Academy for Young Writers

ELA proficiency at 46.2% sits just shy of the district average of 48.9%, and the trajectory tells the real story: scores have nearly doubled from 26.1% in 2016 to 47.4% in 2024, with 2025 at 46.2%. That's a meaningful, sustained climb. Math is a different picture — 16.7% proficiency against a district average of 48.2%, and scores have bounced around without a clear upward trend despite the 2023 spike to 23.7%. The overall quality score of 1.26 out of 4 is well below the district average of 1.94. Grade-by-grade results show a notable jump from 6th grade (27.6% ELA, 3.7% math) to 7th and 8th, suggesting the transition into middle school is a particular weak spot before students settle in.

The day-to-day feel here is unusually warm for a district 19 school. Zero suspensions is remarkable — the discipline philosophy leans hard on restorative justice, peer tutoring, and advisory, and it shows. Parent satisfaction (92%) and parent-principal trust (97%) are strong, and families clearly feel connected to the school even though only 26% of families completed the survey. Teacher trust in the principal (81%) and the teacher collegial trust score (73%) are solid but not exceptional, and teacher-reported instruction quality (85%) lands a bit below the district average of 87.9%. The big caveat is attendance: 86.9% overall with chronic absenteeism at 48.3% means nearly half of students are missing significant school — that's a real obstacle to academic growth, especially in math.

The student body is 63% Black and 32% Hispanic, with small Asian, White, and Native American populations. The economic need index of 86.1 signals a high-poverty enrollment — most families here are navigating real financial pressure. Twenty-four percent of students have IEPs, which is meaningfully above the citywide norm and suggests the school serves a substantial special education population well. The diversity index of 49% reflects a body that's predominantly students of color rather than a broadly mixed community.

Spring Creek-Starrett City is a residential pocket of East Brooklyn where median household income is around $41,000, about a quarter of residents live below the poverty line, and just under a quarter of adults hold a bachelor's degree. Homeownership is unusually low at about 10%, which fits the area's large public housing presence. Only about 5% of households have children, so the school draws families from a wider geography than just the immediate blocks.

No subway right at the door — the nearest options are the New Lots Avenue station on the 3 line, about a 17-minute walk, and the Van Siclen Avenue station on the 3 line, roughly 20 minutes. Most families likely rely on school buses or car travel rather than walking to the train.