P.S. 158 Warwick

Test scores have improved dramatically over the past decade but still sit below district averages (district ELA ~49%, Math ~48%). ELA proficiency rose from 25.3% in 2016 to 39.8% in 2025, and math went from 15.2% to 38.8% — with 2024's math score peaking at 43.2%. The picture looks very different depending on grade: fourth-graders are well above average (51.7% ELA, 62.5% math), while fifth-graders show a steep drop, with only 13.5% proficient in math. The overall quality score of 1.57 out of 4 places it in the bottom third of district 19 schools, though the trajectory is clearly upward rather than static.

This is the school's strongest area by far. Parent satisfaction is 93% (above the district's 91%), parent-teacher trust hits 96%, and 100% of surveyed parents report strong relationships with the school — essentially unheard of in the citywide data. Discipline is notably gentle, with zero suspensions for three straight years (2021-22 through 2023-24), compared to a district suspension rate of about 1.6%. Attendance is roughly average at 89.3%, but chronic absenteeism is high at 54.6%, meaning more than half of students miss 10% or more of the school year. The one major flag in the climate data is teacher-principal trust at just 40%, suggesting internal staff concerns even as families report being very satisfied. The teacher survey only drew 14 responses, so those numbers should be read with some caution.

The student body mirrors the surrounding neighborhood closely: about 47% Black and 45% Hispanic, with small Asian, white, and Native American shares. The economic need index of 86.3 means most students are from lower-income households — in line with the East New York census showing a $57,841 median income and 25% poverty rate. Sixteen percent of students have IEPs, and the school serves self-contained special education classes. The diversity index is low (55%) not because the school lacks inclusion but because two groups overwhelmingly make up the population.

East New York's northern section is a working-class, renter-majority pocket of Brooklyn — about 30% of homes are owner-occupied, and the median home value is $616,916, well below the borough average. Median household income hovers around $57,841 with a 25% poverty rate, and only about 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Just 17% of households have children, so families with kids are a smaller share of the area than in many other Brooklyn neighborhoods, but those who do live here tend to settle in for the long haul. The school sits within walking distance of three C train stops and the 3 train at New Lots Avenue.

Most families arrive by foot from nearby blocks. The C train at Shepherd Av or Van Siclen Av is about a six-minute walk, and the 3 train at New Lots Av is roughly nine minutes on foot.