Motley
District 1717
PublicDistrict 17Ed. Opt.

Brooklyn School for Music & Theatre

883 CLASSON AVENUE

At a Glance

A small, audition-based arts high school where families feel deeply trusted but teacher instruction quality lags district averages

Best suited for

Families seeking a small, tight-knit arts-focused high school where parent voices are strongly valued and the community feels engaged. It's well-suited for students who have demonstrated interest in music and theatre and want a specialized environment rather than a comprehensive high school. Families should be comfortable with the neighborhood's safety profile and should discuss the teacher instruction quality concerns directly with staff — the high parent satisfaction suggests many families work through this, but it's worth exploring. The competitive admissions process means students need to prepare an audition, and the demographics suggest this school serves a specific community in Crown Heights that values its artistic mission.

What stands out
  • Audition-based admissions creating a selective arts-focused community
  • Exceptional parent trust and satisfaction rates (96-97%)
  • Zero suspensions reported — notably different from district averages
  • Very high family survey participation (92%) suggesting strong engagement
  • Small school size (270 students) with class sizes around 22
  • Competitive admissions: 522 applicants for 90 seats (16.7% offer rate)
  • Extensive athletics program including unusual options like cricket, double dutch, and swimming
Things to consider
  • Teacher-reported instruction quality (76%) is significantly below the district average (89.1%) — families should ask specifically about classroom instruction during visits
  • Only 15 teachers completed the survey — small sample size may not represent all staff perspectives
  • No state test scores provided makes academic comparison difficult
  • Very low safety score (13.41 percentile) in the surrounding neighborhood
  • Student body is 98% Black/Hispanic with no meaningful representation of other groups — families seeking more diverse environments may notice this
  • No academic trend data available to assess improvement over time

Based on 2024-2025 data

School SummaryDistrict 17

Among District 17 schools, Brooklyn School for Music & Theatre occupies a unique niche as the neighborhood's only specialized arts high school. It doesn't appear on the peer school list (which is dominated by Success Academy charters and elementary schools), reflecting its distinctive admissions model. The district's top performers are Success Academy charters scoring 96-98, but those serve different populations through lotteries rather than auditions. This school's small size and arts focus make direct comparison with district peers difficult — it's less comparable to traditional high schools and more akin to a conservatory-style program.

AcademicsSteady

As a specialized arts high school, Brooklyn School for Music & Theatre does not report state test scores in the same way as traditional academic schools — its admissions process prioritizes artistic talent over prior academic performance. The school offers AP Courses, and its program richness score of 77.8 out of 100 indicates a decent range of academic and enrichment offerings, though without test score data, it's difficult to benchmark raw academic rigor against district peers.

Culturestrong

The school's climate data tells a striking story: parent trust metrics are exceptionally high, with 96% satisfaction and 97% parent-teacher trust — both meaningfully above the district average of 91%. Families feel heard and valued. However, teacher-reported instruction quality sits at 76%, notably below the district average of 89.1%, and teacher-principal trust (83%) is solid but not as robust as parent trust. With only 15 teacher survey responses, these signals should be interpreted cautiously. On discipline, the school reports zero suspensions — a stark contrast to the district average of 0.55% — suggesting either very effective behavioral practices or a different approach to conflict resolution. The 92% family survey response rate indicates strong parental engagement.

Community

This is a predominantly Black and Hispanic student body — 72% Black and 26% Hispanic — with essentially no Asian or White enrollment. The diversity index of 38% is relatively low, reflecting this demographic concentration. With 24% IEP students and an economic need index of 83.6% (well above typical district averages), the school serves a population with significant support needs. The small enrollment of 270 students creates an intimate community where families tend to know one another.

NeighborhoodCrown Heights (South)

Crown Heights (South) is a densely populated, transit-friendly neighborhood in central Brooklyn with a high family density score of 78.54. Median household income is $70,304 with a 20.3% poverty rate, and only 14.5% of residents own homes — this is predominantly a renting community. The education orientation score of 68.2 suggests family interest in schools is above average. However, the safety score of 13.41 is very low (13th percentile), meaning crime density is a notable concern in the area. Transit access is strong at 77.39, making the school accessible without a car.

The neighborhood is highly walkable with excellent transit options — families can easily reach the school via public transportation, though the low safety score means parents of younger students may prefer to accompany them.

Survey Results

Family Feedback
Satisfaction
96%
Teacher Trust
97%
Principal Trust
96%
Teacher Perspective
Instruction
76%
Principal Trust
83%
Collegial Trust
89%

NYC School Survey (2025) · 188 families responded (92% rate)

Programs & Activities

Academic(1)
AP Courses
Arts(1)
Arts
Sports(12)
BadmintonBaseballBasketballCricketCross CountryDouble DutchIndoor TrackOutdoor TrackSoccerSoftballSwimmingVolleyball
Language(2)
ELL SupportSpanish

Admissions Demand

Performing and Visual ArtsHighly Competitive

Provides arts instruction to all students and integrates the arts into the core curriculum.

Seats90
Applicants522
Apps/Seat5.8
Offer Rate16.7%

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Low
26%Hispanic/Latino
72%Black
1%Asian

NYC DOE InfoHub · 2022-23

Economic Need & Special Populations

Economic Need Index
83.6%
IEP Students
24.1%

Discipline

0suspensions

NYSED Student & Educator Database

Frequently Asked Questions
Is Brooklyn School for Music & Theatre a good school?
Published quality ratings aren't available for Brooklyn School for Music & Theatre yet on Motley. It's a public school serving grades 9 to 12 in Crown Heights (South).
What grades does Brooklyn School for Music & Theatre serve?
Brooklyn School for Music & Theatre serves grades 9 to 12.
How do students get into Brooklyn School for Music & Theatre?
Brooklyn School for Music & Theatre uses the Educational Option (Ed-Opt) method, ranking applicants across performance levels so seats go to a mix of abilities.
Is Brooklyn School for Music & Theatre public, charter, or private?
Brooklyn School for Music & Theatre is a public school in NYC Community School District 17.
What neighborhood is Brooklyn School for Music & Theatre in?
Brooklyn School for Music & Theatre is in Crown Heights (South), Brooklyn.
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