M.S. 035 Stephen Decatur

Test scores here have nearly tripled over nine years — from 22% ELA in 2016 to nearly 70% today, and math climbed from 23% to 57%. The school now outperforms the district average in both subjects (ELA 69.6% vs 57.6%, math 57% vs 57%), a remarkable turnaround that reflects sustained academic focus. Grade-level data shows particularly strong 8th grade ELA (84.2%) and 7th grade math (71.4%), suggesting the school's approach compounds over time. However, 6th grade math (49.2%) and 8th grade math (54.7%) indicate some subject-by-grade variability that families may want to investigate further.

Parent trust is exceptional — 99% satisfaction with teachers and the principal, among the highest in any Brooklyn school. Teachers echo this confidence at 96% principal trust. That said, chronic absenteeism is a real challenge at 66.5%, which drags overall attendance to 89.8% (only marginally above district average). The school has addressed discipline proactively — suspensions dropped from 7 in 2022-23 to just 2 last year, and the current 1% rate matches the district average. Teacher instruction quality scores 81%, slightly below the district average of 86%, which could signal opportunities for professional development. But the overwhelmingly positive survey responses (98% family response rate, 171 responses) suggest families feel heard and respected.

This is a predominantly Black school (83%) in a neighborhood that's 70% Black with a 23% poverty rate. With an economic need index of 86.9% and 33% of students having IEPs, the student body reflects a community facing real resource challenges. Yet the school has achieved strong academic outcomes despite these headwinds. At 169 students across three grades, class sizes average just 17.9 — smaller than typical for the district. The diversity index of 34% reflects the school's nearly all-minority enrollment, though it's somewhat less diverse than the broader Brooklyn landscape.

Bedford-Stuyvesant is a transit-connected, family-dense neighborhood with strong education orientation (69th percentile). The area has seen home values climb to a median of $1.18M, but the 23% poverty rate and low stability score (6.5%) suggest ongoing economic flux. Safety scores are low (22.6), which is a reality for families to consider. What the neighborhood lacks in safety it partially makes up in community resources — the area has long been a hub for Black families and has seen renewed investment in recent years.

The neighborhood is highly walkable with excellent transit access (94.6 percentile), making it accessible without a car for most families in the area.