Young Women's Leadership School of the Bronx

The school's academic profile shows a stark split: ELA proficiency at 50.3% sits above the district average of 44.75%, but math proficiency at 28.3% falls dramatically below the district average of 44.7%. This gap has persisted over time—historical data shows math scores have been volatile, dropping as low as 21.8% in 2022 before recovering to 41.8% in 2024, then slipping again to 28.3% in 2025. The overall quality score of 1.57 out of 4 trails the district average of 1.79, placing this school below typical District 9 performance. Grade-level data reveals particular concern in 8th grade math, where only 12.9% of students are proficient—a red flag for middle school preparation.

The school's climate data presents a paradox: survey responses from families are overwhelmingly positive—97% satisfaction, 98% trust in teachers, 98% trust in the principal—yet chronic absenteeism sits at a troubling 77.5%, far exceeding typical rates. Teacher surveys show 92% rate instruction quality positively and 97% trust leadership, suggesting a coherent internal culture. However, discipline data shows a concerning trend: suspensions rose from 0 in 2021-22 to 8 in 2023-24 (2% suspension rate, higher than the district average of 0.42%). The high chronic absenteeism rate, combined with rising suspensions, suggests that despite strong survey satisfaction, there may be underlying attendance or behavioral challenges that aren't captured in parent perception data.

The student body reflects the neighborhood's demographics: 65% Hispanic, 27% Black, with very small Asian (5%) and white (2%) populations. The economic need index of 84.5% indicates nearly all students come from economically disadvantaged households. With 18% of students receiving special education services, the school serves a high-need population. Despite these challenges, the school maintains competitive admissions—356 applicants competing for 65 sixth-grade seats translates to just a 20% offer rate, suggesting strong demand among families in the area.

Mount Hope is one of the city's most family-dense neighborhoods (99.23 percentile) but faces significant challenges: a median household income of just $41,487, 31.4% poverty rate, and virtually no homeownership (3.9%). The neighborhood scores poorly on education orientation (18.77) and safety (0.38), with high crime density and environmental health concerns including elevated lead rates and asthma emergency department visits. However, transit access is exceptional at 85.44 percentile, making the area well-connected to the broader city. The low education orientation score suggests fewer educational resources and support structures in the surrounding community compared to other neighborhoods.

The neighborhood's high family density and excellent transit access mean many students likely walk or take public transportation; families report the area is navigable by foot and well-served by bus routes