At a Glance
A small Montessori charter in Mott Haven-Port Morris where test scores have slipped from a 2019 peak
Best suited for
Families who specifically want a Montessori education for their young child, are comfortable with a high-need environment, and are willing to look past state test scores in favor of the school's philosophy and small size.
Overall Rating
Rating = average of NY State ELA + math proficiency, grades 3–8
Bands are Motley's thresholds on a 0–100 scale, not New York State performance levels.
How this is scored→What stands out
- Montessori instructional philosophy for PK through 5th grade
- Small enrollment of 272 students, allowing for tighter teacher-student relationships
- Teacher-reported instruction quality (91%) exceeds the district average
- Higher-than-average IEP inclusion at 22% of students
Things to consider
- Test proficiency is roughly half the district average in both ELA and math
- Academic performance has declined steadily since a 2019 high — the recent trajectory is concerning
- Parent satisfaction at 75.6% is meaningfully below the district average of 93.5%
- Grade 3 proficiency (11.1% ELA) is especially weak
- Located in a high-poverty neighborhood with limited resources in surrounding blocks
Based on 2025 data
School SummaryDistrict 7
Among charter peers in District 7, this school lands at the lower tier. Schools like South Bronx Classical Charter School II (96/100), Success Academy Bronx 1 (93/100), and Academic Leadership Charter School (91/100) substantially outperform it on the school survey measure. Storefront Academy Charter School (75/100) is the nearest comparable, and even that peer edges ahead. For families choosing among South Bronx charters, this Montessori option does not stand out academically.
Academics
The numbers here are tough. ELA proficiency is 21.5% against a district average of 51.3%, and math is 22.7% versus 49.0% — students at this school are roughly half as likely to be proficient as their peers across District 7. The overall school score of 0.88 out of 4 sits well below the district average of 2.0. There is a striking grade-level pattern: Grade 4 is the relative bright spot (37.5% ELA, 31.8% math), while Grade 3 (11.1% ELA) and Grade 5 (17.9% in both subjects) lag noticeably. The school also showed real momentum from 2016 through 2019, when ELA proficiency climbed from 11.7% to 41.8% — but that progress has steadily eroded since.
Culture
The split between teachers and parents is the story here. Teachers rate instructional quality at 91%, comfortably above the district average of 88.4%, suggesting the adults in the building feel well-supported in their craft. But parent satisfaction lands at 75.6%, well below the district's 93.5% — a 17-point gap that points to weaker communication, trust, or follow-through with families. It creates a school where the classroom may feel solid, but the home-school connection looks thinner than at most District 7 schools.
Community
The student body is 64% Hispanic and 29% Black, closely reflecting the surrounding Mott Haven-Port Morris neighborhood. The economic need index of 86.1 — out of 100 — places this among the city's higher-need schools, consistent with the neighborhood's 40% poverty rate. With 22% of students classified IEP, the school serves a meaningful share of children with disabilities. Average class size of 20.5 matches the district norm.
Neighborhood
Mott Haven-Port Morris is one of the poorest neighborhoods in New York City, with a median household income around $29,110 and a poverty rate of 40.1%. Just 12.2% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, and homeownership is unusually low at 6.1%. Only about 12% of households include children, which is lower than many NYC neighborhoods. The median home value of $819,494 reflects recent development pressure more than what long-time residents typically own.
Three nearby subway stops make this a workable commute: Brook Av on the 6 line about a 4-minute walk away, 3 Av-138 St also on the 6 about 6 minutes on foot, and 3 Av-149 St on the 2 and 5 lines roughly 12 minutes away.
Academic Performance
ELA Proficiency
Students scoring proficient or above on the NY State ELA exam.
NYC DOE InfoHub · 2022-23
Math Proficiency
Students scoring proficient or above on the NY State Math exam.
NYC DOE InfoHub · 2022-23
Historical Trends
The dashed line marks 2023, when New York changed its grades 3–8 state tests. Scores before and after it aren’t directly comparable.
2020–2021 data unavailable due to COVID-19
Source: NYC DOE School Quality Reports
Survey Results
NYC School Survey (2025)
Racial & Ethnic Diversity
NYC DOE InfoHub · 2022-23
Economic Need & Special Populations
Make this school part of your plan
Everything on this page is yours to read. An account keeps your research in one place.
No credit card required
Compare head-to-head
Explore nearby
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is New York City Montessori Charter School a good school?
- On Motley, New York City Montessori Charter School earns an overall rating of 22/100 — the average of the school's New York State ELA and math proficiency, grades 3–8, shown out of 100. Its state test results run below the District 7 average.
- What grades does New York City Montessori Charter School serve?
- New York City Montessori Charter School serves grades Pre-K to 5.
- How do students get into New York City Montessori Charter School?
- New York City Montessori Charter School is a charter school — it admits through a free public lottery, with no test or attendance zone.
- Is New York City Montessori Charter School public, charter, or private?
- New York City Montessori Charter School is a public charter school in NYC Community School District 7.
- What neighborhood is New York City Montessori Charter School in?
- New York City Montessori Charter School is in Mott Haven-Port Morris, Bronx.