At a Glance
A small, competitive elementary-middle school with a rich program lineup but serious questions about instruction quality
Families who prioritize a small, neighborhood-based school with rich programming over academic performance metrics — and who are comfortable having direct conversations with school leadership about the satisfaction and instruction quality scores. Families with children who have IEPs may find the 26% special education population reassuring. Given the neighborhood's safety and environmental health considerations, families should factor those into their decision. This is NOT a school where test scores suggest strong academic outcomes, but it could work for families who value community presence, small class sizes, and extensive extracurriculars over measured academic proficiency.
- Zero suspensions — discipline keeps students in class
- Very small enrollment (111 students) creates intimate setting
- 100/100 program richness score — arts, sports, STEM, and extracurriculars are extensive
- Competitive admissions (33% offer rate) suggests community demand
- Offers AP Courses at the middle school level — uncommon for district schools
- JROTC program provides structure and leadership development for older students
- ELL Support and Spanish language programming
- Parent satisfaction (68%) and teacher instruction quality (42%) are far below district averages — you should ask the school why
- No academic proficiency data provided — impossible to assess student outcomes
- Teacher-reported safety scores likely also below average given the pattern
- Neighborhood safety metrics are genuinely low (3rd percentile)
- Environmental health concerns: elevated lead and asthma rates in the area
- If you're comparing to district schools, peer schools in District 9 include charter schools that significantly outperform on test scores
- Teacher quality scores suggest possible turnover or professional development issues
Based on 2024 data
School SummaryDistrict 9
Among District 9 peer schools, this school stands out for its small size and competitive admissions, but not for academic outcomes — which are not publicly reported here. The district's top performers (Icahn Charter at 99, Success Academy campuses in the 90s) are charter schools with screens, while this is a limited unscreened option. Within District 9's mix of traditional and charter schools, School for Excellence occupies a particular niche: a neighborhood PK-8 with strong extracurriculars but survey scores that raise questions about the core educational experience.
Academic performance data was not provided in the available metrics. Without ELA and Math proficiency scores, it's difficult to assess how students are actually doing year-to-year. The school does offer AP Courses — notable for a K-8 setting — but the absence of test score data is a gap parents will want to resolve directly with the school.
The survey data here is concerning and warrants a conversation with the school. Parent satisfaction sits at 68.2%, compared to a district average of 94% — a significant gap that suggests many families feel something is missing. Teacher instruction quality scores even lower at 42.2% against a 90% district average, which raises questions about professional support, resources, or leadership. On the positive side, the school reports zero suspensions — a strong indicator that discipline is handled in ways that keep students in class. Attendance averages mirror the district at around 90%. The disconnect between parent experience and the absence of severe discipline issues suggests this may be a school where the academic environment, not behavioral issues, is the primary concern.
The student body is predominantly Hispanic (58%) and Black (36%), reflecting the neighborhood's demographics. About a quarter of students (26%) have IEPs — notably higher than many district schools — suggesting strong special education services, though also indicating a population with significant support needs. The diversity index of 51% is moderate. This is a neighborhood school in the truest sense: families here are largely from the surrounding community, not traveling from across the borough.
Morrisania is a dense, transit-rich Bronx neighborhood with deep community ties but real challenges. The median household income of $33,049 is among the lowest in the city, and the poverty rate sits at 34.7%. Only 9% of residents own homes — this is a renting community. The education orientation score of 26.8% (low) and BA+ rate of 14.9% tell you this isn't a neighborhood where parents are highly college-educated or pushing kids toward elite private schools — it's working-class families building something different. The safety score of 3.07 percentile is genuinely low, and environmental health indicators are concerning: elevated lead rates (15.1%) and very high asthma emergency department rates (75.5 per 1,000) suggest underlying health vulnerabilities in the population. Transit access is strong (72.4 percentile), and family density is extremely high (88.1 percentile).
Morrisania is highly walkable and well-served by subway and bus lines. Many families in this neighborhood simply walk their children to school — part of the appeal for families who want their kids close to home.
Survey Results
NYC School Survey (2025)
Programs & Activities
Admissions Demand
Racial & Ethnic Diversity
NYC DOE InfoHub · 2022-23
Economic Need & Special Populations
Discipline
NYSED Student & Educator Database
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is School for Excellence a good school?
- Published quality ratings aren't available for School for Excellence yet on Motley. It's a public school serving grades Pre-K to 8 in Morrisania.
- What grades does School for Excellence serve?
- School for Excellence serves grades Pre-K to 8.
- How do students get into School for Excellence?
- School for Excellence uses the Educational Option (Ed-Opt) method, ranking applicants across performance levels so seats go to a mix of abilities.
- Is School for Excellence public, charter, or private?
- School for Excellence is a public school in NYC Community School District 9.
- What neighborhood is School for Excellence in?
- School for Excellence is in Morrisania, Bronx.
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