Ps 315 Lab School, Bronx NY - Test Scores & Data

Original Research by School Decision on Ps 315 Lab School

PS 315 Lab School serves grades from kindergarten through eighth grade in the East Bronx, a neighborhood within a dynamic borough that is experiencing substantial growth and housing investment. The school's enrollment is small, with just under two hundred students spread across nine grades, and the student body is overwhelmingly Hispanic, with a large majority of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the economic circumstances of the immediate area.

The school's academic picture is mixed, with clear strengths in the upper grades but softer results in the elementary span. In eighth-grade mathematics, students showed solid proficiency, outperforming the median among Bronx County's elementary and middle schools. Eighth-grade English language arts performance was similarly in the upper range. Seventh grade also showed strength in both subjects, at or near the median for the county. But third, fourth, and fifth grades showed considerably lower proficiency in mathematics—roughly in the lowest quarter of the county comparison set—and fourth-grade English language arts proficiency was also below the county median. Third grade was a bright spot in ELA, with proficiency near the median. The pattern suggests that students in the lower elementary grades are struggling with foundational skills, particularly in math, while gains emerge by middle school. A parent may want to understand the school's approach to this gap and what support is offered in the early grades.

Science results are sparse because the state only tests fifth and eighth grades. Fifth graders showed particularly low proficiency in science, well below the median. Eighth-grade science was stronger but still below median for the county. Social studies data is outdated and not reliable for current assessment; the state stopped reporting science and social studies in regular cycles several years ago.

Overall, the school's proficiency index across tested subjects and grades sits above the median for districts in Bronx County, a meaningful strength given the population served. Participation rates were consistently high across subjects and grades, with most grades at or above ninety percent, suggesting reliable testing conditions.

The school is part of New York City Geographic District 10, which covers sections of the Bronx. Starting in the 2024-25 school year, District 10 adopted one of three city-mandated phonics-based reading curricula as part of NYC Reads, a shift from the prior mix of school-chosen programs. This is a substantial change in how early literacy is taught district-wide. The district has also seen declining enrollment in recent years and carries excess elementary and middle school seats, meaning families now have citywide choice for middle school admissions (with priority to in-district students) and high schools have lifted application caps, expanding families' options to shop outside the district.

The Bronx itself is in robust growth mode. The borough added a larger share of new housing units citywide in 2023 than Brooklyn did, with development concentrated in new affordable buildings. Major projects like Fordham Landing South and La Central in nearby Melrose are delivering hundreds of affordable homes with public support, signaling sustained investment in the area. Housing costs in the 10468 zip code are modest relative to the state and national benchmarks, though rents have been rising. The borough is served by dense transit—multiple subway lines and Metro-North—with four new Metro-North stations planned through the Penn Access project.

The school's name, Lab School, suggests an experimental or demonstration model, but the data provided does not specify what pedagogical approach or special program it offers, so a parent may want to visit or contact the school directly to understand its teaching philosophy and any enrichment or specialized support it provides. The school does not appear to be a charter or magnet school; it is a regular public school. Demographic data on English learners and special education enrollment are not available. No recent trend data is available to show whether proficiency has been rising, falling, or stable, which would help contextualize the current snapshot.

For families seeking a school in a growing neighborhood with below-median housing costs and strong institutional investment, PS 315 offers an open seat. The performance profile is strongest for students moving into the upper grades and weakest for early elementary, particularly in mathematics. A parent considering this school would benefit from asking directly about the implementation of the new reading curriculum, what supports are in place for students who arrive below grade level, and what the school's track record is with students as they progress from third to eighth grade.

See more original research from School Decision →

Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 329%

School 29% · District 46% · ▼ 17 pts below district

▼ 30 pts below state median · ▼ 29 pts below county median

Grade 414%

School 14% · District 45% · ▼ 31 pts below district

▼ 45 pts below state median · ▼ 39 pts below county median

Grade 513%

School 13% · District 41% · ▼ 29 pts below district

▼ 39 pts below state median · ▼ 34 pts below county median

Grade 644%

School 44% · District 34% · ▲ 10 pts above district

even with state median · ▲ 4 pts above county median

Grade 741%

School 41% · District 42% · ▼ 1 pts below district

▼ 12 pts below state median · ▼ 8 pts below county median

Grade 864%

School 64% · District 38% · ▲ 26 pts above district

▲ 27 pts above state median · ▲ 28 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 360%

School 60% · District 43% · ▲ 17 pts above district

▲ 8 pts above state median · ▲ 11 pts above county median

Grade 425%

School 25% · District 44% · ▼ 19 pts below district

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

Grade 546%

School 46% · District 47% · ▼ 2 pts below district

▼ 9 pts below state median · ▼ 7 pts below county median

Grade 648%

School 48% · District 39% · ▲ 9 pts above district

▲ 3 pts above state median · ▲ 8 pts above county median

Grade 759%

School 59% · District 43% · ▲ 16 pts above district

▲ 12 pts above state median · ▲ 12 pts above county median

Grade 859%

School 59% · District 45% · ▲ 15 pts above district

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

Science

Grade 517%

School 17% · District 31% · ▼ 13 pts below district

▼ 24 pts below state median · ▼ 14 pts below county median

Grade 831%

School 31% · District 33% · ▼ 2 pts below district

▼ 2 pts below state median · ▲ 3 pts above county median

Social studies

Grade 565%

School 65% · district not reported

▼ 27 pts below state median · ▼ 11 pts below county median

Grade 832%

School 32% · district not reported

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

This schoolNEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT #10, 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.