City Polytechnic High School of Engineering, Architecture, and Technology

No state test proficiency data is available for this school, so direct academic comparisons aren't possible. The district average for District 13 is 53% in ELA and 46% in Math. Class sizes average 21.2 students, matching the district average exactly, which suggests manageable student-teacher ratios.

Here's the paradox: families love this school (90% satisfaction, 98% parent-teacher trust, 92% parent-principal trust), but teachers have a dramatically different view of leadership. Teacher-principal trust sits at just 42% — unusually low — while teacher collegial trust among staff is a healthy 88%. This suggests tension specifically between teachers and the principal, not between teachers themselves. Instruction quality is rated 78% by teachers, below the district average of 88%, which tracks with the trust gap. The bright spot: zero suspensions, indicating a restorative or supportive approach to discipline rather than exclusionary practices. With only 21 teacher surveys returned, take these findings with caution, but the pattern is notable.

This is a predominantly Black student body (59%) with significant Hispanic representation (27%) in a neighborhood that's affluent (median income $150K) and highly educated (73% BA+). The economic need index of 67.4% is high, meaning most students come from families facing financial challenges despite the neighborhood's prosperity. Twenty percent of students have IEPs, and the diversity index of 62% reflects a multiracial community. The school draws from beyond its immediate neighborhood given the limited 461-seat enrollment.

The school sits in Downtown Brooklyn-DUMBO-Boerum Hill, an area with world-class transit (98th percentile) and strong education orientation (85th percentile), making it commutable from across the city. However, the safety score of 21 (very low) reflects real concerns — crime density is high, and the area has elevated asthma rates and lead exposure risks. Median home values approach $1.5 million, but only 26% of households own homes and just 15% have children, so it's a transient, professional-heavy neighborhood rather than a traditional family area. This creates an interesting tension: the school serves a high-need student population in a neighborhood that feels more like a business/transit hub than a family community.

Excellent transit access makes this school reachable from many parts of Brooklyn and Manhattan. Families driving will contend with the area's traffic and parking challenges. Given the safety concerns in the neighborhood, younger students may benefit from being accompanied during commute times.