P.S. 078 Anne Hutchinson

Test scores at P.S. 078 are well below the District 11 average — 34.4% in ELA and 32.6% in Math versus district averages of 57% and 56% respectively. That's a gap of more than 20 percentage points in both subjects. However, the school has clawed back ground since the pandemic dip: ELA rose from 24.8% in 2022 to 34.4% in 2025, and math improved from 18% to 32.6%. Grade 4 performs noticeably better than younger grades (41.7% ELA, 43.9% Math), suggesting some momentum builds as students move through the school. The overall quality score of 1.34 out of 4 reflects the reality that students here are catching up, not keeping pace with district peers.

Here's where the story shifts. Parent satisfaction sits at 92%, nearly matching the district average, but parent-principal trust (96%) and parent-teacher trust (95%) are exceptional. Every single family surveyed reported strong relationships with the school — that's 100%. Teachers rate instruction quality at 98% and report 95% safety. This is a place where the adults clearly believe in what they're doing. Attendance is the challenge: the 88.5% rate is below district average, and half of students are chronically absent — a systemic issue that drags on academic progress. Discipline, however, shows a clean record: zero suspensions for three consecutive years, well below the district average of 0.5%.

The student body is 66% Black and 28% Hispanic, reflecting the neighborhood demographics. With an economic need index of 83.2% — among the highest in the district — most families here face significant challenges. Eighteen percent of students have IEPs. Class sizes average 23.8, matching the district average. PTA fundraising is essentially nonexistent at $15 total ($0 per student), suggesting limited discretionary resources from families, though survey participation is strong with 200 family responses — indicating engagement despite financial constraints.

The Eastchester-Edenwald-Baychester area is a stable, residential neighborhood in the Bronx with a homeownership rate of 42% and median home values around $543,000. Family density is moderate (62nd percentile), and the neighborhood scores high on stability (88). However, safety scores are below average (45) and transit access is limited (39), meaning many families rely on cars or school buses. The area has environmental health concerns: elevated lead rates (15.2%) and high asthma-related emergency visits (76 per 1,000), issues that can affect student wellbeing and attendance.

The neighborhood is car-dependent for most families; transit access is limited, so parents often drive or rely on school transportation. Walking to school is feasible for families who live nearby, but the area isn't particularly walkable in the way that Manhattan or parts of Brooklyn are.