P.S. 029 John M. Harrigan

Proficiency rates of 91.5% in ELA and 90.4% in Math are dramatically higher than the district averages of 65.5% and 63.3%, respectively — this is a school where most students are meeting or exceeding state standards across the board. The trend tells an even more interesting story: scores have climbed from the mid-70s in 2016 to the low 90s in 2025, with steady year-over-year gains. Performance is strong and consistent across grade levels too, with third graders at 93.8% ELA and 92.8% Math, fourth graders at 91.3% and 90.2%, and fifth graders at 89% and 88.1% — a slight dip in fifth grade is normal as state tests get harder. The overall quality score of 3.64 out of 4 is well above the district average of 2.58.

The day-to-day feel here is calm, trusting, and engaged. Teacher-reported safety is at 100%, and there have been zero suspensions for three consecutive years — which is not just a number but a real signal about how the school handles student behavior. Trust between teachers and the principal (99%) and between teachers and each other (97%) is exceptionally high, suggesting strong leadership and a collaborative staff. Parents feel heard: parent-principal trust sits at 99% and parent-teacher trust at 98%, with 94% overall satisfaction. Attendance is solid at 95.8%, above the district average of 93.5%, and chronic absenteeism is low across every demographic group. The 658 family survey responses indicate a community that shows up — not just for events, but to weigh in.

The student body is 72% White, 11% Hispanic, 9% multiracial, 6% Asian, and 2% Black, with a diversity index of 53% — less diverse than the citywide average but more varied than the numbers suggest at first glance. The low economic need index of 10.6 (on a 100-point scale where higher means more need) reflects a largely affluent student population that mirrors the surrounding neighborhood. Fifteen percent of students have IEPs, which is a meaningful inclusion rate. The PTA's $4,213 per-student fundraising — nearly nine times the district average of $491 — speaks to a parent base with both the means and the motivation to invest heavily in the school experience.

This is Carroll Gardens-Cobble Hill-Gowanus-Red Hook, one of Brooklyn's wealthier family neighborhoods, where median household income is just under $140,000 and two-thirds of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Twenty percent of households have children, and the homeownership rate of 31% in a city where most people rent says a lot about the stability and rootedness of the families here. The median home value north of $1.7 million means that buying into the school zone is a significant financial commitment, but families who do often stay for the long haul. It is a walkable, brownstone-lined area with a strong sense of neighborhood identity.

Most families walk. The nearest subway options are Bergen Street (F, G) about eight minutes away, Carroll Street (F, G) about ten minutes, and Borough Hall (4, 5) about eleven minutes — so multiple lines are within reasonable walking distance for older students or commuting parents.