Brooklyn Excelsior Charter School

State test scores show a school that has struggled to maintain its 2019 peak performance — when ELA hit 52.8% and math reached 54.9% — and now lands at 51.6% ELA (below the district average of 57.6%) and 33.9% math (well below the district average of 57%). Math performance is particularly volatile, having dropped from 47.6% in 2023 to 33.9% in 2025, with disturbingly low scores in grades 6 and 8 (9.5% and 13.6% respectively). Science sits at 42.2%, and the overall quality score of 1.71/4 falls below the district average of 2.29. The pattern suggests strong instruction in some grades and cohorts, but uneven results across the K-8 span.

Survey data reveals a striking disconnect: teachers report 93% instruction quality (well above the district average of 86%) and near-universal trust in leadership (97% teacher-principal trust, 100% collegial trust), while parents report 96% satisfaction and 97% trust in teachers. However, the family survey response rate was only 8% (37 responses), and teacher responses numbered just 5 — making these strong numbers somewhat fragile. The attendance picture is concerning: 87.1% daily attendance is slightly below the district average, but chronic absenteeism at 45.7% is high, affecting both genders nearly equally (46.6% male, 44.6% female) and hitting Hispanic students slightly harder at 47.4%. This suggests that while families and staff inside the school feel positively about the environment, getting students through the door consistently remains a challenge.

The student body is predominantly Black (67%) with significant Hispanic representation (21%), reflecting the demographics of eastern Bed-Stuy. The school has a high economic need index of 82.5%, and 17% of students have IEPs. With an average class size of 17.9 students (matching the district average), class sizes are manageable. The diversity index of 53% indicates moderate demographic variety, though the population is less diverse than some peer schools in the district.

Bedford-Stuyvesant (East) is a transit-rich neighborhood with a family density score in the 87th percentile, meaning lots of families with children live here. However, the stability score is very low (6.51), reflecting the area's high turnover, and safety indicators show elevated crime density and lead exposure rates. The median home value of $1.18 million suggests neighborhood changes, with 40.8% of residents holding BA+ degrees. Families should know the area has strong transit access (94th percentile) but safety is a legitimate consideration given the neighborhood scores.

The neighborhood is walkable with strong transit options — families commonly walk or take public transportation, fitting the high transit score of 94.64