P.S. 214 Michael Friedsam

P.S. 214's test scores tell one of the more encouraging trajectories in the district. ELA proficiency has climbed from 28.5% in 2016 to 50.2% in 2025, and math has gone from 24.6% to 52.6% over the same period — both now above the District 19 averages of about 49% and 48%, respectively. The growth wasn't perfectly linear (there was a dip to 34.3% in ELA in 2024 before rebounding), but the overall direction is clearly upward, with 2025 marking the school's best year on record. The overall quality score of 2.06 out of 4 also edges out the district average of 1.94. Grade-level breakdowns show 3rd graders at 50% ELA and 57.9% math, 4th graders at 44.2% ELA and 53.5% math, and 5th graders at 56.4% ELA but a lower 46% in math — a slight wobble worth noting for families with older students.

The day-to-day feel at P.S. 214 is shaped by an unusually tight bond between families and the school. Parent satisfaction sits at 94% (well above the district's 91.4%), and trust metrics between parents and teachers (97%) and parents and the principal (96%) are among the strongest in the area. The family survey response rate of 96% — out of 693 responses — is remarkably high and suggests parents feel invested enough to weigh in. Discipline is minimal, with just 2 suspensions last year and a 0% suspension rate, compared to the district's 1.6%. However, the picture isn't entirely uniform: teacher-reported instruction quality is 83%, below the district average of 87.9%, and teacher-principal trust is the weakest link at 78%. Teachers do feel safe (94% vs. 92% district), and collegial trust among teachers is solid at 86%. Chronic absenteeism is a real concern at 61.6% — more than 6 in 10 students miss enough school days to be flagged, which can blunt the impact of the academic gains even when instruction is strong.

P.S. 214's student body is majority Asian at 60%, with Hispanic students making up 25%, Black students 11%, and smaller shares of White, Native American, and multiracial students. The diversity index of 60% indicates meaningful variation rather than a monoculture. The economic need index of 84.6% means most students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, consistent with a neighborhood where the median household income is about $50,860 and the poverty rate is 27.2%. The school serves 14% students with IEPs, in line with citywide norms. PTA fundraising brings in $21 per student — modestly above the district's $18.50 average — a small but telling sign of family investment.

The school sits in East New York-City Line, a working-class section of eastern Brooklyn where the median household income is $50,860 and just 14.1% of adults have a bachelor's degree. About 27% of residents live below the poverty line, and only 21.4% of households own their homes, though the median home value of $609,331 tells you the area is not stagnant. Households with children make up 17.2% of the neighborhood — below the city average — so this is a community with a mix of families, seniors, and renters rather than a dedicated family zone.

Three A-line stops serve the school: Grant Avenue is about a 3-minute walk, 80th Street is about 7 minutes, and Euclid Avenue (A and C trains) is about 10 minutes on foot. Bus connections along Pitkin Avenue add another option for families coming from further out.