The New School for Leadership and Journalism

Test scores here have climbed steadily from 33% ELA in 2016 to 51% today, and math jumped from 27% to 49% over the same period — now both above the District 10 averages of 45% and 43.5%. The 2.01 overall score also beats the district average of 1.77. Grade-level breakdown shows 6th graders leading in ELA (55.3%) while 8th graders have pulled ahead in math (52.7%), suggesting strong progression through the building. This isn't a top-tier peer to the highest-performing schools in the district, but it's clearly outpacing most of its District 10 peers.

The survey data here is the headline — 98% of families report satisfaction, 100% trust their children's teachers, and 99% trust the principal. Teachers themselves rate instruction quality at 99% and rate their trust in leadership at 100%. Attendance sits at 91.4%, slightly above the district average, though chronic absenteeism is a stubborn 68% across all groups (68.7% for Hispanic students, 51% for Black students). Discipline is a genuine strength: zero suspensions for the past two years after having just 2 in 2021-22. The day-to-day feel seems to be one where families feel heard, teachers feel supported, and the building is managing behavior without relying on exclusion.

The student body is 87% Hispanic and 8% Black, reflecting the surrounding Kingsbridge Heights-Van Cortlandt Village neighborhood which has a 21% poverty rate and median household income around $55,000. With an economic need index of 90.5%, this is a high-need population. The diversity index is low at 28%, so students here won't experience much demographic diversity within the school. About 19% of students have IEPs, and the school offers ELL support. This is a school that serves a specific community — predominantly working-class Hispanic families — with real intensity.

Kingsbridge Heights-Van Cortlandt Village is a transit-rich, family-dense area in the Bronx with strong stability scores (83.5 percentile) and easy access to the subway. The neighborhood has a homeownership rate of just 18%, meaning most families here are renting. Education orientation scores lower (36%) which may reflect the community's focus on other priorities. Safety metrics show some concerns — the crime density and collision rates are elevated, and asthma rates are notably high (75.5 per 1,000). There are parks and green spaces in the area, and the neighborhood is walkable.

Highly walkable and transit-accessible area — the neighborhood scores 82 on transit, making it easy for families without cars. Many students likely walk or take public transit.