J.H.S. 098 Herman Ridder

Test scores here are below district averages — 26.7% ELA and 30.7% math proficiency versus district averages of 44.6% and 43.3% — but the trend line tells a more hopeful story. Math has climbed dramatically from a pandemic low of 7.5% in 2022 to 30.7% in 2024, and ELA has more than doubled from 9.8% in 2016. Grade 6 is performing notably stronger in ELA (35.3%) than grades 7 and 8, suggesting recent interventions may be working. However, the overall score of 1.15 out of 4 remains well below the district average of 1.76, meaning this school is still catching up rather than leading.

The climate data reveals a divided picture. On the positive side, the school has an extremely low suspension rate — just 1% — and a downward trend (from 4 suspensions in 2021-22 to just 1 in each of the last two years), suggesting strong behavior management. Parent satisfaction is moderate at 75.4%. But teacher instruction quality scores are concerning at 39.4%, far below the district average of 88.4%, which raises questions about professional development and support. The elephant in the room is chronic absenteeism: 63.7% of students are chronically absent, with Hispanic students missing at an especially high rate of 70.9%. This isn't just a scheduling issue — it reflects deeper challenges with family stability, health, and school engagement that parents should factor into their thinking.

This is a predominantly Hispanic school (69%) with significant Black enrollment (21%), reflecting the demographics of Crotona Park East. Nearly all students (90.3%) come from economically disadvantaged households, and 26% have IEPs — both well above typical averages. With only 154 students across three grades, class sizes are small at around 22 students, which can mean more individualized attention. The diversity index of 52% is moderate, and the community feel is likely tight-knit given the school's small size.

Crotona Park East is a high-density, family-oriented area in the Bronx with significant challenges. The median household income is just $41,412, and only 9.6% of residents own homes. The poverty rate sits at 28.5%, and just 14.7% of residents have a bachelor's degree or higher. Safety scores are notably low (12.64 percentile), and the area has elevated rates of lead exposure and asthma-related emergency visits. However, transit access is decent (67.43 percentile), and family density is very high (84.29 percentile), meaning this is a neighborhood where many families with children live. There are parks and some green space nearby, and the area has a strong community feel despite the economic hurdles.

Walkability depends on where families are coming from — the neighborhood is dense and transit-connected, but parents may have concerns about safety on certain blocks, especially after school. Many students likely walk or take local buses.