M.S. 301 Paul L. Dunbar

M.S. 301 Paul L. Dunbar is a small middle school in the Bronx, serving grades 6-8, known for fostering a welcoming and creative environment. The school emphasizes a positive community, highlighted by its "5Ps" philosophy of Participation, Positive, Present, Productive, and Positive. Parents report overwhelmingly positive experiences, with exceptionally high favorable ratings in recent surveys regarding communication and feeling valued. The school offers a variety of extracurriculars, including successful sports teams, dance teams, and a music band. Students also benefit from enriching trips to Broadway shows and professional sports games, and the school participates in a Disney Broadway Jr. grant program for musicals. However, academic proficiency in both ELA and Math is a significant concern, with scores well below citywide averages and ranking in the bottom half of New York middle schools. The school's official instruction and performance rating is "Needs Improvement," and its safety and school climate rating is "Fair." Student surveys indicate concerns about school cleanliness, fair conflict resolution, and instances of bullying and physical altercations. The school shares a building with Girls Prep Charter Middle School in the Morrisania section of the South Bronx.