Young Leaders Elementary School

Here's what's remarkable: in 2016, just 11% of students were passing ELA and 9% were passing math. By 2025, those numbers hit 38% and 53% respectively — a nearly 30-point gain in reading and a 45-point gain in math over nine years. That's not a fluke; it's a trajectory. Math now actually exceeds the district average of 49%, while ELA still lags behind the district's 51%. Grade 3 students are performing strongest (44% ELA, 56% math), suggesting early intervention is working. The overall score of 1.82/4 is below the district average of 2.0, but the trend line points in the right direction.

If you want to understand this school, look at the survey numbers: 96% of parents say they're satisfied, 97% trust the teachers, and an incredible 100% report 'strong relationships' with the school community. Teachers are equally bullish — 97% trust the principal and 95% trust their colleagues. Teacher-reported safety sits at 81%, slightly above the district average. Perhaps most notably, this school has had zero suspensions for three consecutive years. That's not because problems don't exist — it's because the approach keeps kids in class. The trade-off? Chronic absenteeism is high at 74%, which tracks with the neighborhood's instability but still means nearly 1 in 4 students are missing significant instructional time.

This is a predominantly Hispanic school (73%) with a quarter Black students and very few white or multi-racial students. Nearly a third of students have IEPs, which is notably high. The community is working-class and largely renter-occupied (only 6% homeownership), reflecting the neighborhood's economic makeup. At 229 students, it's a small school — which likely contributes to the strong relationship scores parents report.

Mott Haven-Port Morris is one of the poorest neighborhoods in New York City, with a median household income of just $29,100 and a 40% poverty rate. Only 12% of adults have a bachelor's degree. Safety concerns are real — the safety score of 17 reflects elevated crime density and environmental health risks (high lead exposure rates and asthma-related ER visits). Transit access is moderate, but family-oriented amenities score low. This is a neighborhood where families are navigating significant stress — housing precarity, health challenges, limited economic mobility — and the school is a stabilizer for those who engage with it.

Given the neighborhood's density and low car ownership, most families walk. The school is accessible via local bus routes, though parents often cite safety concerns on surrounding streets.