I.S. 211 John Wilson

Test scores at I.S. 211 John Wilson tell a complicated story. The school posted 37.5% ELA and 38.5% math proficiency in 2025 — both significantly below the district averages of 58.4% and 61.4%. However, looking at the trajectory, the school made substantial gains from 2016-2024, with math jumping from 20.7% to 48.5% and ELA from 31.1% to 49%. The 2025 drop is notable and worth watching. There's a clear grade-level progression: Grade 6 students are at 22.5% ELA (very low), Grade 7 at 38.8%, and Grade 8 at 46% — suggesting students improve substantially during their time here. The overall score of 1.52/4 sits below the district average of 2.39.

Here's where the story gets interesting: survey data shows extraordinary family and teacher satisfaction. Parents report 95% satisfaction, 97% trust in teachers, and 98% trust in the principal. Teachers give 100% for instruction quality, 99% trust in the principal, and 94% collegial trust — nearly across the board numbers. Attendance is a concern though: while the overall attendance rate of 91.1% slightly exceeds the district average, chronic absenteeism is alarmingly high at 70.6% — affecting both males (71.4%) and females (69.7%), with Black students at 76.9% and Hispanic students at 48.1%. The discipline picture is modest: just 4 suspensions (2% rate), consistent over three years. The disconnect between high trust and high chronic absenteeism suggests families feel good about the school culture but something is keeping kids away — possibly the academic struggles in early middle school grades.

The student body is predominantly Black (76%), with Hispanic students at 13%, White at 6%, and small Asian and Native American populations. This closely mirrors the Canarsie neighborhood demographics, which has a strong Black middle-class community with 50.5% homeownership. The economic need index of 80.5% is high, and 29% of students have IEPs — above typical rates. The school offers ELL support and accelerated/honors programming, but the program richness score of 34.7/100 is limited. With only 214 students and an average class size of 21.9, the school is quite small.

Canarsie is a residential neighborhood in southeastern Brooklyn known for its detached homes, strong homeownership rates (50.5%), and family-oriented feel. The median home value of $688,449 reflects a stable, middle-class community. Safety scores are moderate (57.09), transit connectivity is decent (65.9), and the family density score (56.32) confirms this is a neighborhood where families settle long-term. The education orientation score of 62.07 suggests parents here value schools, which aligns with the high parent involvement seen in survey response rates.

Families typically walk or drive to this school, as Canarsie is a residential area with moderate transit options. The neighborhood's car-dependent nature means most students commute by car or walk from nearby blocks.