Brooklyn Ascend Charter School

Brooklyn Ascend's state test results tell a story of long, sustained growth. ELA proficiency has climbed from 42.7% in 2016 to 71.3% in 2025, and math from 42.1% to 68.8% — both comfortably above the District 18 averages of roughly 58% ELA and 61% math. Science proficiency at 74.7% is also a clear strength. The COVID-era dip in 2022 (49.7% ELA, 45.7% math) was real, but the rebound in 2025 is one of the stronger recoveries in the area. Performance varies by grade: Grade 4 stands out at 81.9% ELA and 88.2% math, while Grade 6 math drops to 48.5% — a meaningful gap to ask about if you have a middle-schooler heading in.

Day-to-day feel here is the part of the picture that doesn't quite match the academic story. The attendance rate of 94.5% is healthy and beats the district's 90.5%, so when kids show up, they're showing up regularly. The chronic absenteeism figure of 83.2%, however, is striking — meaning the vast majority of students miss 10% or more of the school year, which is a real headwind against the test-score gains. Parent satisfaction at 62.4% sits well below the district average of 92.7%, and teacher-reported instruction quality at 50.6% is far below the district's 89.8% (caveat: only 3 families responded to the parent survey, so treat that number as a weak signal). The honest read: this is a school where the academic results are strong, but the climate signals suggest some families and staff aren't as bought in as you'd hope.

The student body reflects the neighborhood around it. About 90% of students are Black and 8% Hispanic, mirroring the demographic character of East Flatbush-Remsen Village. The economic need index of 76.8% is high, meaning most families qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. With 1,497 students enrolled, this is a large school by NYC standards — comparable in size to a mid-sized district high school rather than a neighborhood elementary. About 13% of students have IEPs, which is in the typical range for Brooklyn.

East Flatbush-Remsen Village is a predominantly working-class Caribbean and African-American community where median household income sits at $57,611 and about 19% of residents live below the poverty line. Just under a quarter of adults hold a bachelor's degree, and homeownership is low at 23.5% — a renter-heavy area. Only 9% of households have children at home, which is on the low side and reflects the neighborhood's mix of single adults, multigenerational homes, and older residents. Median home values around $691,851 reflect how much the broader Brooklyn market has moved even into historically modest neighborhoods.

The 3 train is the workhorse here — Sutter Av-Rutland Rd and Saratoga Av are both about a 5-minute walk, with Rockaway Av roughly 13 minutes on foot. Anything further afield means a bus transfer or a longer commute.