OUR LADY OF REFUGE SCHOOL

Our Lady of Refuge is a coed Roman Catholic elementary school that runs pre-K through fifth grade under parish sponsorship. Its philosophy centers on academic rigor paired with explicit Christian formation, placing it in the traditional Catholic educational tradition rather than a progressive or secular frame. The school is small enough that the parish community tends to be visible in daily life.

The student body is overwhelmingly Hispanic at nearly four-fifths of enrollment, with Black, Asian, White, and multiracial families making up smaller shares. The diversity index of 0.444 sits in the moderate range, but the practical reality is a school that draws heavily from its immediate neighborhood. Parent reviews lean strongly positive, describing warm teachers and visible principal leadership.

Bedford Park is a working-class residential stretch of the central Bronx, with a median household income of about $44,000 and a poverty rate above 25%. The area is densely residential and largely walkable, surrounded by the apartment blocks and small commercial strips that characterize this part of the borough. About one in six adults here holds a bachelor's degree, suggesting a community where many families balance work and schooling without the buffer of higher incomes.

Transit access is a real strength here — Kingsbridge Rd on the B and D lines is about a 3-minute walk, Kingsbridge Rd on the 4 line is about 7 minutes, and Bedford Park Blvd–Lehman College on the 4 is about 10 minutes on foot.