Canarsie Ascend Charter School

Canarsie Ascend posts ELA proficiency of 74.7% and math proficiency of 69.3% — both meaningfully above the District 18 averages of 58.4% and 61.4%. The school earned an overall score of 2.88 out of 4, compared to the district average of 2.39. However, the trend line tells a nuanced story: scores climbed steadily from 2016 through 2018 (reaching 70.2% ELA and 73.5% math), then declined through 2024 before rebounding sharply this year. The grade-level breakdown shows particular strength in grades 6 and 7, where ELA hits 76.5% and 87.5% respectively, while math peaks at 78.8% in grade 6 and 80.5% in grade 7. Lower elementary and grade 5 math lag behind, suggesting uneven development across grade levels.

The attendance rate of 96.9% substantially outpaces the district average of 90.5%, indicating strong daily engagement. Parent satisfaction sits at 79%, which is notably below the district average of 92.8% — this gap is worth understanding before enrolling. Teacher instruction quality scores 82.8%, also below the district average of 89.8%. The family survey response rate was effectively zero (4 responses), making it difficult to gauge broader parent sentiment. Chronic absenteeism data appears high at 93%, though this figure may reflect measurement differences. Overall, the school shows strong attendance patterns and decent teacher ratings, but parent satisfaction trails behind peer schools in the district.

With 1,062 students across grades K-8, Canarsie Ascend is a mid-sized charter serving a predominantly Black student body (91%), with Hispanic students at 6% and minimal representation of other groups. The diversity index of 22% reflects this homogeneity. Economic need is relatively high at 58.5% (compared to district peers), and 9% of students have IEPs. The school draws from a neighborhood where the median household income is $82,184 with a 50.5% homeownership rate — suggesting a stable, working- and middle-class community.

Canarsie is a residential Brooklyn neighborhood characterized by a high homeownership rate (50.5%) and median home values of $688,449 — substantially higher than many parts of District 18. The area scores in the mid-range for family density (56.32) and education orientation (62.07), with decent transit access (65.9). Safety scores are moderate at 57.09, and the poverty rate is relatively low at 12.8%, though lead exposure and asthma rates warrant awareness. The neighborhood offers a more suburban feel within Brooklyn, with single-family homes and quieter streets compared to denser parts of the borough.

Canarsie is a car-friendly neighborhood — many families drive, though the area has bus service and is walkable for those living within the immediate Flatlands Avenue corridor