At a Glance
A neighborhood elementary school where families feel deeply welcomed but academic progress remains uneven
Families who prioritize a warm, trusting school community with strong parent relationships and who are looking for a neighborhood school where their child won't face harsh discipline. Parents should be prepared to actively manage attendance challenges and may need to supplement academic support at home, given the school's volatile test score history and the high chronic absenteeism rate. The school may be less ideal for families seeking consistently high academic performance or robust extracurricular programming.
- Exceptional family trust — 97% parent-teacher trust and 100% reporting strong relationships
- Perfect discipline record — zero suspensions for three consecutive years
- Above-average math proficiency (50.4% vs 49% district)
- Small class sizes averaging 20.5 students
- Chronic absenteeism affects 74.8% of students — far above typical levels
- Test scores remain volatile and haven't consistently reached district averages in ELA
- Teacher-reported safety (76%) and instruction quality (82%) both trail district averages
- Very limited PTA fundraising ($0 per student) indicates constrained volunteer and enrichment resources
- The neighborhood has significant safety and environmental health concerns
Based on 2024-2025 data
School SummaryDistrict 7
P.S. 043 sits in District 7, which includes several high-performing charter schools (Leaders of Excellence, South Bronx Classical Charter II, Success Academy Bronx 1) that dominate the peer rankings. Against these schools, P.S. 043's overall score of 1.95 trails the district average of 2.0. However, the school outperforms the district average in math proficiency and attendance rate, and its family trust scores exceed typical district averages. The peer school comparison is stark — charter schools in this district post 90%+ proficiency rates, setting a high bar that traditional public schools like P.S. 043 struggle to meet.
Test scores at P.S. 043 have been volatile — climbing from the mid-20s in 2016 to the mid-40s by 2019, cratering during the pandemic (ELA dropped to 22.4% in 2022), and rebounding to 47.1% ELA and 50.4% math in 2025. The current math score slightly outperforms the district average of 49%, while ELA trails the district average of 51.3%. Grade 3 shows the strongest performance (63% ELA), suggesting early learners are getting a solid start, but scores dip in Grade 4 before partially recovering in Grade 5.
The survey data reveals a school where relationships are genuinely strong: 100% of families report strong relationships, 97% trust teachers, and 94% trust the principal. Teacher trust in leadership sits at 87%. That said, 74.8% chronic absenteeism is a serious concern — nearly three-quarters of students are missing significant school time. Teacher-reported safety (76%) falls below the district average of 80.5%, and instruction quality ratings (82%) also lag the district average of 88%. The discipline record is spotless with zero suspensions over three years, which parents likely appreciate.
With 74% Hispanic and 22% Black students, P.S. 043 reflects the demographics of Mott Haven-Port Morris — a neighborhood where 40% of residents live below the poverty line and only 12% hold a bachelor's degree. The economic need index of 94.6% is among the highest in the city. The student body is notably homogeneous in racial composition (diversity index of 41%), with nearly three-quarters of students sharing the same ethnic background. About 19% of students receive special education services.
Mott Haven-Port Morris is one of the city's most economically challenged neighborhoods, with a median household income of just $29,110 and 40% poverty rate. Only 6% of residents own homes, though median home values have risen to $819,494. The area scores very low on safety (16.86 percentile) and family density (23.75), and has among the lowest education orientation scores in the city (5.36). Transit access is moderate (48th percentile), but families with children represent only 12.2% of households. Environmental health concerns are notable, with elevated asthma rates and lead exposure risks.
The neighborhood is walkable with decent transit options, though families should be aware that the area's safety score is low and environmental health indicators (air quality, lead exposure) warrant attention
Academic Performance
ELA Proficiency
Students scoring proficient or above on the NY State ELA exam.
NYC DOE InfoHub · 2022-23
Math Proficiency
Students scoring proficient or above on the NY State Math exam.
NYC DOE InfoHub · 2022-23
Survey Results
NYC School Survey (2025) · 84 families responded (25% rate)
Racial & Ethnic Diversity
NYC DOE InfoHub · 2022-23
PTA Fundraising
Source: DOE Local Law 171 disclosure
Economic Need & Special Populations
Discipline
NYSED Student & Educator Database (2023-24)
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is P.S. 043 Jonas Bronck a good school?
- On Motley, P.S. 043 Jonas Bronck earns an overall quality score of 49/100 — a blend of New York State ELA and math results, attendance, and the school-climate survey. Its state test results run in line with the District 7 average.
- What grades does P.S. 043 Jonas Bronck serve?
- P.S. 043 Jonas Bronck serves grades Pre-K to 5.
- How do students get into P.S. 043 Jonas Bronck?
- P.S. 043 Jonas Bronck admits by application through a random lottery, with no academic screen.
- Is P.S. 043 Jonas Bronck public, charter, or private?
- P.S. 043 Jonas Bronck is a public school in NYC Community School District 7.
- What neighborhood is P.S. 043 Jonas Bronck in?
- P.S. 043 Jonas Bronck is in Mott Haven-Port Morris, Bronx.
Get the complete picture
Motley pulls together data from across New York City so you don’t have to. One free account, every school.
No credit card required
Get all this when you sign in
Survey data, program listings, admissions stats, and the full editorial profile — free, no credit card.
Full School Profile
Skip the tour guessing game. Get the standout features, honest trade-offs, and whether your kid will actually thrive here — before you visit.
Survey Results
See what 2,600+ schools’ own families and teachers really think — trust, safety, instruction quality — so you walk in with the truth, not the brochure.
Programs & Activities
Stop Googling program lists. AP courses, STEM labs, dual-language tracks, sports teams, arts — all categorized so you can compare schools in minutes.
Admissions Demand
Know your odds before you apply. Apps-per-seat ratios, offer rates, and fill data — so you don’t waste your top choice on a long shot.
Economic Need & Special Populations
Find out if the support your child needs is actually there — IEP enrollment, economic need index, and the demographics no other site surfaces.
Discipline
One bad year doesn’t tell you much. Three years of state-verified suspension data shows whether things are getting better or worse.