P.S. 015 Patrick F. Daly

Test scores place P.S. 015 firmly among the lowest performers in District 15, which otherwise includes some of the city's highest-scoring schools. The school earned just 1.06 out of 4 on the city's overall quality metric, compared to the district average of 2.58. Currently, 32.3% of students are proficient in ELA and 20.8% in math — roughly half the district averages of 65.5% and 63.3% respectively. The trajectory is concerning: math proficiency has collapsed from 55.6% in 2016 to just 20.8% in 2025, while ELA has declined from 43.1% to 32.3%. Third graders perform slightly better (35% ELA, 33.3% math) than fourth and fifth graders, suggesting the school may be struggling to build on early gains.

The survey data reveals a striking disconnect between academic outcomes and school climate. Parents report near-universal satisfaction (95%) and overwhelming trust in both teachers (98%) and the principal (98%). Every parent surveyed reported 'strong relationships' with the school. Teachers echo this positivity: 96% rate instruction quality as strong, 95% trust the principal, and 95% feel safe — all above district averages. The school has maintained zero suspensions for three consecutive years. However, chronic absenteeism at 54.5% is alarmingly high, with particularly concerning rates among female students (57.4%) and white students (80%, though this represents a small population). This suggests that while families value the school's climate, many struggle to get students to school regularly.

The student body reflects the neighborhood's diversity but with a higher economic need index (77.4%) than the affluent surrounding community might suggest. The school is 44% Hispanic, 30% Black, 20% white, 3% Asian, and 4% multiracial, with a diversity index of 71%. Nearly 40% of students have IEPs — a notably high proportion. PTA fundraising of $228 per student is less than half the district average of $491, suggesting fewer family resources flowing to the school compared to peer schools — likely because this is a zoned school drawing from a broader economic mix than the nearby charter and magnet schools that attract higher-income, more engaged families.

Carroll Gardens-Cobble Hill-Gowanus-Red Hook is one of Brooklyn's most family-dense (85.82 percentile) and education-oriented (87.36 percentile) neighborhoods, with two-thirds of adults holding bachelor's degrees. Median home values exceed $1.7 million, and median household income approaches $140,000. The area offers strong community resources, though safety scores are merely average (50.57 percentile) and transit access is below average (41.76 percentile). The neighborhood's high education orientation suggests families here prioritize schools — making P.S. 015's low test scores even more striking in context.

The school is located in a walkable neighborhood with tree-lined streets and good access to local businesses. Many families from the zoned area can walk, though the below-average transit score means some families rely on cars. The area's family density means you'll likely see other school-age children walking to and from school.