J.H.S. 278 Marine Park

Test scores at Marine Park hover below the District 22 average — ELA proficiency of 55.5% trails the district's 61%, and math at 43.7% falls well below the district's 60.5%. The school showed strong improvement from 2016-2019, climbing from 46.7% to 57.4% in ELA and 36.6% to 48.1% in math, but progress has stalled and scores have wobbled in recent years. Grade 7 performs strongest (59.4% ELA, 52.4% math), while Grade 6 lags in math (36.5%). Given that this is a screened school with selective admissions, these results suggest the school may be struggling to accelerate learning for its student body.

The culture here is a study in contrasts. Families report very high satisfaction (91%) and strong trust in teachers (93%) and the principal (91%), with 88% rating instruction quality positively. Yet only half of teachers (50%) trust the principal, though teacher collegial trust sits at a healthier 76%. Attendance is a concern — the 89% rate is below district average, and chronic absenteeism at 61.1% is strikingly high, particularly for Asian students (72.3%) and multiracial students (88.5%). On a positive note, suspensions have dropped dramatically from 24 in 2021-22 to just 7 last year, suggesting meaningful discipline reform.

With 1,189 students across grades 6-8, Marine Park is larger than most middle schools in the district. The student body is diverse — 35% Black, 29% White, 16% Asian, 16% Hispanic — yielding an 80% diversity index. About 20% have IEPs, and the economic need index sits at 55.8%. The neighborhood itself is predominantly residential and family-oriented, though the NTA data shows low family density and education orientation scores, suggesting this isn't a highly academic catchment area — the school draws families who actively choose it.

Marine Park is one of Brooklyn's quieter, more suburban-feeling neighborhoods — the school sits near the large green space that gives the area its name. Safety scores are strong (90/100), but transit access is limited (15/100), meaning most families drive or walk. The area is heavily residential with single-family homes, and the low education orientation score (14/100) reflects a neighborhood more known for its quiet streets than its academic culture. Families should expect to plan around car transportation or longer bus commutes.

Walkable if you live nearby, but limited transit options mean most families drive — the area has a suburban feel despite being in the city