At a Glance
A districtwide transfer high school serving older students who need an alternative path to graduation
Families whose children have been transferred from their zoned school and need an alternative path to graduation; older students seeking to catch up on credits in a less traditional setting; families who understand the school's mission is focused on recovery and credit completion rather than optimizing for standardized test performance.
- Serves as a districtwide transfer option for students who need an alternative path to graduation
- Serves grades 6-12 in one building — a rare configuration that allows older elementary students to transition alongside high schoolers
- Located in a highly education-oriented neighborhood with strong family infrastructure
- Part of District 15, which consistently performs above city averages in traditional schools
- No academic proficiency data is publicly reported — this is common for alternative transfer schools but means parents cannot compare academic performance
- Class sizes are slightly larger than district average (25 vs. 24.9), which may concern parents seeking small-group attention for struggling students
- The school serves students who have been transfer-coded, meaning many students arrive with academic gaps or credit deficiencies
- No attendance or climate survey data available, making it difficult to assess day-to-day school culture
- Located in a neighborhood with lower safety scores than most NYC neighborhoods — families should evaluate their own comfort levels
- Peer schools listed are all elementary schools (P.S. prefix) — this school serves a fundamentally different population
Based on 2024 data
School SummaryDistrict 15
ALC - John Jay does not compare directly to traditional District 15 schools like P.S. 321 William Penn (90/100) or P.S. 107 John W. Kimball (91/100), which are neighborhood elementary schools with zoned populations. Those schools serve students who enter as kindergartners and progress through the system. ALC - John Jay serves a districtwide transfer population — students who have been moved from their zoned schools, often because they are overage for their grade or need more flexible scheduling to earn credits. The lack of test score data reflects this fundamentally different student population and mission.
Academic proficiency data is not available for this school, which is typical for alternative transfer schools where student populations fluctuate significantly throughout the year and standardized test participation may be limited. The school operates with class sizes slightly larger than the district average (25 vs. 24.9), which is worth noting given that transfer students often benefit from more individualized attention.
Detailed survey data on trust, safety, and instruction quality is not available for this school. District-wide, average teacher-reported safety is high (97%) and teacher instruction quality averages 89%, but these district averages reflect traditional elementary and middle schools rather than the alternative transfer school population. Attendance patterns are not reported, though transfer schools typically face higher chronic absenteeism challenges due to the nature of their student body.
This school serves a districtwide population rather than a neighborhood-based community. The student body consists of students who have been transferred from their original schools — typically older students seeking an alternative path to graduation. In contrast to the surrounding Park Slope neighborhood, which has extremely high income ($191k median), very low poverty (4.9%), and high homeownership (43%), the families served by ALC schools often face significant socioeconomic challenges. District average PTA funding is $491 per student, suggesting variable family resources across the district.
Park Slope is one of Brooklyn's most family-friendly neighborhoods, with a family density score of 97 and an education orientation score of 94. Families benefit from excellent transit access (79) and numerous parks and playgrounds. However, the neighborhood has a notably low safety score (37) and high crime density compared to city averages. The area is affluent and transient — stability scores just 23, reflecting the reality that many families are renters in this high-cost housing market.
Park Slope is highly walkable, and the school is accessible via multiple subway lines. Families from across District 15 may commute from various parts of Brooklyn, with many using the F, G, R, or Q trains to reach the school.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is John Jay (ALC) a good school?
- Published quality ratings aren't available for John Jay (ALC) yet on Motley. It's a public school serving grades 6 to 12 in Park Slope.
- What grades does John Jay (ALC) serve?
- John Jay (ALC) serves grades 6 to 12.
- Is John Jay (ALC) public, charter, or private?
- John Jay (ALC) is a public school in NYC Community School District 15.
- What neighborhood is John Jay (ALC) in?
- John Jay (ALC) is in Park Slope, Brooklyn.
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