P.S. 041 Gun Hill Road

Test scores at P.S. 041 sit below the district 11 averages—41.8% ELA proficiency versus 56.7% districtwide, and 36% math versus 55.6%—meaning students here are performing notably below their peers in the Bronx. However, the trajectory matters: after crashing to 17% ELA during pandemic-era testing in 2022, scores have climbed steadily to 27.5% in 2024 and now 41.8% in 2025, a recovery that suggests the school is actively addressing learning loss. The overall quality score of 1.56 out of 4 reflects this difficult journey. Grade-level data shows 4th grade performs slightly stronger (43.9% ELA) than 3rd (39.2%) and 5th (42.3%), suggesting incremental improvement as students move through the building.

The day-to-day culture here tells a different story than the test scores suggest. Families report extraordinarily high trust in the school—98% satisfaction, 98% parent-teacher trust, and 98% trust in the principal. Teachers give 86% marks for instruction quality and 91% for safety, with 81% trust in leadership and 82% collegial trust among staff. Attendance is a real challenge: the 87.8% rate falls below the 91.2% district average, and a striking 50.9% of students are chronically absent. Notably, chronic absenteeism hits Black students hardest at 60.2% versus 44.1% for Hispanic students. Discipline is a bright spot—zero suspensions in 2023-24 after just one each of the prior two years, a school with almost no exclusionary discipline.

With 662 students in grades K-5, this is a mid-sized elementary school that reflects its neighborhood almost exactly. The student body is 47% Hispanic, 46% Black, 3% White, and 2% Asian, with an economic need index of 91.2%—meaning virtually every student qualifies for free or reduced lunch. Nearly a quarter of students (22%) have IEPs. The diversity index of 54% indicates moderate demographic variety. PTA fundraising is minimal at just $4 per student ($2,925 total), far below the $23.69 district average, reflecting the neighborhood's lower median household income of $55,609. This is a school serving families with significant economic challenges who may not have extra cash for fundraising.

Williamsbridge-Olinville is a stable, family-dense corner of the Bronx with an 85% stability score but a concerning safety rating of just 18.39 out of 100. The neighborhood scores poorly on safety indicators (high crime density, elevated lead rates, and elevated asthma rates), though it has decent transit access (41.38). With only 20.5% of adults holding bachelor's degrees and 31.4% homeownership, this is a working-class community where families prioritize stability over affluence. The education orientation score of 42.91 suggests moderate emphasis on schooling. Median home values of $518,473 reflect the broader NYC market rather than local income levels.

Families typically walk or take short bus rides from within the zoned catchment—the neighborhood is residential with moderate walkability, though the low safety score means many parents accompany younger children