The Walton Avenue School

The school shows a striking V-shaped recovery pattern: scores peaked in 2019 at 72.9% ELA and 90.6% Math, then crashed during COVID (ELA hit a low of 21% in 2024), and have now rebounded to 40.2% ELA and 49.2% Math. While Math now exceeds the district average of 44.7%, ELA remains slightly below the district average of 44.75%. The Grade 3 scores (48.3% ELA, 50% Math) suggest incoming students are performing closer to district norms, while Grade 5 shows more struggle (37.7% ELA, 46.6% Math). The school overall score of 1.79/4 matches the district average exactly.

The school has a distinctive climate profile: extremely high parent satisfaction (95%) and nearly universal trust in teachers and principal (98%), yet concerning teacher-reported safety scores (77% versus 83% district average). Zero suspensions for three years running is exceptional and suggests a restorative or supportive discipline approach. However, chronic absenteeism at 61.7% is alarmingly high — particularly for Black students (78.2%) — indicating significant barriers to regular attendance that likely contribute to academic volatility.

The school reflects its neighborhood almost exactly: 81% Hispanic and 16% Black students, compared to a neighborhood that is 32.3% in poverty with a median household income of only $45,405. The community is young and family-dense (94.64 percentile), though with very low homeownership (4.4%) and only 16.2% of adults holding a bachelor's degree. With 26% IEP students and an economic need index of 93.5%, the school serves a population with substantial support needs.

Mount Eden-Claremont (West) is a high-density, transit-rich Bronx neighborhood with significant challenges: a safety score of only 0.77 (low), elevated lead exposure rates (15.2%), and high asthma rates (75.5 per 1,000). However, it offers strong transit access (83.52 percentile) and family density (94.64 percentile), meaning many families with children live nearby. The median home value of $262,395 suggests an affordable area for the Bronx, though only 4.4% of residents own homes. Education orientation is low (25.29 percentile), meaning this isn't a neighborhood where families primarily choose the area for its schools.

The neighborhood's high transit score (83.52) and family density (94.64) suggest most families walk or take public transit. The area is built-up and urban, with the Walton Avenue location serving a residential population within the zone. Families without cars can access the school easily via bus or subway.