P.S./M.S. 11X498 - Van Nest Academy

The academic picture is mixed but improving. Math proficiency at 62.2% beats the district average of 55.6%, while ELA at 53% trails the 56.7% district average. The long-term trend shows real growth — from 36% math in 2016 to 62% in 2025, with a pandemic dip in 2022. The standout story is middle school: grade 8 math hits 71.9% and grade 7 hits 71.3%, while grade 8 ELA reaches 65.2%. Younger grades are catching up, with grade 3 math strong at 66% but ELA at 40% — a pattern suggesting the school excels at building math skills as students move up.

The climate data tells a story of two strengths and one concern. On the positive side, parent trust is exceptional: 96% parent-teacher trust and 95% parent-principal trust, with 93% parent satisfaction. Teachers rate instruction quality at 100% and report 94% safety. However, there's a tension: teacher-principal trust sits at 74%, notably lower than parent trust in leadership. Attendance is solid at 93.2% (above district), but chronic absenteeism at 76.4% is high — meaning many students are technically present but frequently missing. Suspensions remain low at 1% (4 students), though the trend has increased from zero in 2021-22 to four in 2023-24.

The student body reflects Morris Park's working-to-middle-class character: 62% Hispanic, 19% White, 10% Black, 7% Asian, with a diversity index of 63%. Economic need is high at 73.4%, and 21% of students have IEPs. The school offers only ELL support as a special program — no gifted tracks, no selective admissions. This is a truly neighborhood school where the kids who live nearby attend, period. PTA fundraising of $52 per student exceeds the district average, showing engaged families willing to contribute.

Morris Park is a stable, residential Bronx neighborhood known for its quiet streets and strong community feel. The area scores very high on stability (94th percentile) but lower on transit access (48th percentile) and family density (27th percentile). Median home values around $669,000 and a 38% homeownership rate suggest a community of working families and long-term residents. Safety scores are moderate (52), which is typical for the Bronx — parents should know this is a neighborhood where crime density and HPD violation rates are present but not exceptional. There's limited green space compared to other areas, and families without cars may find transit options limiting.

Morris Park is a car-friendly neighborhood — families without vehicles may find transit options limited given the low transit score. The school draws from its immediate area, so most students walk or are driven.