The Urban Assembly Bronx Academy of Letters

Test scores at this school are significantly below the District 7 averages—ELA proficiency of 16.5% versus the district's 51.3% and math at 22.2% versus 49%—placing it among the lower-performing schools in the Bronx. The historical trend shows considerable volatility: math scores peaked at 22.2% in 2025 but dropped as low as 4.3% in 2017, while ELA reached 31.4% in 2022 before falling back to 16.5%. There is no clear upward trajectory, and the school scores just 0.77 out of 4 overall compared to the district average of 2.0. Grade-level data shows Grade 7 performing relatively stronger in ELA (26.2%) while Grade 6 shows strength in math (29.6%), but these gains aren't consistent across subjects or grades.

The school's climate data reveals a striking disconnect between academic outcomes and relational health. Teachers rate instruction quality at 96%, parent-teacher trust at 95%, and teacher-principal trust at 93%—all exceptionally high. Families report 92% satisfaction and 93% trust in the principal. However, attendance is a concern: the 85.2% attendance rate trails the district average of 91.1%, and chronic absenteeism reaches 38.4%, with female students (41.8%) and Black students (47.6%) disproportionately affected. Notably, there were zero suspensions last year, suggesting a restorative or supportive approach to discipline. The gap between high relational trust and poor attendance suggests families feel welcomed but face real barriers to getting students to school consistently.

The student body reflects its Mott Haven-Port Morris neighborhood: 64% Hispanic, 32% Black, with very small Asian (1%) and White (3%) populations. With 28% IEP students and a diversity index of 47%, this is a community school serving primarily low-income students of color. The school enrolls 575 students across grades 6-12 with an average class size of 20.5, slightly smaller than the district average. The demographics closely mirror the surrounding neighborhood, which has a 40.1% poverty rate and where only 12.2% of households have school-age children—suggesting this school serves a concentrated population of families with limited educational resources at home.

Mott Haven-Port Morris is one of the highest-poverty neighborhoods in New York City, with a median household income of just $29,110 and a 40.1% poverty rate. Only 6.1% of residents own homes, and just 12.2% have a bachelor's degree or higher, indicating limited educational attainment in the community. The neighborhood scores very low on safety (16.86/100) and education orientation (5.36/100), though it rates moderately on transit access (48.28/100). Environmental health concerns are notable: elevated lead rates (12.1%) and very high asthma emergency department rates (75.5 per 1,000) suggest additional health challenges for students. This is a neighborhood where families face significant economic and environmental stressors, making a supportive school environment particularly important.

The school is accessible by transit in this portion of the Bronx, though families should note the neighborhood's low walkability scores and safety concerns—students from farther afield may face longer commutes, and parents should consider transportation logistics carefully given the area's infrastructure challenges.