P.S. 163 Arthur A. Schomburg

Test scores at P.S. 163 have been volatile over the past decade, with ELA proficiency at 38.1% and math at 39% for 2024-25 — both below the district averages of roughly 44.75%. However, math jumped significantly from 23.9% in 2024 to 39% in 2025, suggesting recent instructional shifts may be working. The strongest performance comes from third graders (57.6% ELA, 54.1% math), while fourth and fifth grades lag considerably. The overall quality review score of 1.54 out of 4 places the school below the district average of 1.79, indicating significant room for academic improvement.

The school presents a complex climate picture. Parents report exceptionally high trust in teachers (94%) and the principal (94%), with 100% of families surveyed indicating strong relationships with the school. Teacher instruction quality scores are strong at 91%, and 88% of teachers report feeling safe. However, only 52% of teachers trust the principal — a striking divide between parent and teacher sentiment. Attendance is a genuine concern: while the overall attendance rate is 91.9%, chronic absenteeism reaches 66.5%, with Black students disproportionately affected at 89.3% compared to 54.9% for Hispanic students. On a positive note, the school has maintained zero suspensions for three consecutive years.

The student body is predominantly Hispanic (59%) and Black (38%), reflecting the surrounding Mount Hope neighborhood. With an economic need index of 94.2% — nearly every student qualifies for free or reduced lunch — this is a high-poverty school serving families facing significant material challenges. About 26% of students have IEPs, slightly above typical rates. PTA fundraising is modest at $11 per student ($3,237 total), below the district average of $4.43 per student.

Mount Hope is a densely populated, transit-rich Bronx neighborhood where families make up a small minority of households (13.1%). The area has excellent subway access (85th percentile) but faces real safety and environmental challenges: elevated crime density, high rates of childhood lead exposure (15.2%), and significant asthma rates. Median household income is just $41,487 with a 31.4% poverty rate, and homeownership is nearly nonexistent at 3.9%. Education orientation is low (19th percentile), suggesting this isn't a neighborhood where families primarily choose their address for the schools.

The neighborhood is highly walkable with strong transit options — families can easily reach the school on foot or via bus/subway, making car-free commutes feasible for most