Bronx Writing Academy, Bronx NY - Test Scores & Data

Original Research by School Decision on Bronx Writing Academy

Bronx Writing Academy is a small public middle school of about that size serving grades six through eight in the South Bronx. The school sits in a neighborhood undergoing substantial affordable housing development, part of a broader wave of investment across the borough. It is a regular school, not a charter or specialized program, operating within the New York City Geographic District 9 framework.

The student body is predominantly Hispanic, with a substantial Black enrollment as well. Nearly all students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a low-income population. Data on English learner enrollment and special education enrollment was not available, so a family may want to look into those numbers with the school.

On state testing, the school's proficiency rates sit below the midpoint for districts across Bronx County. In English language arts, eighth-graders posted about half at proficiency, seventh-graders slightly below half, and sixth-graders near half. Math shows a different pattern: sixth and seventh graders sit in the low twenties for proficiency, while eighth graders rise to about one-third proficient. The science test shows eighth-graders at about two-fifths, though participation in that assessment was notably low. The school's overall proficiency index across all tested subjects and grades places it in the bottom quartile relative to other Bronx County districts.

Reading and math instruction are now governed by district-wide mandates. District 9 middle schools, including this one, must use EL Education for math as part of the NYC Solves initiative. The school takes its name from a writing focus, though the specific writing curriculum and how it is embedded in English language arts instruction would be worth asking about directly.

The housing market in the school's zip code shows median home values at or somewhat below the state average, with rents modest for New York. The neighborhood has been a site of major development activity, including new affordable housing projects, so the community context is one of transition and investment.

Staff information, school discipline data, and attendance metrics were not available. Enrollment remained relatively stable in the most recent year after sharper declines in prior years across District 9 as a whole, particularly at the elementary and middle levels. A parent considering this school would benefit from questions about specific support services, staff retention, and how the writing theme shapes daily instruction.

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Academic performance

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

New York Regents Exams

1 course reported · 2024-25

End-of-course exams required for a New York Regents diploma. Each row shows the cohort size and the share of students scoring at the proficient level or higher.

Course	Students tested	% proficient
Science	39	46.0%

Math

Grade 623%

School 23% · District 28% · ▼ 5 pts below district

▼ 22 pts below state median · ▼ 17 pts below county median

Grade 726%

School 26% · District 42% · ▼ 16 pts below district

▼ 27 pts below state median · ▼ 23 pts below county median

Grade 835%

School 35% · District 45% · ▼ 10 pts below district

▼ 2 pts below state median · ▼ 2 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 648%

School 48% · District 32% · ▲ 16 pts above district

▲ 3 pts above state median · ▲ 7 pts above county median

Grade 747%

School 47% · District 39% · ▲ 8 pts above district

even with state median · even with county median

Grade 849%

School 49% · District 41% · ▲ 8 pts above district

▲ 1 pts above state median · even with county median

Science

Grade 838%

School 38% · District 38%

▲ 5 pts above state median · ▲ 10 pts above county median

Social studies

Grade 824%

School 24% · district not reported

▼ 54 pts below state median · ▼ 4 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 8Lower-income34%Higher-income40%6 pp gap