P.S./I.S. 218 Rafael Hernandez Dual Language Magnet School

Proficiency sits at 37.8% in ELA and 37.1% in math, both below the District 9 averages of roughly 45%, and the overall DOE rating of 1.5/4 trails the district's 1.79. But the trajectory is one of real growth: ELA moved from 26.8% in 2016 to 37.8% in 2025, and math climbed from 25.8% to 37.1% over the same window. There was a dip in 2024 (31% ELA, 32.5% math) that has since partially recovered. Grade-level results are uneven — fourth grade is a clear weak spot at 21% ELA and 21% math, while sixth grade posts the strongest numbers (53% ELA, 43% math). Science proficiency at 29.7% is low and the lowest of the three tested subjects.

The day-to-day feel is defined by strong family trust and a genuinely calm building. Parent satisfaction is 96% (above the district's 94%), and parent trust in both teachers and the principal hits 97%, with 285 families weighing in on the family survey. Zero suspensions over three straight reporting years is genuinely unusual for a school this size. The chronic absenteeism rate of 65.9% is high and worth taking seriously, even though the overall attendance rate of 91.2% looks fine — it means a large share of students are missing enough school days to be flagged. Teacher-side numbers tell a more cautious story: only 71% of teachers rate instruction quality positively (well below the 90% district average) and 74% trust the principal, which is something worth asking about on a tour.

The student body is 91% Hispanic, 4% Black, 2% Asian, with the rest split among smaller groups — a diversity index of 20%, meaning the population is fairly concentrated in one community rather than spread across many. That profile mirrors the surrounding Concourse neighborhood closely. About 95% of students qualify on the economic need index, 18% have IEPs, and the school runs ELL Support as a named program. Spanish-speaking and bilingual families will find a school that reflects their language and culture.

Concourse-Concourse Village is a working-class Bronx neighborhood with a median household income around $40,000 and a poverty rate of 34%. Homeownership is low at about 11%, so most families rent, and roughly 14% of households include children — meaning families with school-age kids are a meaningful but not dominant slice of the area. About 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, well below citywide norms. The school sits within a very short walk of three subway lines, which makes drop-off and after-school logistics manageable from much of the borough.

Three subway stations are within walking distance: the 4 train at 167 St (about a 2-minute walk), the B and D trains at 167 St (about a 3-minute walk), and the 4 train at 170 St (about a 7-minute walk).