P.S. 097 Bronx

Test scores at P.S. 097 have rebounded impressively from the COVID crash — ELA rose from 34.9% in 2022 to 47.4% today, and math from 27.9% to 47.5%. That's stronger than 2019 levels (44.1% ELA, 44.7% math), suggesting genuine recovery rather than just bounce-back. However, the school still trails the district average by roughly 9 percentage points in both subjects. Grade-level data reveals a troubling gap: Grade 5 performs at 61.9% ELA (above district average), but Grade 4 sits at just 29.9% — suggesting a cohort that struggled during remote learning and hasn't caught up. The overall 1.9/4 score reflects this mixed picture: growth is real, but absolute performance remains below peer schools.

The survey data tells a split story. Families love this school: 93% satisfaction, 97% parent-teacher trust, 95% principal trust, and a perfect 100% report strong relationships. Teachers feel differently — only 69% trust the principal, and teacher instruction quality scores 79% (well below the 92% district average). Everyone agrees on safety: 100% teacher-reported safety and zero suspensions in three years is exceptional. But the attendance picture is alarming. At 62.7% chronic absenteeism, most students are missing too much school to learn consistently — and it's worse for Asian students (69.7%) than Hispanic students (58.2%). The school has the relational foundation to fix this, but the data suggests trust between staff and leadership may need repair.

With 522 students in grades PK-5, P.S. 097 is a mid-sized zoned elementary. The student body is majority Hispanic (40%), with sizable Black (23%) and Asian (22%) populations — more diverse than the district average. Twenty-three percent have IEPs, and the economic need index sits at 68.9%, indicating significant poverty. The diversity index of 79% reflects a genuinely mixed community. PTA fundraising of $56 per student exceeds the district average ($24), suggesting active family engagement — consistent with the sky-high trust scores.

Pelham Gardens is a stable, family-oriented neighborhood in the central Bronx characterized by single-family homes (56.5% homeownership) and a 95% stability score. Median home values hover around $646,000, and the poverty rate is a moderate 13.1%. The area scores poorly on transit (32 out of 100) and family density (33), meaning it's car-dependent and not especially geared toward young families compared to other NYC neighborhoods. Safety scores (60) are middle-of-the-road. There's a notable environmental health concern: asthma emergency department rates are high (75.5 per 1,000), and 17% of homes have elevated lead risk — factors parents in this area often consider when evaluating neighborhood tradeoffs.

This is a residential, car-oriented neighborhood — most families drive or get dropped off. Public transit access is limited compared to more urban parts of the Bronx.