P.S. 044 Marcus Garvey

Test scores at P.S. 044 are substantially below the District 13 average — ELA proficiency of 32% trails the district's 53%, and math at 24% falls nearly 22 points short. The historical data shows a volatile pattern: scores climbed from 21.8% ELA in 2016 to a peak of 34% in 2019, then plummeted during the pandemic (13.2% ELA in 2022), and have since recovered to 32%. Grade-level data reveals a notable bright spot — fifth graders scored 43.8% in ELA, suggesting older students are grasping core skills. The overall quality metric of 1.12 out of 4 places this school firmly in the lower tier compared to district peers.

The climate data tells a more hopeful story than academics alone. Teachers report 100% instruction quality and 100% safety — parents also report feeling safe. Family trust is exceptionally strong: 93% of parents report strong relationships with teachers, and 87% trust the principal. Teacher-principal trust is weaker at 59%, suggesting some staff concerns about leadership that don't necessarily reach families. Attendance is a real challenge — the school reports 48% chronic absenteeism, with Hispanic students missing school at 56.5% and males at 53%. The discipline record is exemplary: zero suspensions for three years running, a rare feat in any elementary setting.

With just 137 students across pre-K through 5th grade, this is a very small school. The student body is 77% Black, 13% Hispanic, 6% White, and 4% Asian — reflecting the demographic makeup of Bedford-Stuyvesant, where the neighborhood is predominantly working-class Black families. The economic need index of 85.9% indicates almost every student faces significant hardship, far above typical district averages. At $15 per student, PTA fundraising is minimal compared to the district average of $438 per student, suggesting families have limited discretionary resources to contribute.

Bedford-Stuyvesant (East) is a historically Black neighborhood in central Brooklyn with strong family presence — the family density score of 87.36 is exceptionally high. Transit access is outstanding at 94.64, making car-free family life very feasible. However, the safety score of 22.61 is low, reflecting the challenges of a neighborhood with elevated crime density and environmental health concerns (asthma rates run high at 104 per 1,000). The education orientation score of 69.35 suggests this is a neighborhood where families value schooling, even when schools struggle. Homeownership is low at 27%, meaning most families rent — median home value is $1.18 million, indicating the neighborhood is gentrifying rapidly.

The area is highly walkable with excellent subway access — families can realistically get around without a car, though the low safety score may influence when and how children move through the neighborhood.