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Our Insights

What’s Special

String music and dance

The Downside

Metal detectors, attendance is below average

High School for Violin and Dance is a tiny school that offers every student classes in string orchestra and dance. No prior experience is necessary. Students may choose to study violin, bass, cello or viola. In dance they sample modern, jazz, tap, hip hop and ballet. 

The school shares the Morris Educational Campus with other small schools in the Morrisania section of the Bronx, once a hub of Doo Wop and R&B music. 

Students meet for lessons for three to five days per week. They dance in the Puerto Rican Day Parade and showcase their work at two big concerts a year. There is also a graphic/visual arts program. 

Franklin Sim became principal in March 2011 after serving as assistant principal for many years. Before that, he taught math at Chelsea Vocational High School. He said research shows music and movement are good for the brain. "A large part of our budget is for instrumental repairs and concerts, because we believe in the arts," he said.

Students at the school face many challenges. Some live in homeless shelters, many are still learning to speak English, and about a quarter has special needs. Many are the first in their families to earn a high school diploma. The school is in one of the poorest congressional districts in the United States, home to 20 low-income housing developments. 

Getting children to school is struggle; more than two-thirds miss a month or more of school. There are two assistant principals and two guidance counselors who help follow up with phone calls and home visits.

Girls far outnumber boys. A boys' program meets once a week and the 60 or so boys take trips together, such as bowling or to a Broadway show. There is also a leadership and support group for girls. 

Four small schools share the building and all children pass through metal detectors. Violin and Dance shares a gymnasium with School for Excellence. The other two schools are Bronx International and Morris Academy for Collaborative Studies. (Lydie Raschka, web reports, October 2018)

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School Stats

Academics

School
Citywide
How many students graduate in 4 years?
 
81%
Average daily attendance
 
92%
How many students miss 18 or more days of school?
 
23%
How many parents of students with disabilities say this school offers enough activities and services for their children's needs?
 
86%
How many parents of students with disabilities say this school works to achieve the goals of their students' IEPs?
 
86%
From the 2023-24 School Quality Guide and 2023-24 NYC School Survey

Students

111
Number of students
Citywide Average is 608

Race/Ethnicity


School
Citywide
Low-income students
 
100%
Students with disabilities
 
32%
Multilingual learners
 
22%
From the 2024-25 Demographic Snapshot

Safety & Vibe

School
Citywide
How many students say they feel safe in the hallways, bathrooms and locker rooms?
 
80%
How many students think bullying happens most or all of the time at this school?
 
52%
How many students say that some are bullied at their school because of their gender or sexual orientation?
 
34%
How many teachers say they would recommend this school to other families?
 
72%
From the 2023-24 NYC School Survey and 2023-24 NY State Report Card

Faculty & Staff

School
Citywide
How many teachers say the principal is an effective manager?
 
72%
13.5
Years of principal experience at this school
Citywide Average is 8
57
Number of students for each guidance counselor or social worker
Citywide Average is 119

Teachers’ Race/Ethnicity


How many teachers have 3 or more years of experience teaching?
 
61%
Are teachers effective?
From the 2023-24 NYC School Survey, 2023-24 School Quality Guide, 2022-23 Report on School-Based Staff Demographics, 2025 Guidance Counselor Report, and this school's most recent Quality Review Report

College and Career Readiness

School
Citywide
How well are students prepared for college and careers after four years at this school? What is a College and Career Readiness (CCR) Score?
 
29
How many students take a college-level course or earn a professional certificate?
 
30%
How many students who have graduated from this high school stay in college for at least 3 semesters?
 
23%
From the 2023-24 School Quality Guide
For more information about our data sources, see About Our Data · More DOE statistics for this school

Programs & Admissions

From the 2024 High School Directory

Violin and Dance (X41A)

Admissions Method: Ed. Opt.

Program Description:

Students take 55-minute group lessons in string orchestra and/ or dance three to five times a week. In dance, students learn the fundamental positions and movements of classical and modern dance. In orchestra, students learn the foundations of music theory and technique.

Offerings

From the 2024 High School Directory

Advanced Courses

Algebra II (Advanced Math), AP Comparative Government and Politics, AP English Literature and Composition, AP Seminar, AP United States Government and Politics, Chemistry (Advanced Science)

Boys PSAL teams

Baseball, Basketball, Soccer

Girls PSAL teams

Badminton, Basketball, Soccer, Softball, Volleyball

Read about admissions, academics, and more at this school on NYCDOE’s MySchools

NYC Department of Education: MySchools

Contact & Location

Location

1110 Boston Road
Bronx NY 10456

Buses: Bx13, Bx15, Bx17, Bx21, Bx35, Bx41, Bx41-SBS, Bx6, Bx6-SBS


Contact

Principal: Franklin Sim

Parent Coordinator: Sarita Borrero

Phone: 718-842-0687

Website

Other Details

Shared campus? Yes

This school shares the Morris Educational Campus with three other schools

Uniforms required? No
Metal detectors? Yes

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