Dr. Jacqueline Peek-Davis School

Test scores at Dr. Jacqueline Peek-Davis sit below the District 23 average — 44.6% ELA proficiency versus the district's 52.2%, and 32.8% math versus 50.5%. The school earned an overall quality score of 1.55 out of 4, below the district average of 2.06. However, there's a notable bright spot in Grade 5, where students scored 55.6% in ELA and 41.2% in math — noticeably stronger than lower grades. The school's historical trend shows volatility: math scores swung dramatically from 10.8% in 2022 to 44.4% in 2024 before settling at 32.8%, while ELA climbed to 44.6% in 2025 after dropping to 27.7% in 2024. This inconsistency suggests the school may be working through instructional shifts or staffing changes that affect year-to-year performance.

The culture here tells a complicated story. On the strength of family relationships, it's exceptional: 93% of parents report satisfaction, 94% trust teachers, and 95% trust the principal — numbers that match or exceed district averages. Teachers give high marks for instruction quality (92%, above the 89.4% district average). Yet there's a significant tension: chronic absenteeism sits at a troubling 50.2%, meaning half of students are missing significant school time. The attendance rate of 86.9% falls below the district average of 88.6%. On the positive side, discipline is exemplary — zero suspensions for three consecutive years, a rare achievement in any district. Teacher trust in leadership (81%) is the weakest survey metric, though still reasonable, and the extremely low survey response rate (6 teachers, 28 families) means these results should be interpreted with caution.

The student body is predominantly Black (76%), with Hispanic students comprising 17%, following the demographic pattern of the Ocean Hill neighborhood. With only 198 students across pre-K through 5th grade and an average class size of 19.7, this is a small school — a characteristic that likely contributes to the strong family relationships reported in surveys. Nearly 18% of students have IEPs, and 87.6% qualify for free lunch, reflecting high economic need in the community. The diversity index of 42% is relatively low, though consistent with the surrounding neighborhood.

Ocean Hill is a neighborhood in transition — families should know the transit access is excellent (83rd percentile), making commutes manageable even if you're coming from elsewhere in Brooklyn. The median home value of $880,860 signals the area is gentrifying rapidly, though the poverty rate of 26.6% and low homeownership (20.7%) indicate many families still face economic hardship. The neighborhood scores poorly on safety (15th percentile) and stability (13th percentile), and environmental health indicators raise concerns: elevated lead rates (20%) and high asthma-related emergency visits (104 per 1,000) suggest some families may want to investigate specific site conditions.

The neighborhood is generally walkable, though families should consider that safety perceptions in the area are lower than in many parts of the city. Strong transit access makes it viable for families who don't live within walking distance.