J.H.S. 050 John D. Wells

The academic story here is one of the sharpest turnarounds in the district. In 2016, just 21% of students were proficient in ELA and only 7% in math — both well below citywide norms. By 2025, those numbers climbed to 66% and 68.9%, respectively, putting this school above the District 14 averages of 62.4% (ELA) and 59.5% (math). The climb has been steady, not a single-year spike, which suggests real instructional change rather than a testing fluke. By grade, 8th graders outperform 6th graders in ELA (71.1% vs. 60.4%), and 7th graders lead in math at 76.6% — the kind of growth trajectory that gives parents confidence kids will leave prepared for screened high schools.

The survey data here is unusually strong — 100% parent satisfaction, 100% parent-teacher trust, 99% of teachers rate instruction quality highly, and 99% report collegial trust. That's a school community where families feel heard and teachers feel supported by each other and by leadership. Discipline is minimal: just 5 suspensions last year (1% of enrollment), down from 8 the two years prior, suggesting a calm day-to-day environment. The one real flag is chronic absenteeism at 65% — meaning nearly two-thirds of students miss 10% or more of school days, even though overall attendance sits at 90%. Parents clearly love the school, but getting kids in the building every day appears to be an ongoing challenge worth asking about.

The student body is 67% Hispanic, 23% Black, 6% White, and 2% Asian, with an economic need index of 83.4% — meaning most students come from low-income households. That picture looks very different from the surrounding neighborhood, where the median household income is $128,876 and only 15.6% of residents live below the poverty line. This is a school that, despite its wealthy surroundings, serves a predominantly working-class immigrant community, with 33% of students classified as IEP and ELL support listed as a key program. About 313 students walk the halls, with an average class size of 21.6.

Williamsburg is one of Brooklyn's most economically polarized neighborhoods. The census tells a story of high overall household income ($128,876), strong educational attainment (63.1% of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher), and very high home values (median $1,319,103) alongside a 16.9% homeownership rate that signals most residents are renters. About 12.5% of households have children — a relatively low share for a residential neighborhood — and the poverty rate sits at 15.6%. Families sending kids to J.H.S. 050 are often navigating a neighborhood that has changed dramatically around them.

Three subway lines are within walking distance: the Marcy Av station (M, J, Z) about 6 minutes away, Bedford Av (L) about 9 minutes, and Hewes St (M, J) about 10 minutes — strong transit access from almost any direction in Brooklyn or Manhattan.