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Test scores here have climbed substantially since 2016, when only 16.5% of students were proficient in ELA and a mere 12.5% in math. Today, math sits at 41.9% — nearly catching the district average of 44.7% — while ELA at 36.5% remains about 8 points below the district. The school outperforms on science (52%), and Grade 8 students are posting the strongest results (38.5% ELA, 43.3% math). Still, the overall quality score of 1.57 out of 4 places it below the district average of 1.79, suggesting parents should expect a school that is improving but not yet meeting the typical Bronx middle school benchmark.

The climate data tells a nuanced story. Parents and teachers both report very high trust in leadership — 96% of families trust the principal, and 94% trust teachers. Teachers rate instruction quality at 93%, well above the district average. But attendance is a concern: while the daily attendance rate (91.1%) slightly exceeds the district average, a striking 70.6% of students are considered chronically absent, meaning they miss more than 10% of school days. Suspensions ticked up to 7 in 2023-24 after a year with none, though the rate (2%) remains modest. The day-to-day feel appears collaborative and trusting, but chronic absenteeism suggests some families are facing real barriers to getting kids to school consistently.

This is a nearly all-minority school in a neighborhood that is predominantly low-income and working-class. Eighty percent of students are Hispanic, 19% Black, with virtually no white or Asian enrollment. A quarter of students have IEPs, indicating robust special education services. The neighborhood around the school has a very high family density (94th percentile) but only 14% of adults hold bachelor's degrees, reflecting the working-class character of the area. Just 6.5% of residents own homes.

The Morris Heights area of the Bronx is a dense, transit-accessible neighborhood (ranked 70th percentile for transit) with a strong family presence but significant economic challenges. Median household income is around $32,000, and 37% of residents live in poverty. Safety scores are low (6/100), reflecting the reality of many South Bronx neighborhoods. There are parks and community resources nearby, and the area is well-served by buses and the subway, making it relatively accessible for families without cars.

The neighborhood is walkable and well-served by bus routes; families from across the Bronx can reach the school via public transit, though walking long distances in this area requires attention to traffic and street crossings.