but parents should factor in commute time and the neighborhood's safety realities when planning daily logistics.