P.S. 033 Timothy Dwight

Test scores at P.S. 033 hover well below the District 10 average — ELA proficiency of 29.9% versus the district's 45% and math at 32.1% versus 43.5% — placing the school in the lower tier locally. The academic trajectory has been uneven: scores climbed from 2016 to 2018, dipped in 2019, recovered partially in 2022-2023, then dipped again in 2024 before rebounding slightly in 2025. This volatility suggests the school lacks consistent instructional momentum. However, Grade 5 students show stronger ELA performance (37.3%) than younger grades, indicating some growth occurs over time. With an overall quality score of 1.24 out of 4, the school is performing significantly below the district average of 1.77.

The survey data tells a nuanced story. Parents are overwhelmingly positive: 90% satisfaction, 96% parent-teacher trust, and 100% rating on strong relationships. Teachers report 87% instruction quality and 80% trust in leadership. However, teacher-reported safety sits at 76% — notably below both the district average of 87% and what families perceive. Attendance is a genuine concern: the 87.2% attendance rate falls below the district average, and a striking 50.4% of students are chronically absent, with Hispanic students (51.3%) and Native American students (53.3%) most affected. On the positive side, the school has maintained a zero suspension rate for three consecutive years — a rare achievement that suggests restorative practices or strong relationship-based discipline. The day-to-day feel appears warm family-centered, but the chronic absenteeism and lower safety perceptions signal underlying challenges families are navigating.

The student body is 89% Hispanic and 9% Black, reflecting the Fordham Heights neighborhood's demographics. With an economic need index of 93 (the highest category), nearly all students face economic hardship. One in five students has an IEP, suggesting robust special education services. The diversity index is low at 25%, meaning the community is relatively homogeneous — families here share similar backgrounds and challenges. Class sizes average 22.9, matching the district average exactly.

Fordham Heights is a high-density, transit-rich neighborhood in the central Bronx. Families score the area high on transit access (85th percentile) and family density (94th percentile), meaning lots of kids live nearby and getting around by bus or train is easy. However, the safety score is 0 — the lowest possible — with high crime density and elevated environmental health risks (high PM2.5 levels and lead exposure rates). The neighborhood has very low homeownership (1.1%), minimal college-educated residents (11.4%), and an education orientation score of just 8. Parents should know this is a neighborhood where families are navigating significant resource constraints.

Given the high transit score and low car ownership in the area, most families likely walk or take public transit. The Jerome Avenue location is accessible by several bus routes.