P.S. 135 Sheldon A. Brookner

Test scores at P.S. 135 have climbed substantially over the past nine years — math proficiency jumped from 26% in 2016 to 57% in 2025, and ELA rose from 33% to 51% — but both subjects still fall below the district averages of 58% and 61%. The strongest performance comes in third grade, where 60% of students are meeting ELA standards and 74% are proficient in math, though scores drop notably by fourth and fifth grade. The recent dip in ELA from 47.8% in 2023 to 41.9% in 2024 before rebounding to 51.2% suggests some volatility in reading performance, while math has remained more consistently strong.

This is a school where families feel heard and teachers feel supported. Parent satisfaction sits at 92%, with nearly universal trust in both teachers (95%) and the principal (96%). Teachers report 99% safety in the building — one of the highest marks you’ll see — and have strong collegial trust (91%) and trust in leadership (87%). Instruction quality scores from teachers come in at 82%, which is slightly below the district average of 90%. The school has maintained zero suspensions for three consecutive years, reflecting a discipline approach centered on relationships rather than removal. However, chronic absenteeism is a significant concern at 64.5%, notably higher than the 90.7% overall attendance rate suggests — meaning many students are missing substantial school time despite being technically present at some point in the year.

With 374 students in grades PK-5, P.S. 135 is a mid-sized elementary school that reflects the demographics of East Flatbush: 78% Black, 10% White, 8% Hispanic, and 3% Asian. The economic need index of 74.2% signals a high-poverty population, and 14% of students have IEPs. The diversity index of 45% is moderate for the area. Parents are highly engaged when surveyed — 233 families responded to the parent survey, a 77% response rate that suggests strong community buy-in, though the teacher response count was lower at 21.

East Flatbush-Rugby is a densely populated, family-oriented neighborhood in central Brooklyn with moderate transit access (68th percentile) but significant safety concerns (29th percentile for safety). The area has a mix of homeownership (39%) and renters, with a median home value around $669,000 — relatively affordable for Brooklyn. The poverty rate of 13% and median household income of $71,000 suggest a working- and middle-class community. Family density ranks in the 61st percentile, meaning many children live here. Parks and recreation options are available, though air quality (PM2.5 levels) and elevated lead rates (22%) are environmental factors worth noting.

The neighborhood is walkable with good transit connections via the 2/5 trains and multiple bus routes, making it accessible for families without cars. Linden Boulevard is a main thoroughfare, so traffic during school hours can be busy.