Achievement First Linden Charter School

Achievement First Linden outperforms District 19 averages — 50.1% ELA proficiency vs. 48.9% district, and 56.9% math vs. 48.2% district — but the longer-term trend tells a more complicated story. The school was performing strongly in 2017-2019 (ELA in the mid-50s, math in the mid-60s), then dropped sharply during the pandemic (math hit 30.8% in 2022), and has since clawed back to near-pre-pandemic levels. Math is currently the stronger subject, while ELA proficiency varies more by grade — Grade 5 students show the strongest ELA performance at 61.8%, while Grade 3 lags at 37%. Science scores at 56.3% are solid for a K-8 school.

The school's climate data reveals some tensions worth understanding. Teacher-reported instruction quality (62.2%) falls well below the district average (87.9%), which is a meaningful signal about how staff feel about their working conditions. However, daily attendance at 91.2% is slightly above the district average, and teacher-reported safety is strong at 92%. The family survey response rate was extremely low (1%, only 3 responses), making parent satisfaction data (78.6%) difficult to put much weight on. Chronic absenteeism is notably high at 66.3% — meaning two-thirds of students missed significant school time — with male students (70.7%) more affected than females (62.3%). This suggests some families struggle with consistent attendance despite enrolling their children.

This is a predominantly Black school (78%) serving a neighborhood where median household income is $58,087 and 22.6% of residents live below the poverty line. With 76% economic need index, nearly 8 in 10 students come from economically disadvantaged households. The student body is 16% Hispanic, reflecting the neighborhood's growing Latino population. At 41% diversity index, the school is less diverse than many citywide options but mirrors its surrounding community. Fourteen percent of students have IEPs — slightly below what you might expect given the high economic need, which could indicate either effective early intervention or potential under-identification.

East New York-New Lots is a working-class Brooklyn neighborhood with real strengths and challenges. The area scores poorly on safety (31st percentile) and education orientation (38th percentile), but scores moderately well on transit access (69th percentile) and family density (64th percentile). Median home values have risen to $605,545, though only 29% of residents own homes. Just 16% of residents have a bachelor's degree, suggesting this is not a highly education-selective neighborhood — which makes a charter school offering a structured academic program a notable option for families here. Lead exposure (16.3% elevated rate) and asthma rates (104 per 1,000) are health concerns worth noting for families with environmental sensitivities.

Families typically walk or take public transit — the neighborhood has moderate transit access (68.58 score) and the school draws from a wide geographic area due to charter lottery admissions