I.S. 117 Joseph H. Wade

Test scores at I.S. 117 show meaningful improvement from the low baseline of 2016 (ELA 9.9%, Math 5.3%), but the school still trails district averages significantly — ELA at 30.4% versus the district's 44.8%, and math at 18.8% versus 44.7%. The overall quality score of 0.98/4 sits below the district average of 1.79. Grade 8 students perform notably better in ELA (40.6%) than younger grades, suggesting the school may be more effective at building reading skills over time than math. Parents consistently report high instruction quality (92%), which contrasts with the proficiency data — a gap worth understanding through a school visit.

Parent survey data is striking: 98% satisfaction and 98% trust in both teachers and the principal indicate families feel heard and supported. Teacher-reported instruction quality (92%) aligns with this. However, there are tension points — teacher-principal trust (74%) and teacher collegial trust (70%) are notably lower than parent trust. The suspension rate of 5% (17 suspensions in 2023-24) has trended upward from just 2 in 2021-22, which warrants attention. Daily attendance (90%) matches the district average, but chronic absenteeism at 61.9% is a serious concern — most students are missing significant school time.

This is a high-need school in every demographic sense. With 93.6% economic need index and 27% IEP students, nearly all students face significant challenges outside the classroom. The student body is 81% Hispanic and 18% Black, reflecting the Mount Hope neighborhood's demographics. At 387 students, the school is small, which can foster community but also means limited resources. The diversity index of 31% is low — the student body is quite homogeneous, which may create a tight-knit feel but less exposure to diverse perspectives.

Mount Hope is a high-poverty, transit-rich neighborhood in the Bronx. Median household income is just $41,487, and only 15% of adults have a bachelor's degree — far below citywide averages. Homeownership is nearly nonexistent (3.9%), meaning most families rent. The neighborhood scores very low on safety (0.38 percentile) and education orientation (18.77 percentile), but very high on transit access (85th percentile) and family density (99th percentile). There are parks and some family resources, but families navigate significant challenges including elevated asthma rates and lead exposure risks.

The school is accessible by public transit — the area's high transit score (85th percentile) means most families rely on buses and trains. Walking is possible but families should consider neighborhood safety factors; many students likely commute from nearby blocks.