Jonas Bronck Academy

Jonas Bronck Academy posts strong proficiency rates — 60.8% in ELA and 58.7% in Math — both well above District 10 averages (45% and 43.5% respectively). However, the historical trend shows volatility: ELA peaked at 69.3% in 2022, dropped to 49.8% in 2024, and rebounded to 60.8% in 2025. Math similarly fluctuated, climbing to 58.7% in 2025 after dipping to 31.5% in 2022. More notably, there's a clear downward slope as students advance: 6th graders achieve 67.4% in both subjects, while 8th graders drop to 53.6% ELA and 48.8% Math. The school offers accelerated and honors coursework, but the declining performance across grade levels is a pattern families should watch.

The school culture at Jonas Bronck Academy is remarkably positive by several measures. Parent satisfaction sits at 96%, teacher instruction quality scores 97%, and trust metrics between families and leadership range from 95-97%. Attendance is solid at 94% (above the district average of 90.8%). However, chronic absenteeism is a significant concern at 84.4% — among the highest in the district — suggesting that while families report satisfaction, a large portion of students are missing substantial school time. Discipline is essentially a non-issue with a 0% suspension rate, consistent with near-zero suspensions over the past three years. Teachers report high collegial trust (96%) and strong relationships with the principal.

The school enrolls 268 students in a small, intimate setting. Demographics closely mirror the Belmont neighborhood: 73% Hispanic, 17% Black, 5% Asian, and 4% White. With an economic need index of 84 (very high) and 22% of students receiving special education services, the student population reflects a community facing significant socioeconomic challenges. The diversity index of 47% is moderate, and the school offers ELL Support alongside a broad range of programs.

Belmont is a densely populated, working-class neighborhood in the Bronx characterized by low-income households ($32,956 median), high poverty (37.7%), and very low homeownership (3.8%). Education attainment is low (only 13.1% have a bachelor's degree or higher), and the safety score is notably low at 2.3/100, with elevated crime density and environmental health concerns (elevated lead rates and asthma incidence). Transit access is decent (58.62), and family density is moderate (55.56). The neighborhood is rich in cultural identity, anchored by the Arthur Avenue retail market and several parks.

The school sits along Fordham Road, a major commercial corridor with multiple bus lines serving the area. Families from within Belmont can walk or take short bus rides; those coming from farther afield depend on the Bx12, Bx41, or subway connections via the Fordham Road stations.