Learning through Play Pre-K Center

Detailed state test scores and survey responses were not available for this profile, so a direct comparison to the district's 51% ELA and 49% Math proficiency averages isn't possible here. What we can say is that the average class size of 20.5 is essentially identical to the district 7 average of 20.6, meaning students aren't packed into oversized rooms. With only 195 students across the grade levels listed, the school is small enough to offer a more individualized experience than most District 7 schools.

School survey data on trust, safety, instruction quality, and family engagement wasn't included in this profile, so the day-to-day feel is hard to characterize from the numbers alone. The school's tiny enrollment — 195 students — typically means teachers, families, and kids know each other well, which often translates into warmer relationships and quicker communication. The 11% IEP rate suggests the school serves a typical range of students with disabilities without being a specialized program, and the high economic need index (75.9) means most families are navigating real financial pressure.

The student body is 50% Hispanic and 48% Black, with Asian, white, and multiracial students together making up just 3% — a near-total reflection of Mott Haven-Port Morris's longtime Latino and Black population. The 43% diversity index reflects the fact that the two largest groups are roughly equal in size, not that the school draws from many racial backgrounds. With an economic need index of 75.9, three out of four students qualify for free lunch or related supports, signaling that the families here are working hard to make ends meet.

Mott Haven-Port Morris is one of the poorest corners of the Bronx. The median household income sits around $29,000, the poverty rate is just over 40%, and only about 12% of adults hold a bachelor's degree. Homeownership is rare at 6%, even as the median home value is reported at over $800,000 — a sign of how much new development has priced out longtime residents. Just 12% of neighborhood households include children, which is low for the city and means the families here are a committed minority within the broader community.

Three subway stations are within easy walking distance: the 6 train at East 149th Street (about a 2-minute walk), the 6 at East 143rd Street–St Mary's Street (about 6 minutes), and the 2 and 5 at Jackson Avenue (about 7 minutes). The 149th Street stop is essentially at the school's doorstep, making drop-off and pickup straightforward for families from across the South Bronx.