The Family School

The trajectory here is hard to ignore. In 2016, only about one in five students were proficient in ELA and math. By 2025, those numbers hit 56% and 66% respectively — roughly tripling in nine years. Math especially stands out: it's now 22 percentage points above the district average, and 4th graders are performing at 75.6% math proficiency. Even 5th grade math (50%) lags behind the rest, suggesting there may be grade-level inconsistencies or a curriculum emphasis that pays off more in earlier grades. That said, at 56% ELA proficiency, the school is solidly above the district average of 45%, meaning students here are reading and calculating at rates that beat most of their District 9 peers.

The survey data tells a striking story: 98% of parents are satisfied, 99% trust the principal, and 98% report strong relationships with teachers — numbers that are exceptional in any district. Teachers, too, show high trust (95% for the principal, 89% collegial), and 92% rate instruction quality highly. The trade-off is in safety perceptions: teachers report 76% safety, which is below the district average of 83%. That's worth noting — it may reflect neighborhood conditions more than school-specific issues, but it's a dimension families should discuss. Attendance is a real challenge — the 89.5% rate is slightly below district average, and a striking 60% of students are chronically absent. That matters because consistent presence drives the academic gains this school has worked so hard to achieve. On discipline, the school has maintained zero suspensions for three straight years, suggesting a restorative or relationship-based approach that parents in the survey clearly endorse.

This is a predominantly Hispanic and Black neighborhood school that mirrors its surroundings: 69% Hispanic, 27% Black, with tiny Asian and white populations. The economic need index of 93.9% places it among the highest-need schools in the city, and 26% of students have IEPs. The diversity index of 43% reflects a fairly homogeneous community, which is typical for the South Bronx. Class sizes average 20.8 students, essentially matching the district average — not small, not large. What stands out is that families are choosing to stay: 380 parents completed the family survey (a 94% response rate), which is extraordinary and signals real community buy-in.

Concourse-Concourse Village is a dense, transit-rich section of the South Bronx near Yankee Stadium and the Grand Concourse. It's a neighborhood where most families rent (only 11% homeownership), few have bachelor's degrees (16%), and the poverty rate hovers around 34%. The area scores very low on safety (2.68 out of 100) and education orientation (32), but high on family density (77) and transit access (67). There are parks and green spaces along the Concourse, and the neighborhood is well-connected by bus and subway. It's a place where families are navigating real everyday challenges — affordable housing, employment, health — and the school functions as a stable anchor.

Most families walk or take short bus rides; the neighborhood is dense and transit-connected, so commutes are typically brief for zoned families