The top reported proficiency rate is 39% in Math. The lowest is 31% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on New York City Geographic District # 9
NYC Geographic District 9, which covers parts of the Bronx, serves a large, economically complex student population across the full PK-12 span. The district enrolls students across a broad range of grade levels, with a student body that is predominantly Hispanic and Black. Over the last several years, the district experienced a notable enrollment decline, particularly at the elementary and middle school levels, though enrollment has stabilized more recently.
The district's state test results in early 2025 reveal a significant academic challenge. In English language arts, proficiency ranges from the low to mid-range across grades 3 through 8, with grade 5 showing the strongest performance. In math, proficiency tends to run similarly, with measurable variation by grade. Grade 3 math shows better results than grades 4 and 5, which fall to lower levels, before grade 6 dips further and grades 7 and 8 recover partially. Science proficiency is notably lower, particularly at grade 5, where less than a quarter of students test proficient. The participation rate in grade 8 science testing is also markedly lower, suggesting students may be tracking differently or testing may not be universal at that level. Across all subjects and grades, the district's overall proficiency sits below the midpoint when compared against the other districts in Bronx County. Chronic absenteeism also runs slightly below the county median, a pattern that may warrant attention as a factor in achievement.
A major shift now shaping instruction across District 9 is the mandatory adoption of reading and math curricula set by the city. Beginning in 2023-24, all elementary schools in the district moved to one of three approved, science-of-reading phonics-based reading programs, ending the earlier freedom each school had to select its own curriculum. Similarly, District 9 middle schools are now required to use the EL Education math curriculum as part of the city's broader math standardization effort. High schools use Illustrative Mathematics for Algebra 1. These mandates represent a lasting, systemwide change to how students are taught literacy and mathematics, one that families considering the district should understand as fixed rather than variable by school.
The district operates a large portfolio of schools, including traditional public schools across all grades, multiple middle schools serving grades 6 through 8, and a diverse high school slate ranging from career-focused schools such as the Bronx High School of Business and Bronx High School for Medical Science, to specialized schools for the arts, law and government, international studies, and college preparation. Several schools carry magnet or dual-language designations. This range of school types means families have options in terms of program focus, though whether individual schools excel within the district's overall proficiency levels requires looking at individual school performance rather than relying on district-level data alone.
State assessment data was not available for high school grades, so the four-year graduation rate is not reported here. Per-pupil spending figures are also not available in this data.
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