International School for Liberal Arts

The school’s academic profile shows a stark split: math proficiency (36.3%) sits just below the district average of 43.5%, while ELA proficiency (22.3%) is roughly half the district average of 45%. Looking at grade-level data, 7th graders are performing strongest in math (62.1%), suggesting strong math instruction at the middle school level. The historical trend is encouraging — math climbed dramatically from single digits in 2019 to over 40% by 2024 before a slight dip, and the school has maintained steady growth in some areas. However, 6th grade ELA (12.5%) and 8th grade math (35.6%) show weaker performance, indicating uneven outcomes across grades and subjects.

Here’s where the school stands out: the culture and climate data reveal a genuinely positive environment. Parent satisfaction matches the district average at 94%, but parent trust in teachers (95%) and the principal (95%) exceeds typical district figures. Teachers report 93% confidence in instruction quality and 93% trust in leadership — remarkably high numbers. Attendance is strong at 93.2% (above the 90.8% district average), though chronic absenteeism is staggeringly high at 82.9%, which likely reflects broader community challenges rather than school culture. Discipline is minimal — just 7 suspensions total — suggesting a restorative or supportive approach to behavior. The disconnect between high trust scores and high chronic absenteeism suggests families value the school but face external barriers to attendance.

The student body is 100% Hispanic, which aligns with the Bedford Park neighborhood’s demographics but means the school has no racial or ethnic diversity. The economic need index is extremely high at 94.6%, meaning nearly all students qualify for free or reduced lunch — a reflection of the neighborhood’s median household income of just $44,438. IEP students make up 11% of the population, and the school offers ELL support. Despite the lack of demographic diversity, there’s program richness: 80/100 score with AP courses, robotics, multiple sports, arts, and world languages including Spanish.

Bedford Park in the Bronx is a transit-connected but economically strained neighborhood with a safety score of just 9.2 (very low) and a poverty rate of 25.6%. Only 7% of residents own homes, and just 17.5% have a bachelor’s degree or higher — factors that shape the student population’s challenges. However, the neighborhood scores high on family density (80.46) and stability (76.25), suggesting a tight-knit community feel. Air quality concerns exist (PM2.5 levels and elevated lead rates), and asthma-related ER visits are notably high, which may partially explain the attendance challenges.

The neighborhood is moderately walkable with strong transit access (75.1 score), making it feasible for families without cars. However, the low safety score means parents may prefer supervised travel for younger students.