P.S. 026 Jesse Owens

P.S. 026 has shown real academic momentum — ELA proficiency grew from 37.8% in 2016 to a peak of 57.5% in 2019, matching the district average before COVID disrupted learning. The school has recovered to 56.3% ELA, essentially matching its 2019 high and hovering just below the district average of 57.6%. Math has been harder to stabilize: it dipped to 41.6% in 2022 and sits at 45.1% now — notably below the district average of 57%. Looking at grade-level data, Grade 3 performs strongly (69.2% ELA), suggesting early intervention is working, but Grade 5 math drops sharply to 29.6%, indicating a gap in upper-grade instruction or support that parents should investigate.

The climate data here is genuinely impressive and unusual. Every single parent surveyed reported strong relationships (100%), and nearly all expressed deep trust in both teachers (98%) and the principal (98%). Teachers are equally bullish — 92% rate instruction quality highly, 91% trust the principal, and 100% report feeling safe. This is a school where the adults are aligned. The attendance picture is more complicated: while the overall attendance rate (87.8%) is close to the district average, chronic absenteeism is a significant concern at 57.5% — well above what you'd hope to see. Notably, chronic absenteeism is higher among female students (59.3%) and Black students (63.6%), suggesting the school may need targeted outreach. On discipline, the school has maintained zero suspensions for three consecutive years — a strong indicator of a restorative or non-punitive approach.

With just 186 students across grades PK-5, this is a small school where most families know each other. The student body is predominantly Black (61%) and Hispanic (27%), reflecting the neighborhood demographics. A quarter of students (26%) have IEPs, and the economic need index of 74.2 indicates significant poverty — this is a school serving families facing real challenges. The diversity index of 57% is moderate. PTA fundraising is modest at $191 per student (below the district average of $69.25 per student), suggesting fewer discretionary resources for enrichment — something budget-conscious parents should factor in.

Bedford-Stuyvesant is one of Brooklyn's most storied neighborhoods — a place with strong community ties, excellent transit access (94.64 percentile), and a growing family population. The median home value of $1.18 million signals neighborhood change, though the homeownership rate is low at 26.7%. The safety score (22.61) is low, which is a reality of urban life here — parents should factor this into their calculus, though the school itself reports 100% teacher-reported safety. The neighborhood scores high on family density (87.36), meaning lots of kids in the area, and has decent education orientation (69.35). Air quality (PM2.5) and asthma rates are areas of health concern.

The neighborhood is walkable with strong transit access — families can rely on public transportation or walking for most daily needs