Motley
District 1919
PublicDistrict 19Unscreened

High School for Civil Rights

400 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE

At a Glance

A small K-8 school in a high-need neighborhood where zero suspensions and tight-knit community coexist with significant academic challenges

Best suited for

Families who prioritize a small, intimate school environment and value restorative discipline practices over standardized test performance. Parents comfortable with imperfect academic data and willing to engage actively with teachers will do better here. Best fits families who live in East New York or can manage a commute, and who understand the school's K-8 structure despite its high-school-sounding name.

What stands out
  • Zero suspensions — discipline appears to rely on restorative approaches rather than exclusion
  • Very small enrollment (168 students) means every child is known by staff
  • Strong special education programming (30% IEP students)
  • No academic scores publicly available — families must dig deeper at open houses
Things to consider
  • Parent satisfaction is 15 points below district average — worth asking the school directly why
  • Teacher instruction quality ratings are far below average (54.6% vs 88% district)
  • The school name 'High School for Civil Rights' is misleading — it serves PK-8
  • No published ELA or Math proficiency data makes academic quality hard to assess
  • High economic need (88%) means the school serves families facing significant stressors
  • Environmental health concerns in the neighborhood (lead, asthma) may affect some families

Based on 2024 data

School SummaryDistrict 19

Among peer schools in District 19, this school doesn't appear in the top-tier comparisons (peer schools listed range from 74-85 quality review scores). Without a published overall score, it sits somewhere in the middle or lower tier of the district — competitive schools like P.S. 190 Sheffield (85/100) and P.S. 149 Danny Kaye (81/100) score notably higher.

AcademicsSteady

Test scores aren't displayed for this school, making it difficult to directly compare academic performance against the district averages of 49% in ELA and 48% in Math. However, the school's small size and high economic need index (88.3%) suggest students face significant out-of-school barriers to learning. The 30% of students with IEPs is notably higher than typical, indicating strong special education programming — though whether those students are thriving academically isn't clear from available data.

Culturemoderate

The discipline record is a genuine bright spot: zero suspensions in the most recent reporting period, which is better than the district average of 1.6% and suggests the school prioritizes restorative approaches. However, parent satisfaction sits at 76.8% versus a district average of 91.4% — a gap worth understanding. Teacher instruction quality ratings (54.6%) lag far behind the district average of 87.9%, which could signal leadership challenges or resource constraints. Attendance at 89.9% matches the district average exactly, so chronic absenteeism isn't unusually high or low.

Community

The student body is predominantly Black (61%) and Hispanic (36%), reflecting the neighborhood's demographics. With 88% economic need and 30% IEP students, this is a school serving families facing substantial challenges — not the typical middle-class parent pool. The diversity index of 45% is moderate, and the school offers AP courses (for the small number of 9-12 grade students if any remain), ELL support, and Spanish language instruction.

NeighborhoodEast New York (North)

East New York has a reputation for being one of Brooklyn's more challenging neighborhoods. Safety scores are low (24.9 percentile), and environmental health indicators are concerning: 16.3% elevated lead rates and asthma emergency department visits at 104 per 10,000 (very high). Transit access is strong (70.88 percentile), making commutes manageable, but family stability scores are among the lowest in the city (1.92 percentile). The median home value of $616,000 reflects recent gentrification pressure, but only 30% of residents own homes and just 15.7% have bachelor's degrees.

Families typically walk or take local bus routes — the area has decent transit connectivity but isn't walkable in the way of more urbanized Brooklyn neighborhoods. Driving is common for those with cars.

Survey Results

Family Feedback
Satisfaction
76.8%
Teacher Perspective
Instruction
54.6%

NYC School Survey (2025)

Programs & Activities

Academic(1)
AP Courses
Sports(10)
BaseballBasketballCross CountryFlag FootballFootballIndoor TrackOutdoor TrackSoccerStuntVolleyball
Language(2)
ELL SupportSpanish

Admissions Demand

High School for Civil Rights and LawCompetitive

Curriculum emphasizes issues relating to civil rights awareness and the American Constitution. Emphasis is placed on Law and Law-related professions. Ongoing debates, cultural performances and talent shows.

Seats90
Applicants310
Apps/Seat3.4
Offer Rate33.3%

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Moderate
36%Hispanic/Latino
61%Black
1%White

NYC DOE InfoHub · 2022-23

Economic Need & Special Populations

Economic Need Index
88.3%
IEP Students
29.8%

Discipline

0suspensions

NYSED Student & Educator Database

Frequently Asked Questions
Is High School for Civil Rights a good school?
Published quality ratings aren't available for High School for Civil Rights yet on Motley. It's a public school serving grades Pre-K to 8 in East New York (North).
What grades does High School for Civil Rights serve?
High School for Civil Rights serves grades Pre-K to 8.
How do students get into High School for Civil Rights?
High School for Civil Rights admits by application through a random lottery, with no academic screen.
Is High School for Civil Rights public, charter, or private?
High School for Civil Rights is a public school in NYC Community School District 19.
What neighborhood is High School for Civil Rights in?
High School for Civil Rights is in East New York (North), Brooklyn.
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