Nuasin Next Generation Charter School

The academic trajectory here is extraordinary — over nine years, ELA proficiency climbed from 24.4% to 61.4% and math from 32.3% to 67.4%, putting this school well above the district averages of 44.8% for ELA and 44.7% for math. The elementary grades are particularly strong, with Grade 4 math hitting 88.9% and Grade 3 math at 77.1%. Middle school performance is more uneven, with Grade 7 excelling (72.5% ELA, 72% math) but Grade 8 math dropping to 52%. That said, every grade level tested above the district average, which is notable given the student body's high economic need.

The survey data reveals a school where families feel genuinely heard and supported — parent satisfaction sits at 97%, with near-universal trust in both teachers (98%) and the principal (98%). However, teachers report more tempered perspectives, with instruction quality at 84% and teacher-principal trust at 84%, both below district averages. Teacher-reported safety at 77% also trails the district average of 83%. The attendance picture is complicated: overall attendance at 92.1% slightly exceeds the district average, but chronic absenteeism is strikingly high at 72.1% across all demographic groups, suggesting that getting students to show up consistently remains a real challenge.

This is a predominantly Hispanic (69%) and Black (29%) student body in a neighborhood where those demographics dominate as well. With 92.9% economic need index and 16% IEP students, the school serves a population that faces considerable challenges outside school walls. The diversity index of 42% reflects a relatively homogeneous community, which is typical for the neighborhood. Family engagement is exceptionally strong — the 83% family survey response rate and 646 responses indicate parents are deeply invested in the school.

Highbridge is a working-class Bronx neighborhood where the cost of living has risen sharply (median home value $502,435) while incomes remain low (median household income $40,235). The poverty rate at 31.9% and homeownership at just 4.5% paint a picture of a transitory, economically stressed community. Transit access is decent (62.07 score) and neighborhood stability is moderate (66.28), but safety scores are low (3.45) and environmental health concerns are notable, with elevated lead rates and high asthma emergency department rates. Families should know this is a neighborhood where schools serve as anchors.

With a transit score of 62, families likely rely on public transportation or busing. The low homeownership rate suggests many families are renting and may be transit-dependent.