At a Glance
A Small Catholic Elementary School Where Every Child Is Known by Name
Families seeking a small, intimate elementary school with strong personal attention, who are comfortable with Catholic school values and want their children in a genuinely diverse classroom — particularly working-class to middle-income Bronx families who value community over competitive admissions outcomes.
- Very small scale — only 139 students total across all grades
- 8.4:1 student-teacher ratio means lots of individual attention
- High racial diversity for a Catholic school (0.73 diversity index)
- Roman Catholic faith-based education in the Bronx
- Elementary-only grade span creates a tight-knit K-5 community
- Religious affiliation means some faith-based programming — families should be comfortable with Catholic identity
- As a private school, tuition applies — cost is a real factor
- Very small enrollment means limited extracurricular offerings compared to larger schools
- The neighborhood is still developing — families may want to visit the area personally
- No 6th grade or middle school means you'll need to plan for another school transition after 5th grade
A small Roman Catholic elementary school with an 8.4:1 student-teacher ratio — this means your child won't get lost in the crowd. With 139 students across pre-K through 5th grade, it's the opposite of a factory-style education.
The student body is notably diverse — roughly 37% Black, 42% White, 9% Hispanic, and 7% Asian or multiracial. This is a real mix, not the homogeneous population you often find at suburban Catholic schools. The high diversity index (0.73 on a 0-1 scale) means children grow up alongside peers from different backgrounds.
Melrose is a South Bronx neighborhood undergoing gradual change, with a mix of older residential buildings and newer housing. It's accessible via multiple subway and bus lines. The area has a working-class character with increasing family activity as new developments bring more young families to the area.
The school is situated in a transit-accessible Bronx neighborhood. Most families will likely rely on public transportation or car, as is typical for much of the Bronx.
Notable Programs
What Parents Are Saying
Mixed reviews on GreatSchools (3.7/5 from 14 reviews). Positive mentions of caring teachers, rigorous academics, and safe environment. Some concerns about organizational issues and leadership.
Synthesized from public parent reviews · Apr 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is ST ANSELM SCHOOL a good school?
- Published quality ratings aren't available for ST ANSELM SCHOOL yet on Motley. It's a private school serving grades Pre-K to 5 in Melrose.
- What grades does ST ANSELM SCHOOL serve?
- ST ANSELM SCHOOL serves grades Pre-K to 5.
- How do students get into ST ANSELM SCHOOL?
- ST ANSELM SCHOOL runs its own private admissions process — typically an application, a visit, and sometimes testing.
- Is ST ANSELM SCHOOL public, charter, or private?
- ST ANSELM SCHOOL is a private school.
- What neighborhood is ST ANSELM SCHOOL in?
- ST ANSELM SCHOOL is in Melrose, Bronx.
Get the complete picture
Motley pulls together data from across New York City so you don’t have to. One free account, every school.
No credit card required
Get all this when you sign in
Survey data, program listings, admissions stats, and the full editorial profile — free, no credit card.
Full School Profile
Skip the tour guessing game. Get the standout features, honest trade-offs, and whether your kid will actually thrive here — before you visit.
Survey Results
See what 2,600+ schools’ own families and teachers really think — trust, safety, instruction quality — so you walk in with the truth, not the brochure.
Programs & Activities
Stop Googling program lists. AP courses, STEM labs, dual-language tracks, sports teams, arts — all categorized so you can compare schools in minutes.
Admissions Demand
Know your odds before you apply. Apps-per-seat ratios, offer rates, and fill data — so you don’t waste your top choice on a long shot.
Economic Need & Special Populations
Find out if the support your child needs is actually there — IEP enrollment, economic need index, and the demographics no other site surfaces.
Discipline
One bad year doesn’t tell you much. Three years of state-verified suspension data shows whether things are getting better or worse.