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P.S. 53 Basheer Quisim

Grades: 3-K, Pre-K, K-5
360 East 168 Street
Bronx NY 10456
Phone: 718-681-7276

Our Insights

What’s Special

Strong emphasis on reading and math skills

The Downside

Struggles with discipline and chronic absenteeism

P.S. 53 Basheer Quisim is a large zoned elementary school in the Concourse Village section of the Bronx. Their Dual Language program in Spanish integrates students who speak English and Spanish at home into the same classrooms with the goal of helping all students in the program become bilingual.

Test scores in reading and math have increased in recent years and now hover near the citywide averages and far above the District 9 averages. Chronic absenteeism, though, is far worse than the citywide and district averages, as are the number of students who go on to pass all their classes in middle school, according to the School Quality Snapshot. Extra learning time is made available during the Early Morning English Language Learner Academy, after school, and Saturday programs.

Almost all P.S. 53 teachers have more than three years of experience, and Dr. Collin Wolfe has served as principal there since 2001. Survey results indicate some struggles with order, discipline and trust in the principal. The school’s educational plan emphasizes rewarding students for demonstrating the school’s core values, but doesn’t specify ways that school staff are helping support students who are acting out beyond suspension. 

The school serves a large portion of students in temporary housing, who receive individual counseling and health services. Other community partnerships include Boy Scouts of America and Music and the Brain. Parents can participate in cooking classes with City Harvest and Wellness in the Schools, and are invited into the school for many parent workshops and meetings throughout the year. 

ADMISSIONS: Zoned neighborhood school. (Nicole Mader, web reports, April 2020)

 

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School Stats

Citywide Average Key
This school is Better Near Worse than the citywide average

Is this school safe and well-run?

From the 2020-21 NYC School Survey

How many teachers say the principal is an effective manager?
81%
82% Citywide Average

From the 2019-20 NY State Report Card

How many students were suspended?
0%
1% Citywide Average

From this school's most recent Quality Review Report

Are teachers effective?

From the 2021-22 School Quality Guide

How many teachers have 3 or more years of experience teaching?
89%
84% Citywide Average
Years of principal experience at this school
0.2

How do students perform academically?

From the New York State 2022-2023 Assessment Database

How many elementary school students scored 3-4 on the state math exam?
32%
53% Citywide Average
How many elementary school students scored 3-4 on the state reading exam?
30%
50% Citywide Average

What is the Pre-K like?

From the NYC Program Assessment (CLASS and ECERS-R) Database through 2019-2020

Instruction: Teachers ask kids to explain their reasoning when they solve problems
Activities: Children explore art, music, sand/water, dramatic play and more
Language: Teachers talk and listen to kids in a supportive way
Interaction: Teachers ask kids good questions and invite back-and-forth conversation

Who does this school serve?

From the 2022-23 Demographic Snapshot

Enrollment
628
Asian
1%
Black
25%
Hispanic
72%
White
1%
Other
0%
Free or reduced priced lunch
94%
Students with disabilities
14%
English language learners
35%
Pre-K seats
72
3-K seats
36

From the 2021-22 School Quality Guide

Average daily attendance
86%
90% Citywide Average
How many students miss 18 or more days of school?
55%
40% Citywide Average

From the 2020 School Directories

This school offers Transitional Bilingual Education in Spanish.
This school offers Dual Language classes in Spanish.

How does this school serve special populations?

From the New York State 2022-2023 Assessment Database

How many students with disabilities scored 3-4 on the state math exam?
18%
30% Citywide Average
How many students with disabilities scored 3-4 on the state reading exam?
10%
23% Citywide Average
How many English language learners scored 3-4 on the state math exam?
18%
21% Citywide Average
How many English language learners scored 3-4 on the state reading exam?
8%
12% Citywide Average


For more information about our data sources, see About Our Data · More DOE statistics for this school

Contact & Location

Location

Concourse (District 9)
Trains: B Line, D Line to 167th St
Buses: Bx1, Bx11, Bx15, Bx18, Bx2, Bx32, Bx35, Bx41

Contact

Principal
Sharda Flores
Parent Coordinator
Glenna Barnes

Other Details

Shared campus?
No
This school is in its own building.
Metal detectors?
No

Zone for the 2019-2020 school year. Call school to confirm.

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