P.S. 025 Eubie Blake School

Test scores at P.S. 025 tell a story of potential derailed by disruption. The school posted its highest scores in 2019 — 54.5% in ELA and 58.8% in Math — then saw proficiency plummet during COVID (dropping to 26.3% and 36.8% respectively in 2022). Current scores of 37% ELA and 42.9% Math represent meaningful recovery but still fall roughly 20 percentage points below the district averages of 57.6% and 57%. Math has recovered more strongly than ELA, and the school now outpaces its 2016 baseline in both subjects. But make no mistake: students here are catching up, not leading, and families should understand they'll need to supplement learning at home or through tutoring to close the gap.

Here's where P.S. 025 tells a surprising story. Despite academic challenges, the school community is remarkably cohesive and trusting. Every single parent who responded to the survey — 99% satisfaction rate — feels heard and respected by both teachers and the principal. Teachers rate instruction quality at 95% (versus 86% district average) and report 100% safety. That's extraordinary. However, attendance is a concern: at 84.4% it's below the district average of 88.7%, and a steep 40% of students are chronically absent. Suspension data is minimal (1 suspension last year) but the school is slightly above the district average suspension rate. The disconnect between high trust/satisfaction and poor attendance suggests families may be facing logistical, health, or economic barriers to getting kids to school consistently — not a lack of buy-in.

The student body reflects the neighborhood's demographics closely: 47% Black, 35% Hispanic, with smaller Asian (4%), white (7%), and multi-racial (4%) populations. With an economic need index of 83.2% — among the highest in the city — nearly all students come from households facing significant financial hardship. Just 10% have IEPs, suggesting the school doesn't have a large special education population. The diversity index of 70% indicates a racially and ethnically mixed student body. Families here are working-class and predominantly renters (only 26.7% homeownership in the neighborhood), navigating the costs and challenges of raising children in one of Brooklyn's most culturally rich but economically stressed areas.

Bedford-Stuyvesant is a neighborhood of deep roots, strong community ties, and real urban challenges. The area scores very high on transit (94.64) — you're well-connected here — and family density (87.36), meaning lots of kids and young families around. However, safety scores are low at 22.61, and the poverty rate sits at 23%. The median home value of nearly $1.2 million reflects broader Brooklyn pressures even as median household income of $70,755 struggles to keep pace. There are parks and community resources, and the neighborhood has a rich cultural history, but families should be aware they're choosing a community in transition. The education orientation score of 69.35 suggests this is a neighborhood where families care about schools, even when outcomes are mixed.

The neighborhood is highly walkable with excellent transit options — families can easily reach the school on foot or via bus and subway, reducing car dependency.