The Dr. Emmett W. Bassett School

Bassett's math proficiency of 64.7% is dramatically higher than the district average of 48% — and the climb is real, nearly doubling from 31.8% in 2016. ELA is a different story: 42.2% proficiency sits about four points below the district average, with grade-by-grade results showing weaker performance in 4th grade (34.6%) than in 3rd or 5th. The overall quality score of 2.14 out of 4 edges out the district average of 1.88, which reflects the strength in math more than any recent ELA gains.

The day-to-day feel here is unusually warm and orderly. Zero suspensions over three straight years, 97% of teachers report feeling safe, and 100% of surveyed families say there are strong relationships — numbers you rarely see clustered together. Parent satisfaction at 96% and parent-principal trust at 98% tell you families feel heard. One softer signal worth flagging: teacher-principal trust is 76%, noticeably lower than the family-side trust scores, suggesting leadership is more responsive to parents than to its own staff. Attendance at 90.5% is slightly above the district average, but chronic absenteeism at 63% is very high and consistent across demographic groups — this is a school where lots of kids are missing lots of days.

The student body is majority Hispanic (53%) with a sizable Asian population (29%), a smaller Black contingent (9%), and notably higher Native American representation (5%) than most city schools — a reflection of the surrounding neighborhood's diversity. Twelve percent of students have IEPs, and an economic need index of 87.6% reflects a school where most families are working-class. The PTA raised about $31 per student last year, in line with district norms.

Castle Hill-Unionport is a working-class, family-rooted part of the Bronx with a median household income just over $53,000 and a poverty rate around 22%. Only about 14% of households have children, and homeownership at 34% suggests a mix of renters and longtime owners rather than a transient area. About 18% of adults have a bachelor's degree, and the median home value is close to $591,000 — a number driven mostly by multi-family properties common in the area.

Most families arrive via the 6 train. Parkchester is about an 8-minute walk, Castle Hill Avenue is around 11 minutes, and St. Lawrence Avenue is roughly 12 minutes — no other subway lines are nearby.