P.S. 150 Charles James Fox

Test scores have climbed substantially since 2016, when just 18.5% of students were proficient in ELA and 18% in math. By 2025, those numbers reached 37.6% and 44.7% respectively — math now sits slightly above the district average while ELA remains below. The trajectory is encouraging, though proficiency dipped noticeably in 2022 (likely pandemic-related) before recovering. Grade-level patterns are unusual: fifth graders lead in ELA (43%) but lag in math (34.9%), while third graders show the strongest math performance at 52.4%. The 1.65 overall score places the school just below the district average of 1.76.

The survey data tells a striking story: teachers report near-universal confidence in instruction quality (97%) and feel extremely safe at work (93%), both well above district averages. Families give strong trust marks to teachers (93%) and the principal (90%), and 100% report strong relationships with the school. However, chronic absenteeism sits at a troubling 53.8%, with Hispanic students missing more often (56.5%) than their Black peers (47.1%). Teacher-principal trust, while solid at 80%, is the weakest link — still, this is a school with zero suspensions in recent years, suggesting the discipline climate is restorative rather than punitive. The gap between what teachers can deliver and what students actually attend is the central tension here.

The student body mirrors its neighborhood: 74% Hispanic, 21% Black, with nearly all students facing high economic need. Only 3% of families own homes, reflecting the area's renters-heavy demographic. The diversity index sits at 41%, relatively homogeneous but not unusual for the Bronx. IEP students represent 21% of enrollment — a meaningful population receiving special education services.

Longwood is a transit-rich but resource-tight community in the South Bronx. Families can rely on excellent public transit (93rd percentile), but the neighborhood scores poorly on safety (4/100) and family density (only 14.3% of households have children). Median income is just $36,558 with a 33% poverty rate, and only 12.7% of residents own homes. The area has seen significant development in recent years, but families navigating child-rearing here face real constraints — limited green space and higher environmental health risks (elevated lead and asthma rates).

Very walkable with strong transit access — many families arrive on foot or via bus/subway, though the area's safety concerns mean parents often accompany older children