M.S. 390

The arc here is genuinely impressive: in 2016, single-digit proficiency was the norm; by 2025, 40% of students hit the ELA bar and 39.6% hit math. That's still below the district averages of 45% and 43.5% respectively, and science proficiency at 22.7% lags badly, so the work isn't finished. The grade-by-grade breakdown is telling — 8th graders hit 54% in math, well above district average, while 6th graders sit at 34.1%, suggesting students grow meaningfully over their three years. The overall quality review score of 1.59 out of 4 lands below the district average of 1.77, so this is a school improving in the data but still being asked to show more.

Parents love this school — 97% satisfaction and 98% parent-teacher trust are far above the district averages of 94% and reflect real connection. Teacher voices tell a different story: only 80% rate instruction quality as strong and 80% trust their principal, well below the district averages of 91% and 87%. That gap between parent optimism and staff morale is worth asking about at a tour. Attendance is around 92%, slightly better than the district's 90.8%, but chronic absenteeism at 73.9% means nearly three-quarters of students miss 18+ days a year — that's the school's biggest climate challenge by a wide margin. Discipline is modest (2% suspension rate) and trending downward from a 2022-23 spike.

The student body is 82% Hispanic and 15% Black, mirroring the surrounding neighborhood where nearly four in ten households live in poverty and median income is around $32,000. The economic need index of 92.5% confirms that almost every family here is considered high-need by the city. About 23% of students have IEPs and the school offers ELL support, so this is a building designed for learners who need extra scaffolding. Family survey response rate of 72% is healthy and reinforces that parents here show up when asked.

University Heights and Morris Heights are dense, working-class Bronx neighborhoods where homeownership is rare (6.5%) and rents fill most housing. Median household income sits around $32,393 and the poverty rate tops 37%, but owner-occupied homes still carry a median value near $590,000 — a reminder that this is a market where renters struggle against rising costs. Only about 14% of adults have a bachelor's degree, though that doesn't reflect the talent or ambition of families here. The community has real intergenerational roots and a strong family network feel.

Families have reasonable transit access: the 4 train at Burnside Av is about a 6-minute walk, the 4 at 176 St is roughly 9 minutes, and the B/D at Tremont Av is around 10 minutes — solid options for getting to and from school.