School 53 Montessori Academy, Rochester NY

Original Research by School Decision on School 53 Montessori Academy

School 53 Montessori Academy serves an early-elementary-through-middle-grade cohort from pre-K through sixth grade in Rochester's 14605 zip code. The school enrolls a small-to-modest population, concentrated heavily in pre-K and kindergarten, with enrollment tapering as grades progress. This enrollment shape is typical of schools with a Montessori program, where families often transition out as their children reach middle or high school.

The student body reflects Rochester's demographics: a substantial majority are Black students, with smaller shares of Hispanic, white, Asian, and multiracial pupils. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating considerable economic need in the population the school serves. Data on special education enrollment and English learner status were not available.

State testing results across math and English language arts reveal a school with significant academic challenges. Math proficiency rates in third and fourth grade are quite low, while fifth- and sixth-grade math performance is marginally better but still well below where state testing typically clusters. English language arts shows a clearer upward trend across grades: third and fourth grade proficiency rates are very low, fifth grade approaches a more moderate level, and sixth grade proficiency reaches a point closer to the middle. In science, tested at fifth grade only, proficiency was low. These results place the school in the bottom quartile among Monroe County's school-testing entities. A parent may want to look into what the school attributes this to and what instructional supports exist, especially given that younger grades in Montessori settings may operate differently from traditional assessment contexts.

The school is a regular public school housed within the Rochester City School District, which underwent major structural change beginning in the 2024-25 school year. The district closed multiple schools and reconfigured grades into a traditional K-5, 6-8, 9-12 model. Budget pressures from the end of federal COVID relief funding have also tightened resources across the district. These system-level shifts form the backdrop for any school in the district.

Rochester itself is a mixed city with an established residential character, parks designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, and a downtown revitalization effort underway. Neighborhoods blend historic housing with local businesses and walkable streets. The regional economy centers on healthcare, higher education, and advanced manufacturing. Housing values in the zip code where the school is located are modest, and the rental market remains active. These conditions reflect a city working to rebuild after decades of decline but with persistent economic constraints that affect family circumstances and school resources alike.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 318%

School 18% · District 25% · ▼ 7 pts below district

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

Grade 46%

School 6% · District 17% · ▼ 11 pts below district

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

Grade 524%

School 24% · District 13% · ▲ 11 pts above district

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

Grade 637%

School 37% · District 18% · ▲ 19 pts above district

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

English language arts

Grade 318%

School 18% · District 22% · ▼ 3 pts below district

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

Grade 412%

School 12% · District 19% · ▼ 7 pts below district

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

Grade 529%

School 29% · District 19% · ▲ 10 pts above district

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

Grade 653%

School 53% · District 20% · ▲ 33 pts above district

▲ 7 pts above state median · ▲ 25 pts above county median

Science

Grade 537%

School 37% · District 14% · ▲ 22 pts above district

▼ 5 pts below state median · ▲ 5 pts above county median

Social studies

Grade 575%

School 75% · district not reported

▼ 17 pts below state median · ▼ 18 pts below county median

This schoolROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT, 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-income16%Higher-income25%9 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income22%Higher-income60%38 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income13%Higher-income38%25 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income17%Higher-income50%33 pp gap