P.S. 178 - Dr. Selman Waksman

The school's academic trajectory is a real comeback story. After hitting a low point in 2022 (20.5% ELA, 23.2% math), scores have climbed sharply—ELA to 54.5% and math to 61.8% in 2025. Math now exceeds the district average of 55.6%, while ELA sits just below the district's 56.7%. The pattern by grade shows Grade 4 performing strongest (60% ELA, 68.6% math), while Grade 5 lags, particularly in math at 51.1%. The 2.33 overall score edges out the district average of 2.25, suggesting the school is holding its own academically despite the rocky historical trend.

The survey data reveals a paradox: families love this school (95% satisfaction, 98% parent-teacher trust, 100% strong relationships), but chronic absenteeism is shockingly high at 75.7%—meaning three out of four students are chronically absent. Teacher-reported safety is strong at 91%, and there have been zero suspensions for three consecutive years. However, teacher-principal trust sits at only 53%, well below district averages, and teacher instruction quality scores 85% versus a 92% district average. With only 14 teacher survey responses, these findings should be interpreted cautiously, but they suggest a gap between family experience and staff sentiment.

With 328 students, P.S. 178 is a small-to-medium zoned school. The student body is 63% Black, 30% Hispanic, with minimal Asian (2%), white (2%), and multiracial (2%) representation. Twenty-two percent of students have IEPs, and the economic need index sits at 68.9%—well above typical district averages. This reflects the working-class profile of Co-op City, where the median household income is $58,565 and poverty rates are relatively low at 10.9%, but educational attainment (26% BA+) and family density are limited.

Co-op City is a dense, affordable housing complex in the northeast Bronx—known for its large cooperative housing units and relatively affordable costs compared to the rest of the borough. The neighborhood scores modestly for family orientation (30.65 percentile) and education focus (27.59 percentile), with moderate transit access (61.69) and safety concerns (59.39). Environmental health indicators show elevated asthma rates and some lead exposure risk. The area has low homeownership (44%) and limited walkable commercial corridors, though residents value its affordability and community feel.

Co-op City is a sprawling complex where most families arrive by car or bus—walkability is moderate within the development but limited to surrounding areas.