P.S. 032 Belmont

Test scores at P.S. 032 have improved meaningfully since 2022 — ELA rose from 19.4% to 35.3% and math from 6.9% to 26.1% over three years — but the school still trails District 10 averages substantially (ELA is nearly 10 points below district average, math about 17 points below). Grade 3 performs strongest with nearly half of students proficient in math (47.9%), while Grade 5 math drops to just 8%. The overall 1.23/4 score places this school in the lower tier of District 10, though the upward trajectory suggests recent interventions may be working.

This is where P.S. 032 truly shines. Parent satisfaction sits at 95%, teacher-principal trust at 94%, and every single surveyed parent reported strong relationships with the school. Teacher instruction quality scores 94%, well above the district average. However, only 82% of teachers feel safe in the building — below the 87% district average, though not alarming. The chronic absenteeism rate of 52% is a real concern, affecting roughly equal rates across gender and ethnicity (Hispanic students at 53.6%, Black at 44.5%). There have been zero suspensions in three years, suggesting a restorative or low-exclusion approach to discipline.

Nearly 80% of students are Hispanic, reflecting the surrounding Belmont neighborhood. About 17% are Black, with minimal Asian and White representation. The economic need index of 94 means virtually all students qualify for free or reduced lunch — this is a high-poverty school serving a high-poverty community. PTA fundraising is minimal at $7 per student versus a district average of $74, indicating fewer extra resources from parent donations. About 23% of students have IEPs, slightly above typical.

Belmont is a high-poverty, high-density neighborhood in the Bronx. Median household income is just under $33,000, and only 4% of residents own homes. Education attainment is low at 13% with bachelor's degrees. The safety score of 2.3 out of 100 is concerning — crime density and lead exposure rates are elevated. Transit access is moderate (58.62), and family density is average. Families should know this is a neighborhood where economic hardship is the norm, but it's also a community with strong cultural roots.

Given the high-density urban setting and low car ownership (under 4% homeownership), most families walk or take public transit. The school is accessible via several bus routes and the nearby subway.