M.S. 246 Walt Whitman

Test scores at Walt Whitman have climbed meaningfully over the past nine years — ELA went from 16.4% in 2016 to 40.1% in 2025, and math rose from 10.4% to 33.3% over the same period. That's real growth, not a statistical blip. However, both subjects remain well below the District 17 averages (60.5% ELA, 57.3% math), meaning students here are catching up, not leading. The Grade 7 cohort performs strongest (44.8% math, 43.2% ELA), while Grade 6 shows the most room for growth. The school's overall score of 1.47/4 reflects these below-average outcomes.

Here's where the picture gets complicated. Parents give the school high marks: 90% satisfaction, 91% trust in teachers, and an impressive 96% trust in the principal. Teachers report 89% instruction quality, nearly matching the district average. But the attendance data tells a different story — only 89% of students show up regularly, and a striking 59.9% are chronically absent. That's nearly two-thirds of students missing significant school time. Discipline has also shifted: suspensions jumped from 3 in 2021-22 to 14 in 2023-24, though the rate (4%) remains manageable. Teacher collegial trust sits at 72%, lower than parent trust, suggesting some internal strain among staff.

This is a predominantly Black and Hispanic school in a neighborhood that mirrors that diversity. The student body is 57% Black, 32% Hispanic, 6% White, and 3% Asian, with an 83.4% economic need index — meaning most families face significant financial hardship. The diversity index of 58% reflects a fairly homogeneous community rather than the mixing that occurs in more integrated schools. Despite the economic challenges, PTA fundraising reaches $80 per student, outpacing the district average — families are engaged and giving what they can.

East Flatbush is a working-class, family-dense neighborhood in central Brooklyn with a strong Caribbean influence. The area scores very high on family density (76.25) but very low on safety (10.73) — crime density is notably elevated, and environmental health indicators like asthma rates are concerning. Transit access is solid (71.26), making commutes manageable, though families report the area can feel rough around the edges. Education orientation is low (39.46), suggesting this isn't a neighborhood where academic intensity is the norm outside school walls.

Families walk from nearby blocks and take public transit from further reaches of the neighborhood — the area is walkable but parents should consider transit routes given the safety concerns in the surrounding blocks