At a Glance
A small, relationship-driven high school with sky-high trust scores and zero suspensions — where community feel outweighs test-score benchmarks
Families seeking a small, intimate high school where their child will be known by name — particularly those who prioritize school climate, trust, and community feel over maximum academic rigor. Works well for students who thrive in supportive environments with strong adult relationships and for families who value the absence of punitive discipline. Parents should be comfortable with limited academic performance data and willing to supplement at home or through outside activities.
- Zero suspensions — a dramatic departure from district and city averages
- Exceptionally high trust scores (95%+ parent-teacher and parent-principal trust)
- Tiny enrollment (226 students) creates intimate school community
- Very competitive admissions (25% offer rate despite being unscreened)
- Robust program offerings with 90/100 richness score including arts, sports, languages, and extensive extracurriculars
- Academic test scores not provided — unable to assess academic performance relative to peers
- Very low PTA fundraising ($2/student) may limit enrichment resources
- 22% of students have IEPs — important for families to understand support structures
- Neighborhood safety scores are low — families should evaluate personal comfort
- Small school means fewer course options and less departmental depth than larger high schools
- Only 14 teacher survey responses — small sample size for culture metrics
Based on 2024-2025 data
School SummaryDistrict 17
Among District 17 peers, this school doesn't align with the top performers like the Success Academy charter schools (96-98/100) or P.S. 249 (89/100). However, comparing a high school to elementary/middle schools on quality metrics is apples-to-oranges. What's clear is that this school occupies a particular niche: not the highest-performing academically, but among the highest-trusting in relationships and culture. Families should weigh whether relationship-heavy, small-scale environment matches their priorities over raw academic rankings.
Academic performance data was not provided in the dataset, making direct comparisons to district averages (60.5% ELA, 57.3% Math) difficult. The school offers AP Courses, Humanities, World Languages, and ELL Support — a standard academic lineup for a district 17 high school.
This is where the school genuinely stands out. Parent satisfaction hits 93%, teacher instruction quality rates at 91%, and trust scores across the board are remarkable — 95% parent-teacher trust, 94% parent-principal trust, and 96% teacher-principal trust. Most notably, there were zero suspensions recorded, dramatically lower than the district average of 0.55%. The day-to-day feel appears collaborative and supportive, with teachers reporting strong collegial trust (86%) and genuine buy-in from families.
The student body is overwhelmingly Black (70%), with significant Hispanic representation (21%), reflecting the demographics of East Flatbush. With 22% IEP students and an economic need index of 79.3%, the school serves a population with substantial support needs. The diversity index of 49% indicates moderate demographic variety. Notably, nearly all students (79.3%) come from economically disadvantaged households, and the low PTA fundraising ($2 per student versus $44 district average) suggests fewer families with discretionary income for school contributions.
East Flatbush-Erasmus is a working-to-middle-class neighborhood in central Brooklyn with strong Caribbean influence, particularly Jamaican and Haitian communities. It scores high on family density (76th percentile) and transit access (71st percentile), but low on safety (10.7), stability (14.9), and health environment (18). The crime density and asthma rates are notable concerns for families. However, the area offers genuine community feel, local businesses, and reliable subway access into Manhattan.
The school is located on Flatbush Avenue, a major Brooklyn thoroughfare with good subway access via the 2/5 lines at Flatbush Avenue-Brooklyn College. Families from the surrounding neighborhood can walk, while those from farther afield rely on public transit or carpool — the area is drivable but parking can be challenging.
Survey Results
NYC School Survey (2025) · 49 families responded (22% rate)
Programs & Activities
Admissions Demand
Students are working towards service learning hours that will result in a service learning endorsed diploma. Students have choices in internships that anchor to career path interests.
Racial & Ethnic Diversity
NYC DOE InfoHub · 2022-23
PTA Fundraising
Source: DOE Local Law 171 disclosure
Economic Need & Special Populations
Discipline
NYSED Student & Educator Database
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is High School for Service & Learning at Erasmus a good school?
- Published quality ratings aren't available for High School for Service & Learning at Erasmus yet on Motley. It's a public school serving grades 9 to 12 in East Flatbush-Erasmus.
- What grades does High School for Service & Learning at Erasmus serve?
- High School for Service & Learning at Erasmus serves grades 9 to 12.
- How do students get into High School for Service & Learning at Erasmus?
- High School for Service & Learning at Erasmus uses the Educational Option (Ed-Opt) method, ranking applicants across performance levels so seats go to a mix of abilities.
- Is High School for Service & Learning at Erasmus public, charter, or private?
- High School for Service & Learning at Erasmus is a public school in NYC Community School District 17.
- What neighborhood is High School for Service & Learning at Erasmus in?
- High School for Service & Learning at Erasmus is in East Flatbush-Erasmus, Brooklyn.
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Economic Need & Special Populations
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Discipline
One bad year doesn’t tell you much. Three years of state-verified suspension data shows whether things are getting better or worse.