P.S. 085 Great Expectations

Test scores at P.S. 085 have risen sharply over the past decade — ELA proficiency climbed from 12% in 2016 to 42.5% in 2025, while math went from just 8% to 43.7%. The school now essentially matches the district average in both subjects (district avg: 45% ELA, 43.5% Math). Grade 5 students are outperforming their peers in ELA (47.9%), while Grade 3 leads in math (51%). The overall quality rating of 1.72/4 remains slightly below the district average of 1.77, suggesting there's still ground to cover, but the trajectory is unambiguously upward.

This is a school where families clearly feel heard — parent satisfaction sits at 93%, and both parent-teacher and parent-principal trust hit 96%. Every family surveyed reported strong relationships with the school, an exceptional result. However, the picture is more complicated on the staff side: while 82% of teachers rate instruction quality highly, only 67% trust the principal, and teacher-reported safety (78%) falls below the district average (87%). Chronic absenteeism is the biggest red flag at 67.5% — nearly 7 in 10 students miss too much school, which likely affects classroom momentum. On the positive side, the school has maintained zero suspensions for three consecutive years, indicating a restorative approach to discipline.

P.S. 085 serves 725 students in a heavily Hispanic (66%) and Black (31%) community. The economic need index of 94.9% is among the highest in the district — nearly every student qualifies for free or reduced lunch. About 21% of students have IEPs, slightly above typical. The diversity index of 44% reflects a relatively homogeneous community, which is typical for a zoned school in this neighborhood. With an average class size of 22.9 students, class sizes are comparable to district averages.

Fordham Heights is a high-density, family-heavy neighborhood in the Bronx with significant challenges. The median household income is just $40,304, and only 1.1% of residents own their homes — this is a renting community. Education orientation is very low (8.43 out of 100), meaning fewer residents have bachelor's degrees and fewer families prioritize formal schooling compared to other neighborhoods. Transit access is excellent (85th percentile), making car-free commutes easy. The safety score of 0 is concerning, though it reflects reported crime density rather than lived experience. There's very little green space here — parks and outdoor resources are limited.

The neighborhood is highly walkable with strong transit access (85th percentile), though families should be aware of the area's safety context when planning commutes.