Digital Arts and Cinema Technology High School

The test score picture is stark: 18.5% ELA proficiency and 0% math proficiency compared to district averages of 65.5% and 63.3% respectively. This places the school in the bottom tier of District 15 by a significant margin. The school received an overall quality score of 0.37 out of 4, far below the district average of 2.58. Historical data shows a decline from 2016 (21.6% ELA, 6% math) to 2017 (18.5% ELA, 0% math), indicating a negative trend rather than improvement. Families should understand that students here are significantly behind their district peers in core academic skills.

The survey data tells a dramatically different story than the test scores. Parent satisfaction sits at 96% (above the 93% district average), and trust metrics are exceptional: 97% parent-teacher trust, 97% parent-principal trust, and 95% teacher-principal trust. Teachers rate instruction quality at 95% and collegial trust at 93%. With zero suspensions and a 63% family survey response rate, there's genuine community engagement here. However, the 41.4% chronic absenteeism rate is alarming — more than four in ten students are missing significant school time, which likely contributes to the academic struggles. The day-to-day feel appears supportive and trusting, but attendance patterns suggest some families or students are disengaged.

With 331 students across grades 9-12, this is a small high school. The demographics are predominantly Black (41%) and Hispanic (45%), with smaller populations of White (7%) and Asian (3%) students. The diversity index of 63% reflects a mixed student body. Notably, 69.8% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch (economic need), and 22% have IEPs — a higher proportion than many district peers. This student population differs from the surrounding neighborhood, which has a median household income of $139,897 and high BA+ education rate (67.6%), suggesting the school serves a more economically diverse population than the immediately affluent area.

The school sits in the Carroll Gardens-Cobble Hill-Gowanus-Red Hook area, a neighborhood with exceptional family orientation (85th percentile) and education focus (87th percentile). Median home values exceed $1.7 million, and the poverty rate is low at 13.5%. The area offers strong transit access and family amenities. However, safety indicators show moderate concern — crime density and collision rates are notable, and asthma rates are elevated (104 per 10,000). The neighborhood's educational orientation suggests families here prioritize schools, which makes the academic performance gap at this school even more striking.

The neighborhood is highly walkable given its brownstone character, and families in this densely populated area can often walk to school. However, students from farther-flung parts of District 15 may have longer commutes.