North Bronx School of Empowerment

Test scores have climbed substantially — ELA rose from 16% in 2016 to 37% in 2025, and math from 5% to 27% — showing the school is moving in the right direction. However, both subjects remain well below District 11 averages (57% ELA, 56% math), meaning students are catching up but haven't closed the gap. Grade 8 outperforms Grade 7 in ELA (44% vs 29%) but trails in math (23% vs 31%), suggesting uneven growth across subjects and grades. The overall quality rating of 1.29/4 reflects the distance still to travel.

The survey data tells a nuanced story. Families feel connected: 95% of parents trust teachers, and 96% trust the principal — exceptional numbers that suggest strong home-school relationships. Teachers rate instruction quality at 88% and report 90% trust in leadership. However, chronic absenteeism at 54.4% is a major red flag — more than half of students are missing significant school time, which directly impacts learning. The suspension rate of 5% is notably higher than the district average of 0.5%, with 20 suspensions in 2023-24 (up from 10 the prior year). The day-to-day feel seems to be one of committed staff and engaged families, but attendance and discipline are areas needing attention.

The student body is 48% Black and 45% Hispanic, reflecting the Williamsbridge-Olinville neighborhood's demographics. A quarter of students (26%) have IEPs, and the economic need index of 90% indicates nearly all families face financial challenges. Class sizes average 24 students, on par with the district. The diversity index of 55% shows a fairly homogeneous student population, which is typical for this area. Families here are working-class and largely renters (69% homeownership rate), with limited college-degree holders (21% BA+).

Williamsbridge-Olinville is a high-density, working-class neighborhood in the north Bronx with significant challenges. Safety scores are low (18/100 percentile), and the poverty rate sits at 22.5%. However, family density is high (65th percentile), and stability scores are strong (85th), meaning many long-term residents call this area home. Transit access is moderate, and median home values of $518K suggest the neighborhood is gentrifying. Parents should know the area has elevated asthma rates and lead exposure concerns, per environmental health data.

The neighborhood is relatively walkable with moderate transit access, though safety concerns may lead families to prefer accompanying younger middle schoolers.