P.S. 035 Franz Siegel

Test scores at P.S. 035 have climbed significantly from their 2022 low — the jump from 18.8% to 42% in ELA and 22.1% to 38.9% in Math represents real progress, though both still fall below the district average of roughly 45%. The pattern across grades is notable: third graders are performing strongest (48.3% ELA, 54.2% Math), while scores drop considerably by fifth grade (34% ELA, 22.6% Math), suggesting that something happens in the upper grades that isn't working as well. The overall quality rating of 1.62 out of 4 places the school in the lower tier of District 9, where peer schools like Icahn Charter 1 are scoring near perfect. That said, the upward trend from the pandemic-era trough is real, and the youngest students are showing the most promise.

The climate data tells a story of two different relationships: families feel deeply connected to the school, while teachers have more complicated feelings about leadership. Parents give overwhelmingly positive marks — 92% satisfaction, 97% trust in teachers and principal — and 90% of teachers report feeling safe at school. However, teacher-principal trust sits at only 75%, notably lower than the parent trust figures, and only 20 teachers completed the survey (versus 115 families), which limits how representative that data is. Attendance is a real concern: the 89.4% attendance rate is barely below district average, but the chronic absenteeism rate of 61.4% is alarmingly high — nearly two-thirds of students are missing too much school. The discipline picture is excellent: zero suspensions for three straight years.

The school is 72% Hispanic and 24% Black, reflecting the demographics of the Concourse Village neighborhood, which has a diversity index of 42% and an economic need index of 91.7% — among the highest in the city. A quarter of students have IEPs, suggesting robust special education services. The neighborhood is predominantly low-income rentals (only 11% homeownership), with 34% of residents living below the poverty line. Most adults don't have college degrees (only 15.8% BA+), which means the school often serves as the primary educational anchor for families with limited academic resources at home. Despite these challenges, the community is stable — the neighborhood's stability score is 72.41 — and families who are here seem to stay.

The Concourse Village area of the Bronx is a densely populated urban neighborhood where safety is a genuine concern — the safety score of 2.68 out of 100 is among the lowest. The area has good transit access (66.67 score), making commutes manageable, but family density is high (77.39) despite relatively few households having children (13.7%), suggesting many residents are young adults or childless couples. There's a notable lead exposure risk (15.2% elevated rate) and high asthma rates (75.5 ED visits per 1,000), environmental health concerns that parents should be aware of. The neighborhood is working-class, with most residents renting and median income around $40,000.

The area is highly walkable with decent transit options, though parents should be aware of the neighborhood's safety concerns when deciding on walking routes.