I.S. 313 School of Leadership Development

Test scores at I.S. 313 remain significantly below the District 9 average — 17.2% in ELA and 17.5% in Math compared to roughly 45% district-wide. The school's overall score of 0.69 out of 4 places it far below the district average of 1.79. However, the trajectory is worth examining: math proficiency climbed from 14% in 2022 to 29% in 2024 before slipping to 17.5% in 2025, while ELA peaked at 27% in 2022 and has declined since. Grade-level data shows 8th graders performing notably better than 6th graders in both subjects, suggesting older students may be benefiting from interventions that haven't yet reached younger cohorts. The school is clearly not meeting state standards at rates peers in the district achieve, but there's evidence of effort and some upward movement.

Here's what stands out: families who engage with the school love it. Parent satisfaction sits at 94%, with near-universal trust in teachers (98%) and the principal (97%). Teachers report 86% instruction quality, which is solid. But there's a clear divide in how staff view leadership — teacher-principal trust is only 70% and teacher collegial trust sits at 69%, suggesting some internal tension that parents may not see. On discipline, the school has maintained zero suspensions for three consecutive years, which is notable and suggests a restorative or supportive approach. The flip side is a chronic absenteeism rate of 64.5% — roughly two-thirds of students are missing too much school. This isn't a discipline problem; it's an attendance culture problem that likely reflects both neighborhood challenges and family circumstances. The 88.9% attendance rate lags the district average of 90.1%.

This is a predominantly Hispanic (71%) and Black (27%) student body in a neighborhood that is over 94% economically needy. With just 211 students across three grades, class sizes are small at about 21 students — right on par with the district average. Nearly three in ten students have IEPs, indicating significant special education services. The school offers ELL support for English Language Learners. Demographics closely mirror the surrounding Claremont neighborhood, which has very few homeowners (2.7%) and a young, working-class population.

Claremont Village is a high-density, high-need neighborhood in the South Bronx with limited retail and green space, though it has strong transit access (75th percentile). The area scores very low on safety (11th percentile) and has elevated environmental health concerns, including asthma rates that are notably high. Just 10% of households have children under 18, which is unusual for a middle school zone — many families here are single adults or seniors, meaning the school serves a population that may be somewhat isolated from the broader neighborhood's family networks. Median household income is just $30,000 and only 11% of adults have bachelor's degrees.

The school is located on Webster Avenue, a major Bronx thoroughfare with good bus service. Families walking from within the neighborhood will find a densely built urban environment, though the area lacks the kind of commercial corridors that make walking feel destination-oriented.