Flatbush Ascend Charter School

Flatbush Ascend posted strong 2025 proficiency scores — 68.3% in ELA and 76% in math — both exceeding the District 17 averages of 60.5% and 57.3% respectively. The school's overall score of 2.89 out of 4 also beats the district average of 2.36. However, the trajectory is worth examining: test scores dipped in 2024 (ELA fell to 50.4% and math to 50%) before rebounding sharply this year. Grade-level data shows Grade 4 performing exceptionally well (89.3% ELA, 93.1% math), while Grade 5 lags (60% ELA, 59.5% math), suggesting uneven progress across grades.

The school's climate data presents mixed signals. Parent satisfaction sits at 92%, and trust metrics between parents and teachers (89%) and parents and leadership (88%) are solid. However, chronic absenteeism is strikingly high at 88.3% — meaning the vast majority of students are missing significant school time despite a reported 95.4% attendance rate. The suspension rate of 3% is notably higher than the district average of 0.55%, though it has remained relatively stable over three years (29 suspensions in 2021-22, 23 in 2022-23, 24 in 2023-24). The disconnect between high parent satisfaction and troubling absenteeism rates warrants family inquiry during the enrollment process.

This is a predominantly Black school in a neighborhood that matches that demographic: 88% of students are Black, mirroring the East Flatbush community's composition. Hispanic students represent 6% of the population, with minimal Asian (1%) and white (1%) enrollment. The economic need index of 66.8% indicates significant poverty, and 15% of students have IEPs. With just 164 students total and an average class size of 21.9 (essentially equal to the district average), the school maintains a small, intimate scale.

East Flatbush-Erasmus is a Brooklyn neighborhood with strong family infrastructure (76th percentile for family density) and excellent transit access (71st percentile). However, safety indicators are a significant concern, with a safety score in the 10.73 percentile — among the lowest in the city. The neighborhood has a median household income of $71,675 with a 15.8% poverty rate, and 17.4% homeownership. Families should note the neighborhood's lower education orientation score (39th percentile) and stability index (14.94 percentile), indicating some transience.

The neighborhood is generally walkable with good transit connections, though safety concerns around the area may influence how families navigate to and from school, particularly for younger children walking alone.