P.S. 236 Mill Basin

P.S. 236's academic performance places it firmly above the District 22 average — ELA proficiency of 77.4% beats the district average of 61%, and math at 79.1% outpaces the district's 60.5%. The school's overall quality rating of 3.13/4 is notably higher than the district average of 2.43. Looking at the trend, scores have remained relatively stable over the past decade with some fluctuation: ELA peaked at 77.4% in 2025 after a dip to 68.5% in 2024, while math has been consistently strong, ranging from 71.6% to 79.1%. Grade-level data shows stronger performance in earlier grades for math (Grade 4 at 84.8%) and fifth graders leading in ELA (84.3%), suggesting solid foundational instruction that holds through elementary school.

The survey data here is exceptional across the board — parents report 95% satisfaction, and both parent-teacher trust (97%) and parent-principal trust (98%) are remarkably high. Teachers give 100% marks for instruction quality, safety, and trust in leadership. However, there's a striking contradiction: chronic absenteeism sits at 71.8%, which is quite high despite a strong attendance rate of 92.3%. This suggests many families are keeping their kids home frequently enough to be counted as chronically absent, even while the school maintains solid overall attendance. On the disciplinary side, the school has achieved zero suspensions for two consecutive years — a significant improvement from the 2 suspensions in 2021-22. The day-to-day feel appears to be one of strong relationships and trust, though the absenteeism pattern is something parents should be aware of.

The student body reflects the neighborhood's demographics: 50% White, 18% Asian, 16% Black, and 12% Hispanic, with a diversity index of 76%. This is a notably different composition than many Brooklyn public schools, shaped by the neighborhood's high homeownership rate (74%) and above-average household income ($108K median). The economic need index of 31% is lower than citywide averages, meaning fewer students face significant poverty-related barriers to learning. At 528 students, the school is a comfortable mid-size, with class sizes averaging 23.9 — virtually identical to the district average. IEP students make up 15% of the population, indicating standard special education services.

Marine Park-Mill Basin-Bergen Beach is one of Brooklyn's most family-friendly, stable neighborhoods — characterized by single-family homes, high homeownership, and low poverty (7%). The area scores 80.46 on education orientation, indicating a community that prioritizes schools. Safety scores at 67.43 are moderate (not the lowest, not the highest), and transit access at 59 is decent for getting around Brooklyn. The neighborhood offers family-oriented resources like Marine Park and nearby beaches, though it's more residential than walkable in the urban sense — families typically drive or use local bus routes. The homeownership-heavy character means many students live within walking or short driving distance.

This is a car-oriented neighborhood where most families drive or take local buses; few students walk long distances, as the area is spread out with single-family homes