P.S. 036 Unionport

P.S. 036's 52.7% ELA proficiency and 53.3% math proficiency land comfortably above District 8 averages of 46% and 48%, and the 2025 results represent the school's strongest showing in nearly a decade. The trajectory tells a striking story: from a low of 27.5% ELA in 2016, scores climbed steadily to 50.6% by 2019, dipped during the pandemic years (38.7% in 2022), and have now rebounded past pre-pandemic highs. Scores are fairly consistent across grades 3-5, hovering in the low-50s, suggesting the gains aren't being driven by a single strong cohort. The overall quality score of 2.12 out of 4 puts the school above the district average of 1.88, putting it in solid middle-of-the-pack territory for District 8.

The school runs on unusually strong relationships — 97% of parents trust their child's teacher, 97% trust the principal, and 98% say the school builds strong connections with families, all well above typical levels. Parent satisfaction sits at 92%, just a hair below the district average, and the 96% family survey response rate signals a parent body that is actively engaged rather than checked out. Teacher-reported safety is high at 93%, and the school has reported zero suspensions for three consecutive years — a remarkable record for a school of this size. The one tension worth naming: teacher-reported instruction quality is 81%, below the district average of 88%, suggesting teachers feel less confident about classroom practice than the test scores might imply.

The student body is roughly half Hispanic (48%) and over a third Asian (35%), with smaller Black (9%) and White (5%) populations, reflecting a Bronx neighborhood shaped by immigrant families from Latin America and South Asia. The diversity index of 67% indicates meaningful mixing across groups, though the school is not as heterogeneous as some citywide. With an economic need index of 81.6%, more than four out of five students qualify as low-income, and 15% receive special education services — slightly above the citywide IEP rate. PTA fundraising at $23 per kid outpaces the district average of $16, suggesting families who are stretched financially still dig deep for the school.

Castle Hill-Unionport is a predominantly renter neighborhood in the eastern Bronx where about one in four households lives below the poverty line and only 17% of adults hold a bachelor's degree. Roughly 14% of households include children, and the homeownership rate of 34% means most families are renting in a market where the median home value still approaches $600,000. The neighborhood is working-class and family-oriented, with a strong immigrant presence that mirrors the school's Hispanic and Asian student majorities. Castle Hill Avenue and the surrounding blocks are everyday residential streets rather than destination neighborhoods.

The 6 train is your main option — Castle Hill Av is about a 7-minute walk, Zerega Av about 11 minutes, and Parkchester about 13 minutes. No other subway lines serve the area nearby.