International School for Liberal Arts

The International School for Liberal Arts (ISLA) in the Bronx serves grades 6-12, focusing on supporting students academically and holistically, particularly Spanish-speaking newcomers, to develop multicultural citizens who are college and career ready. The school is known for its bilingual and multicultural environment, fostering fluency in both English and Spanish, and a supportive, family-like community. Parents consistently report overwhelmingly positive experiences, especially regarding family engagement and overall satisfaction. The school maintains an excellent safety and school climate rating, with a notably low suspension rate of 0.0%. It is housed within the Walton Educational Campus and features metal detectors for security. While the school's four-year graduation rate of 90.0% is at the citywide median, and Regents pass rates are strong in subjects like Languages Other Than English (97.8%), US History (83.5%), and Algebra I (76.9%), academic proficiency in ELA (22.0%) and Math (36.0%) is well below citywide averages. College enrollment (51.6%) is also below the citywide 25th percentile. Student surveys indicate some concerns regarding bullying, physical fights, and gang activity, though students generally feel safe in common areas. ISLA offers Advanced Placement courses and college classes for high-achievers, alongside extensive support services including a partnership with Montefiore Hospital for health services and after-school programs through the Kingsbridge Heights Community Center.