Coney Island Preparatory Public Charter School

Test scores have followed a dramatic arc — climbing steadily from 2016 through 2019, cratering during the pandemic (math dropped to just 24.8% in 2022), then roaring back to now sit at 58.1% ELA and 62.8% math. These 2025 numbers are essentially at district averages (60% ELA, 63% math), a remarkable recovery that shows the school has found its footing again. Elementary grades are particularly strong — Grade 5 hits 67.9% ELA, and Grade 8 math reaches an impressive 70.5%. The overall quality score of 2.42/4 is slightly below the district average of 2.46, but the trajectory suggests the gap is closing.

The survey data paints a picture of a school where trust runs deep despite attendance challenges. Teachers rate instruction quality at 91% and report feeling extremely safe (98% — above the district average), with strong collegial trust at 86%. Families feel heard: 89% parent satisfaction, 88% parent-teacher trust, and 91% parent-principal trust. That said, chronic absenteeism at 43% is a serious concern — roughly double the district average — and the family survey response rate of just 22% suggests engagement may be uneven. The attendance rate of 85.7% trails the district average of 91%, which likely reflects the neighborhood's socioeconomic challenges more than school culture. Still, the strong trust numbers suggest that families who are engaged feel genuinely invested in the community.

The student body is predominantly Black (39%) and Hispanic (34%), with meaningful White (17%) and Asian (8%) representation — reflecting the neighborhood's diverse working-class character. With 82.6% economic need index and 21% IEP students, the population faces significant challenges that go beyond academics. The diversity index of 75% indicates a student body that brings varied perspectives, which many families value. At 1,168 students across K-12, the school is sizable but not enormous — the average class size of 24.6 matches the district average exactly.

The Coney Island-Sea Gate neighborhood sits at Brooklyn's southern edge, known for its iconic boardwalk, amusement district, and tight-knit residential blocks. The neighborhood scores poorly on safety (36.78 percentile) and family-oriented indicators like stability and health environment, though transit connectivity is moderate (60.15 percentile). Families here tend to be working-class — median household income is $43,818, and only 28.6% own homes. The area has seen waves of redevelopment in recent years, with newer housing pushing median home values above $886,000 even as many residents face economic strain. The neighborhood is more residential than commercial, with parks and the boardwalk being major family anchors.

Many families walk or take public transit — the area is served by subway lines connecting to the rest of Brooklyn and Manhattan. Families from farther-flung parts of District 21 may find the commute longer, and car ownership is common given the neighborhood's location at Brooklyn's southern tip.