P.S. 226 Alfred De B. Mason

Test scores at P.S. 226 hover in the upper 40s to low 50s for both ELA and math — below the district averages of 60% and 63%, respectively. The school's academic trajectory shows a peak in 2018 (ELA at 56.8%, math at 53.6%), followed by a COVID-era dip and a partial recovery. Grade-level data reveals a middle-school dip, with 6th grade math at just 34.7% and 8th grade math at 38.9%, while elementary grades perform stronger — 5th graders hit 59% in both subjects. The overall score of 1.97/4 trails the district average of 2.46, indicating this school is underperforming relative to its peers.

The culture here tells a mixed story. Parents report extremely high trust in teachers (97%) and the principal (96%), with 100% reporting strong relationships — this isn't a school where families feel disconnected. Teachers give high marks for instruction quality (93%) and collegial trust (94%). However, chronic absenteeism is a serious issue at 73.7%, far exceeding typical rates and suggesting attendance engagement is a day-to-day challenge. Teacher-reported safety is solid at 95%, and suspensions remain low at 1% (7 total), indicating a relatively calm disciplinary environment despite some uptick from prior years.

The student body is fairly evenly split among White (35%), Hispanic (34%), and Asian (28%) students, with very few Black students (1%). This mirrors the neighborhood's demographics, which show moderate diversity with a 68% diversity index. Economic need is high at 77.7%, meaning most students qualify for free or reduced lunch, though the neighborhood itself has a median household income of $71,408 and 42% homeownership — suggesting a working-to-middle-class community.

Mapleton-Midwood is a highly family-oriented neighborhood in southwest Brooklyn, with 91% of residents being families with children — one of the highest family-density scores in the city. The area has moderate transit access (60.5%) and a strong education orientation (67.8%), meaning families here prioritize schooling. Median home values exceed $1 million, reflecting the neighborhood's desirability, though the poverty rate sits at 18.3%. Safety scores are moderate (57.85), and the area has typical urban environmental challenges including elevated lead rates and asthma rates.

The neighborhood is generally walkable, with the school serving a zoned catchment area — most students live within walking distance, though families from farther afield may rely on public transit or carpooling.