Ps 87, Bronx NY - Test Scores & Data

Original Research by School Decision on Ps 87

PS 87 is a small elementary school serving kindergarten through fifth grade in the northeast Bronx, in a neighborhood of single- and two-family homes with a quiet, suburban character. The school's enrollment is small, with roughly equal numbers of students across most grades, and the student body is predominantly Black, with substantial representation of Hispanic students and a smaller population of Native American students. A very large share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the economic circumstances of families in the zone.

On state assessments, the school's performance is below what would be needed for strong grade-level progress. In both English and math, proficiency rates in grades three and four hover in the low-to-mid range across the tested grades. Fifth grade ELA stands as a relative bright spot, with proficiency running meaningfully higher there. Fifth grade math and science both sit lower. Overall, the school's proficiency index places it in the top quartile among schools within Bronx County, a positioning that reflects the competitive landscape of the borough's schools as much as the absolute level of performance. Science and math are areas where students are struggling more visibly than in ELA at the upper grade.

The school sits within New York City Geographic District 11, which has recently implemented major curriculum mandates as part of the city's broader literacy and math overhauls. All elementary schools, including PS 87, must now teach reading using one of three city-approved, phonics-based curriculums under the NYC Reads initiative. This represents a significant change in how the school delivers reading instruction. Beginning in the 2025-26 school year, PS 87 will also be required to use city-approved intervention programs to help struggling readers, a step intended to support children with reading disabilities.

The building itself is located on Bussing Avenue in a neighborhood where the housing market shows appreciation and where apartment rents have been climbing. The area is served by multiple subway lines and bus routes, placing families within the dense public transit network of the Bronx. The neighborhood itself reflects the broader Bronx character: walkable, mixed-use, and arranged around commercial corridors and transit hubs rather than a single downtown. Schools in this part of the borough operate within a context of active residential development, with the Bronx adding significant affordable housing stock in recent years.

Parents considering PS 87 should look directly into what reading and math curriculum the school has chosen, since the city-mandated options differ and families may have views on instructional approach. The school's math results, particularly in grades four and five, and its science proficiency may warrant conversation with school staff about how those subjects are taught and supported. Participation rates on fifth grade assessments dip below full enrollment, which is worth asking about. The small grade-by-grade cohorts mean that individual student progress carries more weight in how the school's aggregate numbers move year to year.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 347%

School 47% · District 57% · ▼ 10 pts below district

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

Grade 444%

School 44% · District 54% · ▼ 10 pts below district

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

Grade 550%

School 50% · District 49% · ▲ 1 pts above district

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

English language arts

Grade 348%

School 48% · District 50% · ▼ 1 pts below district

▼ 4 pts below state median · ▼ 1 pts below county median

Grade 449%

School 49% · District 50% · ▼ 1 pts below district

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

Grade 572%

School 72% · District 55% · ▲ 18 pts above district

▲ 18 pts above state median · ▲ 20 pts above county median

Science

Grade 540%

School 40% · District 34% · ▲ 6 pts above district

▼ 2 pts below state median · ▲ 9 pts above county median

Social studies

Grade 586%

School 86% · district not reported

▼ 6 pts below state median · ▲ 10 pts above county median

This schoolNEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT #11, 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

English language arts

Grade 3Lower-income41%Higher-income100%59 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income47%Higher-income56%8 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income40%Higher-income100%60 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income44%Higher-income40%4 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income48%Higher-income60%12 pp gap