P.S. 75 School of Research and Discovery

This school has undergone a dramatic academic turnaround. In 2016, only about 20% of students were proficient in either subject — today, 58.1% are proficient in ELA and an impressive 73.4% in math. That math score is a full 25 percentage points above the District 8 average, making P.S. 75 one of the highest-performing schools in the borough. The jump from 2024 to 2025 alone was extraordinary — ELA jumped 20 points and math jumped 11 points. Grade 5 students are particularly strong in math, with 87.3% proficiency. Teachers report exceptional instruction quality at 99%, far above the district average of 88%. The overall score of 2.63 out of 4 places it well above the district average of 1.88.

The survey data tells a nuanced story. Parents absolutely love this school — 96% satisfied, 98% trust teachers, 99% trust the principal. These numbers are exceptional. Teachers report extremely high instruction quality (99%) and strong collegial trust (91%). However, only 69% of teachers report feeling safe at school, significantly below the district average of 89% and a notable concern. Attendance is slightly above district average at 90.8%, but chronic absenteeism is high at 64.9% — this is a systemic challenge in this neighborhood, not a school-specific issue. Discipline is exemplary: zero suspensions for the past two years, down from one in 2021-22. The day-to-day feel appears warm and relational, with strong family engagement and trust between parents and staff — though the safety perception gap among staff is worth noting.

The student body is 73% Hispanic and 21% Black, closely mirroring the surrounding Longwood neighborhood. Nearly a quarter of students (23%) have Individualized Education Programs, and 90.5% qualify for free lunch — this is a high-need population. The diversity index of 43% reflects a relatively homogeneous student body typical of many zoned Bronx elementary schools. PTA fundraising is minimal at $6 per student, well below the district average of $17 per student, suggesting families have limited discretionary income for additional school contributions. Despite that, family engagement is remarkably high — 477 families responded to the survey, a 96% response rate, indicating strong parent involvement.

Longwood is a densely populated, transit-rich Bronx neighborhood with significant challenges. Families here deal with a poverty rate of 33.2% and median household income of just $36,558 — less than half the citywide median. Only 15.1% of residents have a bachelor's degree, and homeownership is extremely low at 12.7%. The neighborhood scores very high on transit (93.49 out of 100) and family density (83.14), meaning it's easy to get around without a car and there are many families with children. However, safety scores are low at 4.21, and educational orientation is just 20.69 — this isn't a neighborhood where parents are heavily focused on school choice, which makes P.S. 75's strong performance even more notable. There are parks and community resources, though the area deals with environmental health concerns including elevated asthma rates.

The neighborhood is highly walkable and accessible by subway — the transit score of 93.49 reflects excellent subway and bus connectivity. Families living in the zone can easily walk or take short bus rides. For those outside the zone, the area is well-served by public transit.