P.S. 046 Edward C. Blum

Test scores at P.S. 046 have been volatile — dropping to alarming lows in 2022-2024 (as low as 14.3% ELA, 12.3% math) before rebounding sharply in 2025 to 30.4% ELA and 35.5% math. That 2025 jump is encouraging but still puts the school roughly 23 percentage points below the district average in ELA and 10 points below in math. The overall quality score of 1.32/4 reflects this ongoing struggle — well below the district average of 1.98. Grade-level data shows Grade 4 performing strongest in math (51.9%), while Grade 5 math lags significantly at 17.2%. This is a school where students are catching up, not leading.

Here's where P.S. 046 tells a complicated story. Parent trust metrics are exceptional — 98% parent-teacher trust, 91% parent-principal trust, and 97% report strong relationships. Family satisfaction matches the district average at 90%. However, teacher-reported data tells a different tale: only 70% rate instruction quality as strong (versus 87.6% district average), and 81% report feeling safe (versus 96.1% district average). Teacher-principal trust sits at 75%. Attendance is a real concern — 80.5% overall attendance and a 33.6% chronic absenteeism rate, far worse than the 89.2% district average. The school had just 1 suspension in 2023-24 after two years of zero suspensions, so discipline is not a significant issue.

P.S. 046 serves 229 students — a small school by NYC standards — with a student body that is 44% Black, 45% Hispanic, 6% White, and 1% Asian. The economic need index is 76.9% (three-quarters of students qualify for free/reduced lunch), and 23% have IEPs. This demographic profile is notably different from the surrounding Fort Greene neighborhood, which is affluent (median income $112K), highly educated (59% BA+), and majority renters (79%). The school draws from a zoned area that includes working-class families in otherwise gentrifying blocks — a classic Brooklyn tension. PTA fundraising reflects this: just $7 per student compared to $438 district average.

Fort Greene is a Brooklyn gem — tree-lined blocks, access to Fort Greene Park, and one of the best transit scores in the city (92.72). It's known for its brownstones, cultural institutions like the Brooklyn Academy of Music, and a family-oriented feel (78% family density score). However, the safety score (27.59) is notably low — reflecting real concerns about crime density in the area. The neighborhood has seen significant gentrification, with sky-high home values ($1.17M) and low homeownership (21%), meaning many families here are renters. There's a stark contrast between the neighborhood's amenities and the realities of the families the school serves.

Fort Greene is highly walkable and well-served by multiple subway lines (A, C, G, 2/3, 4/5), making it accessible without a car. Many families walk to school, though the low safety score means some parents have concerns about walking alone.