Bushwick Ascend Charter School

Bushwick Ascend outperforms District 32 averages significantly — 70% ELA proficiency versus 46% district-wide, and 77% math versus 43%. The school showed a dramatic turnaround in 2025 after several years of declining scores, recovering from a 2024 dip (48% ELA, 59% math) to post its highest scores on record. Middle school grades perform especially well, with 8th grade hitting 82% ELA and 85% math, and 7th grade at 77% ELA and 86% math. However, younger grades show more variability — 4th grade math at 74% is strong but 5th grade math drops to 59%, suggesting some inconsistency across grade levels.

This is an area where parents should dig deeper. Chronic absenteeism is exceptionally high at 81%, far above the district average, with Hispanic students (83%) missing more school than Black students (67%). Teacher instruction quality scores 68%, notably below the district average of 86%, and parent satisfaction at 79% also trails the district's 93%. However, attendance itself is strong at 94%, suggesting that while many students miss significant school, those who attend regularly show up consistently. The school doesn't have suspension data listed, so the discipline climate is harder to assess from available metrics.

The school reflects its neighborhood almost exactly: 79% Hispanic and 16% Black students, with very low Asian (2%) and White (2%) enrollment. With an economic need index of 82%, this is a high-poverty community — the neighborhood shows 24% poverty rate and only 20% homeownership. The diversity index of 37% is relatively low, meaning the student body is fairly homogeneous. At 16%, the IEP student population is notable and suggests the school serves a substantial number of students with special needs.

Bushwick is a densely populated, transit-rich neighborhood in north Brooklyn with strong family presence (83rd percentile for family density) but significant challenges. Median home values have reached $949K, pushing out many longtime residents, while the poverty rate remains at 24%. The area scores poorly on safety (24th percentile) and health environment (20th percentile), with elevated asthma rates and lead exposure concerns. However, transit access is excellent (90th percentile), making commutes manageable. Families should know the neighborhood has limited parks and recreation space relative to family needs.

The neighborhood is highly walkable with good subway access via the J, Z, and L lines, making car-free commutes feasible for many families. However, the area's safety scores suggest parents of younger children may prefer to accompany kids to and from school.