Aspirations Diploma Plus High School

The school does not report proficiency scores in the data provided, making direct academic comparisons difficult. However, with an economic need index of 84.8% — significantly above typical district averages — students here are starting from a place of considerable academic disadvantage. The absence of test score data means parents should directly request recent state assessment results when visiting, as this is a critical gap in understanding current academic performance.

This is where the school distinguishes itself. Teacher instruction quality scores 90% — just above the district average of 89.1% — and both teacher-principal trust and parent-principal trust land in the low-to-mid 80s. These numbers suggest a school where the day-to-day instructional environment is solid, and leadership has earned reasonable buy-in from staff. Family survey response rates are low (12%), which means these satisfaction numbers represent a smaller slice of families — worth noting when weighing how representative they feel. The most striking metric: zero suspensions. This suggests either very different discipline approaches or very different student behavior compared to district peers, where the average suspension rate sits at 0.55%.

The student body is predominantly Black (79%) with significant Hispanic representation (15%), reflecting the demographics of Brownsville itself — a neighborhood that is predominantly Black and Hispanic with lower-than-average household incomes. About one-third of students (32%) have IEPs, suggesting robust special education services. The diversity index of 39% indicates a relatively homogeneous student population, which is typical for neighborhood schools in this part of Brooklyn. With only 176 students across four grades plus special education, this is a small high school where most students know each other.

Brownsville is a neighborhood of roughly 80,000 people in central Brooklyn, characterized by high poverty rates (37.6%), low homeownership (14%), and limited college-degree attainment (only 13.4% of residents have a BA or higher). Transit access is excellent (86.6 percentile) — an actual strength for families relying on public transportation. Safety metrics show concern: the safety score of 19.2 and crime density of 5,108 per area suggest elevated safety considerations that parents should factor into their calculus. The neighborhood has seen investment in recent years, including new school openings, but remains one of Brooklyn's highest-need areas.

The school is accessible via multiple subway and bus lines given the strong transit score, but families walking should be aware that pedestrian safety indicators show elevated collision rates. Many students commute from other parts of District 17.