James Madison High School

This snapshot doesn't include Madison's individual proficiency scores, so a direct read against the district's 61% ELA and 60% math averages isn't possible here. What the data does show is a college-prep orientation built into admissions itself: two screened academic institutes (Law and Medical/Health Professions), AP coursework, ELL support, and STEM extensions like Math Team and Science Honor Society. Selectivity at the door — offer rates as low as 2.1% — signals a student body already pointed toward advanced coursework.

Zero suspensions at a 3,500-student high school is almost unheard of in New York City, and the survey data explains part of why: 94% of parents trust the principal, 94% trust teachers, and 91% rate instruction quality highly — all above the district benchmarks of roughly 90%. Teacher-to-teacher trust (90%) and teacher-to-principal trust (90%) suggest staff cohesion is real, not just a flattering survey. The 34% family response rate (1,309 families) is solid for a school this large and lends the high marks more weight than a small sample would.

Madison's 3,510 students reflect Brooklyn's diversity and then some — 47% white, 22% Asian, 17% Hispanic, 12% Black, plus a small share identifying as multi-racial or Native American. That white share is far higher than the typical Brooklyn public school, a clear sign that screened admissions pull from well beyond the immediate zip code. The 62.7 economic need index indicates a meaningful share of students from lower-income households despite the competitive entry, and 15% of students have IEPs. The surrounding Madison neighborhood is solidly middle-class — 45% homeownership, median home value approaching $950,000 — but only 20% of households there have children, so the school necessarily serves a far wider geography than the census tract.

The Madison neighborhood in southern Brooklyn is a solidly middle-class, mixed-tenure area where 45% of households own their homes and median home values approach $950,000. Median household income sits near $75,000 and about 43% of adult residents hold a bachelor's degree — an educated, homeowner-heavy population. With just under 20% of households including children, the area can't fill a 3,500-student high school on its own, which is part of why families come from across the borough.

Madison is a subway-and-bus neighborhood — the closest station is Kings Hwy on the B and Q lines at about an 11-minute walk, with Avenue M and Avenue U on the Q both 16 to 18 minutes away on foot.