P.S. 016 Leonard Dunkly

Test scores here have been a rollercoaster: from 14% ELA in 2016 up to 25.8% in 2019, then pandemic-era crashes to 11.3% in 2023, and now a sharp recovery to 45.3% ELA and 50.6% math in 2025. That's still below the district average of 62% ELA and 59% math, but the trajectory matters — this is a school that's shown it can climb. Grade-level data reveals an interesting pattern: 4th graders are outperforming 5th graders in reading (57% vs 46%), while 3rd graders are hitting 57% math. The overall 1.92/4 score lands below district average, but a school that's essentially doubled its scores in two years is moving in a direction parents should watch closely.

Here's where P.S. 016 tells a completely different story than the test scores suggest. Parent satisfaction sits at 94%, teacher-parent trust at 97%, and every single family surveyed reported 'strong relationships' with the school — a perfect 100%. Teachers give their own instruction quality a 93% rating and report 100% safety. The discipline data is equally striking: zero suspensions for two consecutive years after having 2 in 2021-22. The tradeoff is attendance — only 83.6% show up regularly, and a staggering 40.4% of students are chronically absent, with female students and Black students missing at the highest rates. The day-to-day feel is clearly warm and trusting, but getting kids through the door consistently remains a challenge.

This is a predominantly Hispanic and Black student body in a neighborhood that matches that profile — 63% Hispanic, 31% Black, with just 1% Asian and 2% white students. The diversity index sits at 52%, reflecting a community that's fairly homogeneous but not without variation. With 89.8% economic need and 28% of students receiving special education services, this is a high-need population. The 93% family survey response rate is remarkable — families are engaged and responding, even if their fundraising ($9 per student vs. $123 district-wide) shows the economic constraints are real.

South Williamsburg is a transit-rich, family-dense neighborhood where 45% of households have children, but it comes with real challenges. The poverty rate sits at 48.5%, median household income is just $38,784, and safety scores are low (46th percentile). Environmental health indicators show concerns — lead exposure rates and asthma rates are elevated. On the plus side, the area scores 87 on transit, meaning getting around without a car is easy, and the family density score of 85 means this is very much a neighborhood of and for families. There's a mix of older housing and new development, and the community has deep roots.

Excellent transit access and walkable streets — families can easily get to school without relying on cars, though the neighborhood's safety scores suggest caution during certain times