West Bronx Academy for the Future

Test scores here are significantly below the District 10 average — ELA at 33.2% versus the district's 45%, and math at a notably low 8.6% compared to the district's 43.5%. The school has struggled to find academic momentum; math proficiency has never exceeded 17% in recent years and sits below 10% currently. There's a slight upward trend in ELA over the past three years (from 26.7% in 2022 to 33.2% in 2025), but the overall score of 0.84/4 places it far below the district average of 1.77. Grade 8 performs noticeably better in ELA (47%) than the middle grades, suggesting some students catch up by high school.

This is a school where relationships appear strong but structural challenges persist. Parent satisfaction sits at 98% — well above the district average — with nearly universal trust in both teachers and the principal. Teacher instruction quality scores 88%, slightly below the district average. However, there's a notable gap in teacher collegial trust (72%) and teacher-principal trust (83%), suggesting some staff tensions beneath the surface. The attendance rate of 93.2% is actually above district average, yet the chronic absenteeism rate of 78.9% is alarmingly high — among the highest in the area — indicating that while many students show up, a large portion struggle to maintain consistent attendance. The school reports zero suspensions, which could reflect either strong restorative practices or under-reporting.

The student body is predominantly Hispanic (80%) with significant Black enrollment (17%), reflecting the demographics of Belmont. Nearly a quarter of students have IEPs, and the economic need index of 92.9% indicates almost all families face financial hardship. The diversity index of 35% is relatively low, meaning the student population is fairly homogeneous — families looking for a highly diverse environment may want to look elsewhere. With only 2% Asian and 1% White students, this is not a racially diverse school.

Belmont is a dense, working-class neighborhood in the Bronx characterized by low incomes ($32,956 median), high poverty (37.7%), and very low homeownership (just 3.8%). The area scores very low on safety (2.3/100) — a reality for families here. Transit access is moderate (58.62), and family density is average. Education orientation is low (22.22), meaning this isn't a neighborhood where parents predominantly prioritize private or specialized education. The environment has health concerns: elevated lead rates (15.2%) and high asthma emergency department rates (75.5 per 1,000).

The school is accessible by public transit and sits along Fordham Road, a major commercial corridor. Families from across the Bronx apply, and the 2.5% acceptance rate means most accepted students travel from outside the immediate neighborhood.