East New York Middle School of Excellence

Test scores here are below the District 19 average — 29.5% ELA proficiency versus the district's 49%, and 18.6% math versus 48%. However, the school has climbed substantially from a 2016 baseline of 12.8% ELA and 5.2% math. The 2025 scores show a slight dip from the 2023 peak (31% ELA), suggesting the gains may be stabilizing rather than accelerating. Grade 8 performs slightly better than 6 and 7 in ELA (31.2% vs ~30%), while Grade 7 leads in math (20.3%). The overall score of 0.96/4 sits roughly half the district average of 1.94, placing this school in the lower tier academically.

The climate data tells a mixed story. Teachers rate instruction quality highly at 92% (above the district average of 88%), and parent-teacher trust is exceptional at 97%. However, teacher-principal trust is only 66%, and parent-principal trust lags at 75%. Chronic absenteeism is a serious concern at 75.2% — meaning three-quarters of students miss enough school to be considered chronically absent, despite a raw attendance rate of 92.8%. The suspension rate has climbed from 5 in 2021-22 to 11 in 2023-24 (5% of students), well above the district average of 1.6%. This discipline trend, combined with low trust in leadership, suggests some family-school relationship challenges that may need attention.

The school enrollment of 245 makes it a small middle school, with a class size of 21.8 matching the district average. Demographics are predominantly Black (47%) and Hispanic (46%), reflecting the East New York neighborhood. Nearly 93% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch (economic need index 92.9%), and 27% have IEPs — both well above typical. The diversity index of 55% indicates moderate demographic variety. This is a high-need population serving families with significant economic challenges.

East New York is a working-class Brooklyn neighborhood with real strengths and challenges. The median household income of $57,841 and poverty rate of 25.1% reflect economic strain, though median home values have reached $616,916 suggesting neighborhood change. Only 15.7% of residents have a bachelor's degree or higher. Safety scores are low (24.9 percentile), and the education orientation score of 30.27 indicates this isn't a traditionally school-focused community. Transit access is solid (70.88), and family density is high (67.82). The area has environmental health concerns including elevated lead rates and high asthma emergency department visits.

The neighborhood is walkable and accessible by bus, with moderate subway access via nearby lines. Families from further afield may find the commute longer given limited rapid transit.