I.S. 068 Isaac Bildersee

Math and ELA proficiency at Bildersee have climbed dramatically over the past decade — from the low teens in 2016 to 34.3% ELA and 41.9% math in 2025 — putting the school on a clear improving trajectory even as scores remain roughly 20 to 25 percentage points below District 18 averages of 58% ELA and 61% math. A 2022 math dip to 8.8% looked alarming but the school bounced back sharply, suggesting real instructional gains rather than statistical noise. Sixth graders outperform older grades (38.5% ELA, 58.3% math), a pattern that often reflects stronger incoming cohorts.

Day-to-day climate at Bildersee is a split picture. Surveys tell an unusually positive story — 93% parent satisfaction (above the 92.8% district average), 96% parent-teacher trust, 94% teacher-rated instruction quality — but those numbers come from just 31% of families, so they reflect engaged parents more than the whole community. Chronic absenteeism is the elephant in the room at 54.3%, with Black students missing school at 61% versus 32% for Hispanic peers. Discipline has trended up modestly, from 1 suspension in 2022-23 to 7 in 2023-24, yielding a 3% suspension rate roughly three times the district average.

Roughly seven in ten Bildersee students are Black, with smaller White (12%), Asian (9%), and Hispanic (8%) shares — a reasonable demographic match with its Canarsie surroundings. With an economic need index of 75.5%, three in four students come from low-income households, and a quarter are classified as IEPs. ELL support is available for the school's English Language Learner population.

Canarsie is a solidly middle-class, mostly homeowner neighborhood — median household income sits around $82,000 with a 12.8% poverty rate and a 50.5% homeownership share, anchored by a median home value near $688,000. About 15% of households include children, and roughly 29% of adult residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher, lending the area a stable, family-oriented feel. Canarsie sits at the southeastern edge of Brooklyn, and without a car, getting around takes some planning.

Without a car, the commute is challenging — the L train at Canarsie–Rockaway Parkway is the closest subway and the walk to the school takes about 19 minutes, so most non-driving families rely on school buses.