Storefront Academy Charter School

The trajectory is striking: in 2022, only 27% of students tested proficient in ELA and just 20% in math. By 2025, those numbers hit 75% for both subjects — that kind of jump doesn't happen by accident. Looking at grade-level data, Grade 4 is exceptional (94.9% ELA, 85% math), Grade 3 is strong (82.8% ELA, 90% math), and Grade 5 lags (53.3% ELA, 56.8% math), suggesting the school has gotten better at teaching younger students than retaining that success in the upper grades. Either way, these scores handily beat the District 7 averages of 51% ELA and 49% math.

Here's the tension: families love this school. Parent satisfaction sits at 94%, with 92% trust between parents and teachers and 94% trust in leadership — numbers that reflect genuine buy-in. Teachers report feeling safe (84%, above the district average) and have strong collegial trust (82%). But chronic absenteeism is a staggering 53%, meaning more than half of students are missing too many days. The attendance rate of 87.5% is below the district average. Meanwhile, teacher-rated instruction quality (76%) is notably lower than the district average of 88%. So parents feel heard and trusting, teachers feel safe and collaborative — but getting kids to school consistently is the day-to-day battle this community is fighting.

This is a small school — 280 students in grades K-5 — with a demographics profile that mirrors the neighborhood: 68% Hispanic, 26% Black, 5% Native American. The economic need index of 90.9% is extremely high, meaning virtually all families qualify for free or reduced lunch. About 19% of students have IEPs. The diversity index is 45%, which is moderate. This is a community of working-class families in the South Bronx navigating significant economic headwinds, and the school has become a trusted institution despite those challenges.

Melrose is a high-need South Bronx neighborhood with significant challenges: the safety score is just 1.92 out of 100 (very low), crime density is high, and environmental factors like asthma rates are elevated. That said, transit access is excellent (77.78 score), making commutes manageable. Only 15.7% of households have children (very low family density), and homeownership sits at just 10%. The median household income is $30,236 — among the lowest in the city. This is a neighborhood where families are doing more with less, and the school serves as a resource for those families.

Transit is strong in this area, but walking around can feel challenging given the low safety score. Families who value the academic program often come from outside the immediate neighborhood to attend.