Pelham Gardens Middle School

Test scores have improved substantially over time — ELA rose from 23% in 2016 to 45.8% in 2025, and math more than tripled from 8.6% to 30.7% over the same period — but the school still trails District 11 averages significantly (ELA 45.8% vs. 56.7% district; Math 30.7% vs. 55.6% district). The overall quality score of 1.53 out of 4 reflects this gap. Grade-level data shows stronger performance in upper grades, with 8th graders reaching 55.4% ELA proficiency compared to 37.4% for 6th graders, suggesting students make meaningful gains during their time here.

Survey data reveals a notable disconnect: parents report 87% satisfaction (below the 92.9% district average), yet trust metrics are remarkably high — 95% parent-teacher trust, 96% parent-principal trust, and a perfect 100% teacher-principal trust. Teachers rate instruction quality at 98%, well above the 92.4% district average. However, chronic absenteeism at 53.9% is a serious concern, suggesting attendance challenges may be undercutting academic progress. The suspension rate of 1% is slightly above the district average of 0.49%, though absolute numbers remain low (3 suspensions).

With 330 students, this is a small middle school. The student body is predominantly Black (56%) and Hispanic (35%), with small Asian (4%) and White (4%) populations. The diversity index of 55% reflects moderate demographic variety. Nearly 27% of students have IEPs, and the economic need index of 81.5% indicates high poverty. The neighborhood is stable with 56.5% homeownership and a median home value of $646,081, though only 15% of households have children — suggesting many families may be older adults rather than young parents.

Pelham Gardens is a stable, residential Bronx neighborhood characterized by high homeownership (56.5%) and a median household income of $90,004 — above many parts of the borough. The area scores poorly on transit (32 out of 100) and family density (33 out of 100), meaning it's more of a quiet residential area than a transit hub or young family epicenter. Safety scores are moderate (60 out of 100), and environmental health indicators show concerns with asthma rates and air quality. The education orientation score of 37 suggests this isn't a neighborhood where families specifically move for school options.

Families typically walk or drive — the area is residential and not especially walkable to transit hubs, so most students commute by car or school bus