Ivy Hill Preparatory Charter School

Ivy Hill's 2025 proficiency scores sit just below district averages — ELA at 57.9% versus 58.4% district-wide, and math at 56.9% versus 61.4% district. The school's test score history shows notable volatility: math jumped from 25% in 2022 to 68% in 2023, then settled to 56.9%, while ELA peaked at 63.6% in 2022, dipped to 42.4% in 2023, and recovered to current levels. Grade 3 students are performing strongest with 69.4% ELA proficiency, while Grade 4 shows the biggest gap at 44.4% in ELA. The overall 2.3/4 score is slightly below the district average of 2.39, placing the school in the middle tier academically.

The school's culture data tells a complex story. Parents are highly engaged — 94% satisfaction and 96% parent-teacher trust are both above district averages, and 100% of teachers report feeling safe at school. However, there's a clear trust gap between parents and teachers: while parent trust in leadership runs 94-96%, teacher-principal trust sits at 79% and teacher collegial trust at 74%. Attendance is a real challenge — the 90.8% rate is roughly on par with the district, but chronic absenteeism at 69.6% is extraordinarily high, particularly among male students (74.8%) and Black students (70.8%). On a positive note, suspensions have dropped significantly from 42 in 2021-22 to 24 in 2023-24, though the 5% suspension rate still far exceeds the district average of 1%. The day-to-day feel seems to be one where families feel welcomed and safe, but where teachers may have concerns about leadership that warrant attention.

With 240 students in grades K-5, Ivy Hill is a small elementary school with a class size average of 21.9, essentially matching the district. The student body is 89% Black, 5% Hispanic, 2% Asian, 2% White, and 1% multi-racial — very homogeneous and heavily Black compared to both the district and citywide averages. The economic need index of 71.9% is high, and 11% of students have IEPs. This community profile is typical of many District 18 schools, reflecting the neighborhood's demographics, though the diversity index of 26% is quite low.

The East Flatbush-Rugby neighborhood in Brooklyn is a transit-friendly area with a family density score of 60.92 and solid transit access at 67.82. Median household income sits around $71,300 with a 13.4% poverty rate, and homeownership is moderate at 38.8%. However, safety indicators raise concerns: the neighborhood scores just 29.5% on safety (well below average), with elevated crime density and collision rates. The education orientation score of 52.87 suggests moderate family emphasis on schooling. Families should note the area's lower stability score (23.37%) and health environment concerns including elevated lead rates and asthma ER visits.

The neighborhood is accessible by transit, with decent transit scores reflecting good bus and subway connectivity. Families walking or taking public transit will find the area navigable, though the safety considerations that apply to the broader neighborhood warrant attention, particularly around traffic and environmental factors.