M.S. K266 - Park Place Community Middle School

Test scores sit well below district averages — 37% ELA proficiency versus 53% district-wide, and 31% math versus 46% — placing this school in the lower tier of District 13. However, the long-term trend shows meaningful growth: ELA climbed from 16% in 2016 to a high of 42% in 2024, and math more than tripled from 11% to 40% over the same period. The 2025 dip (to 36.8% ELA, 30.9% math) is concerning but may reflect testing population changes. Grade-level data reveals a critical issue: 6th graders are performing at just 21% ELA and 10% math, while 8th graders excel at 53% and 59% respectively — suggesting the school succeeds with older students but struggles to build foundations in younger ones.

Parent sentiment is notably positive — 94% trust teachers and 89% trust the principal, and 83% would recommend the school. But teacher surveys tell a different story: only 4% trust the principal (an extreme red flag), 33% trust colleagues, and just 67% rate instruction quality. However, interpret cautiously — only 7 teachers and 6 families responded to surveys, making statistical reliability questionable. Attendance is a concern: 88% daily attendance is near district average, but chronic absenteeism is shockingly high at 53% — more than half of students miss a month or more of school. Discipline is minimal with just 2 suspensions (2%), a downward trend from 7 in 2021-22, suggesting a restorative approach.

The student body is predominantly Black (51%) and Hispanic (39%) with no Asian students and 10% white, reflecting a community that's quite different from the surrounding Park Slope neighborhood which skews wealthier and whiter. With 39% of students having IEPs and 79% economic need index, this school serves a high-need population — yet it's a screened (selective) admissions school, meaning families had to apply and be accepted. The small enrollment of 109 students creates an intimate setting where class sizes average 21, but also means the community is tight-knit and personal.

Park Slope is one of Brooklyn's most desirable family neighborhoods — high walkability, excellent transit access (79th percentile), and a 97% family density score. The area is known for Prospect Park, child-friendly restaurants, and a strong sense of community. However, the neighborhood's affluence ($191k median income, 82% college-educated residents) contrasts sharply with the school's high-need population. Crime density data suggests some safety concerns (crime density in the 2051 range), and air quality (PM2.5) is moderate, but families consistently rate the area as family-friendly with strong educational orientation.

Highly walkable neighborhood with excellent subway access — families can easily arrive on foot or by transit, and the area's flat terrain and family density make it stroller and kid-friendly