Motley
District 99
PublicDistrict 9Zoned

P.S. 170

1598 TOWNSEND AVENUE

At a Glance

A tiny zoned elementary school where families report near-universal trust and zero suspensions in a high-need Bronx neighborhood

Best suited for

Families who value a small, close-knit school community with exceptional parent-teacher relationships and a gentle discipline approach. This works best for families in the zoned area who prioritize trust and warmth over academic benchmark visibility — or who are willing to dig into the school's own assessment data. Families seeking robust enrichment programs or high test-score transparency may want to explore charter options in the district, though those come with their own tradeoffs (lottery admissions, longer days, more rigid structure).

What stands out
  • Zero suspensions for three consecutive years — an unusually strong discipline record for the district
  • Parent satisfaction at 98% exceeds the 94% district average by a meaningful margin
  • 100% of families report 'strong relationships' with the school community
  • Teacher trust scores are exceptional: 100% collegial trust and 98% principal trust
  • Tiny enrollment (192 students) means small class sizes and individual attention
Things to consider
  • No academic proficiency data available — parents should request recent state test results to assess academic performance
  • Very low PTA fundraising ($2/student vs. $4.43 district average) means fewer extras funded by families
  • Teacher-reported safety (82%) is slightly below district average — worth discussing with the school
  • Teacher survey responses are very low (9 responses), making some teacher-reported metrics less reliable
  • Only serves pre-K through 3rd grade — families will need to plan for an elementary school transition
  • Neighborhood has elevated environmental health concerns (asthma rates, lead exposure) that may affect some students

Based on 2024-25 data

School SummaryDistrict 9

District 9 in the Bronx includes several high-performing charter schools (Icahn Charter 1 at 99/100, Success Academy Bronx 2 at 97/100) that set a high bar. P.S. 170 doesn't appear on the quality review list provided, and without academic proficiency data, direct comparison is difficult. What we know: the school serves a high-need population (87.9% economic need) with far fewer resources than peer schools. The climate and trust data suggest a caring environment, but families seeking academic benchmark data will need to look beyond what's provided here.

AcademicsSteady

Academic proficiency data is not available in this dataset, so direct comparison to the district's 44.8% ELA and 44.7% math averages isn't possible. What we can say: with an economic need index of 87.9% — among the highest in the district — this school serves a student population facing significant out-of-school challenges. The average class size of 20.8 matches the district average, suggesting reasonable staffing. Without test scores, parents should request recent state assessment results directly from the school to understand how students are progressing against city and district benchmarks.

Culturestrong

The culture here is the story. Parents give the school 98% satisfaction — well above the 94% district average — and rate trust in teachers and the principal at 99%. Teachers report 100% collegial trust and 98% trust in leadership, indicating a stable, collaborative staff. Teacher-reported safety sits at 82%, slightly below the 83% district average, which is worth noting but not alarming. Most remarkably, P.S. 170 has logged zero suspensions for three consecutive years — a 0% rate compared to the district average of 0.42%. This isn't a school that's pushing kids out; it's keeping them in the classroom. Attendance data wasn't provided, but the strong relationship scores suggest families are engaged.

Community

This is a predominantly Hispanic neighborhood school: 80% of students identify as Hispanic, mirroring the surrounding community where the population is largely working-class and Spanish-speaking likely dominant. The student body is small — just 192 students across pre-K through 3rd grade — which means every child is known. Black students make up 17%, and the school is racially diverse overall, though the diversity index of 32% reflects the neighborhood's relatively homogeneous makeup. With 87.9% economic need and 13% of students receiving special education services, this school serves families navigating significant challenges. PTA fundraising of just $2 per student (versus $4.43 district average) signals limited extra resources, but the high family survey response rate (65%) shows parents are participating.

NeighborhoodMount Eden-Claremont (West)

Mount Eden-Claremont is a high-density, family-heavy Bronx neighborhood (94.6 percentile for family density) with strong transit access (83.5) but significant challenges. The median household income of $45,405 and 32.3% poverty rate mean many families are financially strained — only 4.4% own homes. Safety scores are low (0.77 on a 0-100 scale), and environmental health concerns are notable: elevated lead rates (15.2%) and very high asthma-related emergency visits (75.5 per 1,000) suggest air quality issues. The education orientation score (25.3) is among the lowest in the city, meaning this isn't a neighborhood where families are surrounded by enrichment options — the school may be the primary structured resource. That said, the family density score means lots of kids in the neighborhood, and transit access makes commuting manageable.

The area is walkable with typical Bronx urban density — families with young children likely walk or take short bus rides. Strong transit scores (83.5) mean public transportation is a viable option for working parents. Street parking may be challenging during drop-off and pickup times given the high family density.

Survey Results

Family Feedback
Satisfaction
98%
Teacher Trust
99%
Principal Trust
99%
Relationships
100%
Teacher Perspective
Instruction
90%
Principal Trust
98%
Collegial Trust
100%
Safety
82%

NYC School Survey (2025) · 95 families responded (65% rate)

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Low
80%Hispanic/Latino
17%Black
1%White

NYC DOE InfoHub · 2022-23

PTA Fundraising

2024-25
$425total raised
$2per student

Source: DOE Local Law 171 disclosure

Economic Need & Special Populations

Economic Need Index
87.9%
IEP Students
13%

Discipline

0suspensions (0% of students)
3-Year Trend— Stable
21
22
23

NYSED Student & Educator Database (2023-24)

Frequently Asked Questions
Is P.S. 170 a good school?
Published quality ratings aren't available for P.S. 170 yet on Motley. It's a public school serving grades Pre-K to 3 in Mount Eden-Claremont (West).
What grades does P.S. 170 serve?
P.S. 170 serves grades Pre-K to 3.
How do students get into P.S. 170?
P.S. 170 admits by zone — families living in its attendance zone are generally guaranteed a seat.
Is P.S. 170 public, charter, or private?
P.S. 170 is a public school in NYC Community School District 9.
What neighborhood is P.S. 170 in?
P.S. 170 is in Mount Eden-Claremont (West), Bronx.
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