Brooklyn Collaborative Studies

Test scores at Brooklyn Collaborative Studies sit below the District 15 average — 53.1% ELA proficiency versus 65.5% district-wide, and 45.8% math versus 63.3% district-wide. However, context matters: this school has come a long way from its 2016 performance (22% ELA, 13% math), with particularly strong growth through 2022-2023 when scores peaked at 67.5% ELA and 60.5% math. The recent dip in 2024-2025 is notable and worth watching. Grade-level data shows 8th graders performing strongest in ELA (60.9%), while 6th graders trail in math (37%). Teachers report high instructional quality (93%, above the 89% district average), suggesting the classroom experience may be stronger than standardized test results indicate.

This is where Brooklyn Collaborative Studies really shines — and it's the reason many families choose the school despite below-average test scores. Parent satisfaction sits at 95%, trust in the principal reaches 97%, and teacher-principal trust is 93%. These numbers are exceptional. The school day clearly feels supportive to students and families. However, there are real operational challenges: chronic absenteeism is shockingly high at 62.7% (versus a district average that would be significantly lower), and the suspension rate is 3% — well above the district average of 0.28% and trending upward (from 1 suspension in 2021-22 to 18 in 2023-24). The attendance pattern varies significantly by group: white students show 79.7% chronic absenteeism while Black students show 44.7%, suggesting different family circumstances or engagement challenges across demographics.

Brooklyn Collaborative Studies serves 680 students in a demographically mixed community: 35% Hispanic, 30% Black, 26% White, 5% Asian, and 3% multiracial. The diversity index is 74%, reflecting a genuinely diverse student body. With an economic need index of 61%, the school serves a meaningful number of students from higher-need households. The demographics roughly mirror the neighborhood's mix, though the neighborhood (Carroll Gardens-Cobble Hill-Gowanus-Red Hook) is notably affluent overall with a median household income of $139,897 and 67.6% of residents holding BA+ degrees. This creates an interesting dynamic: a neighborhood with significant resources surrounding a school with real economic diversity.

The school sits in Carroll Gardens-Cobble Hill-Gowanus-Red Hook — a neighborhood that scores extremely high on family density (85.82 percentile) and education orientation (87.36 percentile), meaning families with children are common and education is clearly a priority for residents. The median home value of $1.7 million reflects the neighborhood's affluence, though 13.5% poverty rate shows economic diversity. Safety scores moderately (50.57), and transit access is below average (41.76). There are parks and family resources in the area, though the safety metric is something parents should consider. The neighborhood is known for its brownstones, local shops, and community feel.

The neighborhood is generally walkable with tree-lined streets and good pedestrian infrastructure, though transit options score below average — families may rely more on walking or driving than subway access.