At a Glance
A small, high-demand high school in East New York where families report exceptional trust in leadership and zero suspensions
Families seeking a small, intimate high school environment where trust between families and leadership is exceptionally high will thrive here. The school is well-suited for students who qualify for its competitive Engineering and Science program and families who value strong parent-principal relationships. Parents should be prepared for limited transit options and should feel comfortable advocating, given the disconnect between teacher trust (81%) and parent trust (96%) in leadership. The school's high economic need population means it's deeply embedded in serving a community facing significant financial challenges — families looking for a traditional college-prep environment with extensive extracurriculars may want to compare options.
- Exceptional family trust metrics — 96% of parents trust the principal, 94% trust teachers
- Zero suspensions reported (district average is 1.56%)
- 100% teacher-rated instruction quality — well above the 88% district average
- Highly competitive admissions — only 12.5% of applicants received offers for Engineering and Science program
- Small school environment with only 354 students and 21.8 average class size
- Strong ELL Support and STEM programming
- No test score data available — parents cannot compare academic performance to district peers
- Teacher trust in leadership (81%) and collegial trust (75%) are notably lower than family trust metrics — suggesting a potential disconnect between staff and administration
- Very low family survey response rate (17%) — most families did not participate, raising questions about broader community engagement
- Neighborhood has limited transit access — families will need reliable transportation
- Area shows elevated asthma rates and some lead exposure concerns — families with health sensitivities may want to consider this
- The school serves a very high-need population (86.5% economic need) — resources are stretched thin
Based on 2024-2025 data
School SummaryDistrict 19
Among peer schools in District 19, Brooklyn Lab School would likely compare favorably based on culture and climate metrics, though without test score data, academic positioning is unclear. Peer schools in the district range from 74-85 on quality reviews, and this school's strong family trust scores and perfect suspension record suggest it performs well on non-academic measures.
Test score data is not available for this school, so a direct academic performance comparison to district averages (ELA 49%, Math 48%) is not possible. The school offers AP Courses, STEM programming, and World Languages including Spanish, along with ELL Support for English Language Learners. The program richness score of 67.8/100 indicates moderate program variety.
This is where Brooklyn Lab School really shines. Teachers rate instruction quality at 100% — significantly above the district average of 88%. Parent trust metrics are exceptionally strong: 94% trust between parents and teachers, and 96% trust in the principal. However, teacher trust in leadership is notably lower at 81%, and teacher collegial trust sits at 75% — areas where the school may need to focus on internal culture work. The school reports zero suspensions, which is remarkable given the district average of 1.56%.
The student body is predominantly Hispanic (58%) with substantial Black (25%) and Asian (11%) representation. Only 3% of students are white, reflecting the demographics of the surrounding East New York neighborhood. The diversity index of 62% indicates moderate diversity. Twenty-two percent of students have IEPs, and the economic need index of 86.5% means the vast majority of families face significant financial challenges. This is a high-need community served by a school where nearly 9 in 10 students qualify for free or reduced lunch.
The school sits in the Highland Park-Cypress Hills area of Brooklyn, a neighborhood with a safety score of 75.48 (moderate) and limited transit access (42.53 percentile). The area shows very low family density (0.38 percentile) and education orientation (0.38 percentile), suggesting this is not a traditionally family-centered educational hub. Environmental health indicators show elevated asthma rates (104.4 per 10,000) and some lead exposure concerns (19.99% elevated rate). However, the area offers access to parks and green space through nearby Highland Park.
Families should expect to rely on bus or car transportation — the neighborhood's transit score of 42.53 indicates limited subway or rail options. Those driving will find some neighborhood parking available.
Survey Results
NYC School Survey (2025) · 73 families responded (17% rate)
Programs & Activities
Admissions Demand
Introduction to Engineering Design, Principles of Engineering, Digital Electronics, Civil Engineering, and Architecture are part of our learning from career-focused curricula and working on collaborative projects where students gain critical career knowledge through a series of work based learning activities both inside and outside the classroom. This includes internships, resume building, Mock interviews, and working with community CBOs.
Racial & Ethnic Diversity
NYC DOE InfoHub · 2022-23
Economic Need & Special Populations
Discipline
NYSED Student & Educator Database
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Brooklyn Lab School a good school?
- Published quality ratings aren't available for Brooklyn Lab School yet on Motley. It's a public school serving grades 9 to 12 in Highland Park-Cypress Hills Cemeteries (South).
- What grades does Brooklyn Lab School serve?
- Brooklyn Lab School serves grades 9 to 12.
- How do students get into Brooklyn Lab School?
- Brooklyn Lab School admits mostly by lottery, with a modest preference for students who show interest (a tour or info session).
- Is Brooklyn Lab School public, charter, or private?
- Brooklyn Lab School is a public school in NYC Community School District 19.
- What neighborhood is Brooklyn Lab School in?
- Brooklyn Lab School is in Highland Park-Cypress Hills Cemeteries (South), Brooklyn.
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