Ps 199 Shakespeare School (the), Bronx NY

Original Research by School Decision on Ps 199 Shakespeare School (the)

PS 199 Shakespeare School is a regular public elementary school in the Bronx serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. It sits in a neighborhood undergoing significant housing development and population growth. The school draws a student body that is economically disadvantaged; nearly all students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The enrollment is racially diverse, with a substantial share of Hispanic students and a meaningful share of Black students. The school's enrollment appears stable in recent years, though the district as a whole has experienced significant enrollment declines that have since leveled off.

The school's academic performance in math and English language arts reflects mixed results across the grade band. In third grade, proficiency in math reaches approximately mid-range, while English language arts is slightly lower. Fourth grade shows a marked drop in both subjects, with math proficiency falling considerably and English language arts declining as well, suggesting that students face notable challenges in that grade. Fifth grade recovers somewhat in both subjects, with math and English language arts returning to levels closer to third grade. Science performance at the fifth-grade level, where it is tested, is low. These patterns suggest that academic trajectory is uneven across the elementary years, with a particular soft spot in grade four. A parent may want to look into what supports the school offers for students who show difficulty making progress in these core areas.

The Bronx is in active growth, with substantial affordable housing development underway and strong reinvestment in neighborhoods across the borough. The housing market in the school's zip code is appreciating. Walkability is strong; the area is served by transit including the subway and bus lines, so families without a car can navigate the neighborhood and reach schools and services. Major civic anchors including parks and libraries are present in the Bronx. The school's immediate neighborhood carries the character of a dense urban district with commercial and residential blocks close together.

District 9, which includes this school, has recently undergone curriculum mandates as part of a citywide shift. Elementary schools in the district, including this one, now use one of three city-selected, phonics-based reading curriculums rather than choosing their own approach. This change took effect in the 2023-24 school year and represents a shift in how early literacy is taught across the district. The district's overall enrollment, which had declined, has stabilized in the most recent years.

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Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 359%

School 59% · District 49% · ▲ 11 pts above district

▲ 1 pts above state median · ▲ 1 pts above county median

Grade 433%

School 33% · District 38% · ▼ 5 pts below district

▼ 25 pts below state median · ▼ 20 pts below county median

Grade 553%

School 53% · District 36% · ▲ 17 pts above district

▲ 1 pts above state median · ▲ 6 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 352%

School 52% · District 38% · ▲ 14 pts above district

even with state median · ▲ 3 pts above county median

Grade 441%

School 41% · District 37% · ▲ 4 pts above district

▼ 12 pts below state median · ▼ 10 pts below county median

Grade 556%

School 56% · District 41% · ▲ 15 pts above district

▲ 1 pts above state median · ▲ 3 pts above county median

Science

Grade 535%

School 35% · District 23% · ▲ 12 pts above district

▼ 7 pts below state median · ▲ 4 pts above county median

Social studies

Grade 573%

School 73% · district not reported

▼ 19 pts below state median · ▼ 3 pts below county median

This schoolNEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT # 9, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.

Proficiency by household income

Mathematics

Grade 4Lower-income32%Higher-income40%8 pp gap