Thomas C. Giordano Middle School 45

Test scores tell two stories at once. The 2025 proficiency rates — 33.4% in ELA and 18.5% in math — sit well below District 10 averages of roughly 45% and 44%, and the school's overall 1.04 out of 4 trails the district's 1.77. But the long view is genuinely hopeful: ELA proficiency has climbed from 15.8% in 2016 to 33.4% in 2025, and math has roughly tripled from 5.7% to 18.5%. Scores by grade show 7th and 8th graders outperforming 6th graders in both subjects, suggesting students do gain ground as they move through the school.

This is a school where families feel heard but teachers are more cautious about their leaders. Parent satisfaction at 98% and parent trust in teachers and the principal both at 99% are striking — well above the district average of 94%. Teacher ratings of instruction quality (83%) and collegial trust among teachers (87%) are solid, but teacher-principal trust sits at just 52%, a notable gap that hints at tension between staff and administration. Attendance at 88.5% is slightly below the district's 90.8%, and chronic absenteeism is high at 60%, particularly among Hispanic students (64.5%). On the upside, the discipline picture is remarkable: 25 suspensions in 2021-22 fell to six in 2022-23 and zero in 2023-24.

The student body reflects its Belmont surroundings: 79% Hispanic and 17% Black, with Asian, White, and multiracial students each making up 2% or less. The diversity index of 38% is on the low side, reflecting how concentrated the neighborhood enrollment is. With 94% of students qualifying as high economic need, 22% receiving IEP services, and ELL support listed as a program, the school is built to serve a high-need population — and the 409 families who responded to last year's survey suggest strong engagement despite the challenges.

Belmont is a dense, working-class Bronx neighborhood where the median household income is just under $33,000 and more than a third of residents live below the poverty line. Only about 4% of households own their homes, most rentals crowd into multi-family buildings, and just 13% of adults hold a bachelor's degree. The population skews young and family-rooted, even though only 11% of households currently include children — a figure that understates how many kids live in shared or extended-family homes typical of the area.

Most families arrive on foot or by bus. The closest subway options are the B and D lines at Fordham Rd, about a 12-minute walk, and at Kingsbridge Rd, about 14 minutes; the 4 train at Kingsbridge Rd is roughly a 17-minute walk.