Urban Scholars Community School

Test scores here have climbed dramatically over the past decade — from 14% ELA in 2016 to 50% today, and from 12.6% to 51.6% in math — putting this zoned school above both the District 12 and citywide averages. The gains aren't a fluke: they've held steady year over year, with 2025 showing the highest scores yet. Grade 5 stands out as the strongest cohort (61.7% ELA), suggesting the upper grades are getting something right. That said, math slipped slightly from 2023 to 2024 before rebounding, and the chronic absenteeism rate (57.6%) means a lot of students are missing enough instruction to potentially drag down performance — a factor worth watching.

The survey data tells a remarkable story: 95% of parents trust teachers, 95% trust the principal, and 95% say the school fosters strong relationships. Teachers themselves rate instruction quality at 97% and report high trust in leadership (92%). Safety perception sits at 84%, roughly average for the district. But the attendance picture is troubling — with 57.6% chronic absenteeism, more than half of students are missing enough school to be flagged. This isn't a discipline problem (zero suspensions for three years running), it's a reflection of the challenges families in this high-need neighborhood face: poverty, housing instability, health issues. The school appears to be doing right by its families in terms of climate — now the question is how to get kids through the door consistently.

This is a small school (352 students) in a neighborhood where 34.7% of residents live below the poverty line and only 14.9% have a bachelor's degree. The student body is 60% Hispanic, 36% Black, with nearly a quarter (22%) receiving special education services. The economic need index of 93.6% places this among the highest-need schools in the city. PTA fundraising is minimal ($2 per student), reflecting the financial reality of the community. What's notable is that despite these constraints, families are engaged — the family survey had 250 responses, an 85% response rate that suggests parents feel connected enough to participate.

Morrisania is a high-density, high-need Bronx neighborhood with a family orientation score of 88 out of 100, meaning lots of children in the area. The median household income is just $33,049, and only 9% of residents own homes. Safety scores are very low (3/100), and the education orientation of the neighborhood is also low (27/100), suggesting this isn't an area where families are choosing between many school options. Transit access is strong (72/100), which matters for getting around. There's a rawness here — lead exposure rates are elevated, asthma rates are high — and the school is one of the few stable institutions families can count on.

Most students arrive on foot or via short bus rides — this is a zoned school serving a dense neighborhood where walking to school is the norm for most families