P.S. 235 Janice Marie Knight School

ELA proficiency at 62.9% sits above the district average of 58.4%, while math at 61.3% tracks closely with the district average of 61.4%. The school earned an overall score of 2.48 out of 4, marginally above the district average of 2.39. Grade 3 performance stands out with 79.2% ELA and 77.2% math proficiency, suggesting strong early elementary instruction, while Grade 4 scores dip notably lower at 51% ELA and 52.4% math — a pattern worth watching for families with rising third-graders.

Survey data reveals a school with strong family relationships but some tension in teacher-leadership dynamics. Parents report extremely high trust in teachers (96%) and the principal (95%), with 100% of families indicating strong relationships with the school. Teacher instruction quality scores 90%, above the district average. However, teacher-principal trust sits at 70% — notably lower than parent trust — and teacher-reported safety at 91% falls below both the district average (96%) and the high parent perception. These gaps suggest a divide between how families and staff experience school leadership.

With 90% of students identifying as Black, 5% Hispanic, 2% Asian, and small populations of White, Multi-Racial, and Native American students, this school reflects the demographic composition of East Flatbush. The diversity index of 26% is low, meaning the student body is less diverse than many NYC schools. However, the economic need index of 51.8% indicates a substantial population of students from economically disadvantaged households, and 11% receive special education services. The school offers robust programming including ELL support, honors track, arts, world languages, and competitive sports.

East Flatbush-Rugby is a neighborhood with mixed indicators for families. The median household income of $71,298 and homeownership rate of 38.8% suggest a working-to-middle-class community. However, safety scores are low (29.5 percentile) and the poverty rate sits at 13.4%. The area has decent transit access (67.82 percentile) and moderate family density (60.92 percentile). Environmental health indicators show concerns: PM2.5 levels average 8.45, the asthma emergency department rate is 104.4 per 10,000, and 22.1% of homes have elevated lead — factors families with health-sensitive children may want to consider.

Families in the zoned area typically walk or drive to school. The neighborhood's transit score suggests reasonable bus and subway access for families who commute from elsewhere, though the area is primarily residential and best suited for families living within the zone.