I.S. X303 Leadership & Community Service

Academic performance sits below the District 9 averages — 41.2% ELA proficiency versus the district's 44.8%, and just 30.5% in math compared to 44.7% district-wide. The school earned a 1.43 overall quality rating against a 1.79 district average. Looking at trends, scores have been volatile: they peaked in 2018 (ELA 45.4%, math 39.4%) before declining, with a recent recovery in 2025 bringing ELA back up to 41.2%. Grade 7 students are performing strongest (44.7% in both subjects), while grade 8 shows the biggest struggle, particularly in math at 23.1%. This is a school where students are catching up rather than accelerating ahead.

The survey data tells a striking story: 96% of parents report satisfaction, 96% trust teachers, and 97% trust the principal — exceptional numbers for any school. Teachers rate instruction quality at 99% and principal trust at 93%. Attendance sits slightly above district average at 91.8%, but chronic absenteeism is a serious issue at 75.5%, affecting female students (81%) slightly more than males (71%). Discipline is minimal — just 3 suspensions last year (1%), down from 4 in 2022-23. The day-to-day feel appears warm and trusting, with strong family-school connections, though chronic absenteeism suggests some families face significant barriers to getting kids to school regularly.

The student body is 70% Hispanic, 29% Black, and 1% White, with zero Asian students — reflecting the demographics of the surrounding Morris Heights neighborhood. Nearly all students (93.9%) qualify for free or reduced lunch, and 27% have IEPs. With a diversity index of just 37%, this is a relatively homogeneous school in a neighborhood that also has limited economic diversity. The small enrollment of 310 students creates an intimate feel, with an average class size of 20.8 matching the district norm.

The school sits in University Heights/Morris Heights, a high-density, high-poverty Bronx neighborhood with strong transit access (69.73 percentile) but significant safety concerns (scoring just 6.13 out of 100). Median household income is $32,393, and only 6.5% of residents own homes. The area has a very high family density (94.25 percentile) but low education attainment (14.9% with BA+). Asthma rates are notably high (75.5 per 1,000), and environmental indicators suggest elevated health risks — common challenges in this part of the Bronx. Families should know the neighborhood has real assets (transit, family density) alongside real struggles (poverty, safety, environmental health).

The area is highly walkable with strong transit access — many families likely walk or take public transit, which is common in this dense urban neighborhood