At a Glance
A zoned neighborhood school with strong family-teacher relationships and improving academics, located in a transit-rich, family-dense Brooklyn neighborhood
Families who prioritize a safe, trusting school environment with strong parent-teacher relationships over top test scores — particularly those who value community feel and are committed to attendance consistency. Works well for families with children who need strong early intervention (Grade 3 performance is strong) and those comfortable with the tradeoffs of a high-need neighborhood school.
- 100% teacher-reported safety — the highest possible rating
- 97% parent trust in principal and 98% teacher trust in principal — exceptional leadership alignment
- 100% of families report strong relationships with teachers
- 92% teacher instruction quality — above district average
- Nearly doubled ELA and math scores from 2018 to 2025
- Single suspension in 2023-24 — minimal disciplinary issues
- Grade 3 proficiency at 69.7% in both subjects shows strong early academics
- Chronic absenteeism of 58.1% is high — significantly above district averages and may affect classroom momentum
- Grade 5 math proficiency at 35.8% is a concern — older students may need additional support
- Overall proficiency still trails district averages by approximately 5 percentage points
- Neighborhood safety scores are low (13.41 percentile) — families should factor this into their calculus
- Only 35% family survey response rate may not fully represent all parent perspectives
Based on 2024-2025 data
School SummaryDistrict 17
Among District 17 schools, P.S. 161 sits below peer zoned schools like P.S. 249 (89/100) and well below the three Success Academy charter schools (96-98/100). However, those charters have selective admissions, while P.S. 161 is a zoned neighborhood school serving all students who live in its catchment area, including 22% with IEPs and 84.9% economic need. The school's 2.21 overall score slightly trails the district average of 2.36, but the strong trust and safety metrics suggest a healthy school culture that could support continued academic gains.
Test scores at P.S. 161 show meaningful improvement from the school's historical lows — ELA climbed from 30.6% in 2018 to 55.6% in 2025, and math rose from 27.1% to 55.1% over the same period. However, the school still trails the district averages (60.5% ELA, 57.3% math), and Grade 5 performance (49.1% ELA, 35.8% math) suggests older students may need more academic support. Grade 3 stands out with strong 69.7% proficiency in both subjects, indicating early intervention is working.
This is a school where teachers and families genuinely trust leadership — parent-principal trust hits 97%, teacher-principal trust reaches 98%, and 100% of respondents report strong relationships. Teacher-reported safety is a perfect 100%, far exceeding the district average of 94.7%. Instruction quality scores 92%, above the district average. The single suspension in 2023-24 (down from zero the prior two years) reflects minimal behavioral issues.
With 78% Black, 12% Hispanic, 6% Asian, and 3% white students, this school reflects the diversity of Crown Heights while serving a predominantly Black population. The 84.9% economic need index is high, and 22% of students have IEPs — the school serves a meaningful population with special needs. At 285 students across grades PK-5, class sizes average 22, nearly identical to the district average.
Crown Heights (South) offers families excellent transit access (77.39 percentile) and high family density (78.54 percentile), making it practical for commuters. However, the neighborhood scores low on safety (13.41 percentile) and stability (9.58 percentile), which are factors families consider. The median home value of $1.18 million and only 14.5% homeownership indicate this is a neighborhood of renters, many of whom are raising children despite economic challenges — the 20.3% poverty rate and 84.9% economic need index at the school confirm significant need in the community.
Families in this transit-rich neighborhood typically walk or use public transportation — the high transit score reflects easy access to地铁 and bus routes
Academic Performance
ELA Proficiency
Students scoring proficient or above on the NY State ELA exam.
NYC DOE InfoHub · 2022-23
Math Proficiency
Students scoring proficient or above on the NY State Math exam.
NYC DOE InfoHub · 2022-23
Survey Results
NYC School Survey (2025) · 91 families responded (35% rate)
Racial & Ethnic Diversity
NYC DOE InfoHub · 2022-23
Economic Need & Special Populations
Discipline
NYSED Student & Educator Database (2023-24)
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is P.S. 161 The Crown a good school?
- On Motley, P.S. 161 The Crown earns an overall quality score of 55/100 — a blend of New York State ELA and math results, attendance, and the school-climate survey. Its state test results run in line with the District 17 average.
- What grades does P.S. 161 The Crown serve?
- P.S. 161 The Crown serves grades Pre-K to 5.
- How do students get into P.S. 161 The Crown?
- P.S. 161 The Crown admits by zone — families living in its attendance zone are generally guaranteed a seat.
- Is P.S. 161 The Crown public, charter, or private?
- P.S. 161 The Crown is a public school in NYC Community School District 17.
- What neighborhood is P.S. 161 The Crown in?
- P.S. 161 The Crown is in Crown Heights (South), Brooklyn.
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