The top reported proficiency rate is 52% in Math. The lowest is 46% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Antonia Pantoja Preparatory Academy - a College Board School
Antonia Pantoja Preparatory Academy is a public middle and high school in the Bronx serving grades 6 through 12, with enrollment concentrated in the lower grades. The student body is predominantly Hispanic, with a substantial share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, reflective of the South Bronx neighborhoods the school serves. The school sits within NYC Geographic District 8, which has experienced sustained enrollment decline over recent years as families with school-age children have left the area and others have opted for charter schools, leaving the district with vacant seats across its elementary and middle grades.
The school's core academic profile shows mixed performance across the tested grades. In math, proficiency rates range from about half to roughly three in five students in grades 6 through 8, with eighth grade the lowest. English language arts results are more uneven: sixth and eighth graders show proficiency rates in the range of roughly half, while seventh grade proficiency dips notably lower. In grade 8 science, too few students took the assessment for results to be reported. Across the subjects and grades for which data is available, the school's overall proficiency index places it in the top quartile among districts in Bronx County. This positioning reflects particular strength in math in the lower middle grades, though the decline in performance by eighth grade in both subjects suggests a need to examine how students' skill development progresses as they move through the school.
Attendance and discipline data were not available. The school serves grades 6 through 12 but does not have a reported graduation rate, which may reflect the population served or the composition of the student body. State testing data for high school grades and other indicators of secondary outcomes are not provided in the available information.
The Bronx itself is in a growth phase, particularly for affordable housing, with major projects underway and new transit access planned. The borough is generally walkable, with commercial spines and neighborhood centers organized around transit hubs and subway stations, making it accessible for families without a car. Health care is the largest employment sector, anchored by Montefiore Medical Center. Significant parkland, including the Bronx Zoo and Botanical Garden, and library services through the Bronx Public Library system are available across the borough.
District 8 has recently adopted standardized curricula as part of citywide initiatives: the NYC Reads literacy mandate has been in place in elementary schools and expanded to middle grades beginning September 2025, and the NYC Solves math mandate using the Amplify Desmos curriculum is now in effect in middle schools. These represent lasting changes to how instruction is delivered. Additionally, middle and high school admissions rules have shifted to allow students to apply beyond their home district and to an unlimited number of high schools, expanding the options available to families.
A parent considering this school may want to look into further details about high school outcomes, including graduation rates and post-secondary pathways, since those data were not available. The eighth-grade dip in both math and English language arts performance also warrants conversation with the school about the support structures in place for students in that transition year.
See more original research from School Decision →