I.S. 171 Abraham Lincoln

Test scores at I.S. 171 have climbed steadily since 2016 — ELA went from 18% to 41% and math from 10% to 29% — a genuine improvement trajectory. However, both subjects remain below the District 19 averages (ELA: 41.4% vs. 48.9%; Math: 29% vs. 48.2%), meaning students are catching up but haven't closed the gap. The overall quality rating of 1.41 out of 4 places this school in the lower tier of the district. Grade-level patterns are notable: 7th graders perform significantly above peers in both subjects (ELA 45.3%, Math 47.7%), while 8th graders struggle in math (just 8.3%), suggesting possible curriculum or transition challenges in the upper grades.

Survey data reveals a school where families feel genuinely heard and supported: parent satisfaction matches the district at 91%, but parent-teacher and parent-principal trust both hit 94%, outpacing most peer schools. Teachers report high instruction quality (91%) and strong collegial trust (91%). The trade-off: chronic absenteeism sits at a concerning 49.8% — nearly half of students miss enough school to fall behind — and the suspension rate doubled from 2 to 11 over three years (4% vs. 1.6% district average). The day-to-day feel seems warm relationship-wise, but the school is struggling to get students through the door consistently and manage behavior without exclusion.

This is a predominantly Hispanic school (80% of students) in a neighborhood where Hispanic families are also the majority. The economic need index is extremely high at 87.6%, and 17% of students have IEPs — higher than typical for District 19. The diversity index of 41% reflects a relatively homogeneous student body, which can mean strong cultural community but less exposure to diverse perspectives. With only 304 students across three grades, class sizes are small (21.8 on average), allowing for more personal attention than larger middle schools.

Cypress Hills is a working-to-middle-class Brooklyn neighborhood with a strong family presence (70.5th percentile for family density) but lower education orientation (32.6th percentile). Median household income is $66,262 with a 17.6% poverty rate. Transit access is decent (65.5th percentile), making commutes feasible, but safety scores are below average (38.3rd percentile) — something parents should factor into their calculus. The area has seen development pressure with median home values at $659,000, reflecting broader Brooklyn trends.

Families walk and take public transit; the neighborhood has moderate walkability with several bus lines connecting to the area, though no direct subway access.