P.S. 257 John F. Hylan

The 2025 numbers are striking: 65.9% ELA proficiency beats the district average of 62.4%, and 71.9% math proficiency comfortably clears the district's 59.5%. That said, the historical record is volatile — proficiency swung from 52.7% ELA in 2019 down to 32.7% in 2022, then climbed sharply to its current level. The Grade 4 cohort posted the strongest results (75% ELA, 83.1% math), and Grade 5 wasn't far behind, suggesting the upper-elementary years are where this school is humming. The math/ELA split — math noticeably higher than ELA — has been a consistent pattern. Trajectory is best read as improving from a bumpy baseline, with the 2025 jump large enough to warrant cautious optimism rather than full confidence it will stick.

The school climate reads warm and stable. Teacher-reported safety and instruction quality both registered 100% on the 2025 survey, and 98% of teachers trust their principal — unusually high numbers that suggest a low-conflict staff culture. Family satisfaction (92%) and parent-teacher trust (95%) confirm that parents feel respected and informed, with 69% of families responding to the survey (a solid turnout). There were zero suspensions in 2021-22, 2022-23, and 2023-24, compared to a district suspension rate of 0.56%. The one serious flag is attendance: while the daily attendance rate of 88.7% is roughly at the district average, 54.5% of students are chronically absent (missing 10% or more of the school year) — a number that quietly undermines everything else going right here.

The student body is 71% Hispanic and 24% Black, with small Asian, White, and Native American populations — a profile that reflects the surrounding blocks more than a citywide mix. Nearly 89% of students qualify as economically needy, well above the city average, and 31% have an Individualized Education Program, meaning this is a genuinely inclusive setting. The PTA raised about $67 per student in 2024-25, less than half the district average of $123, so families are clearly stretching to support the school without deep fundraising infrastructure.

East Williamsburg is a dense, predominantly renter neighborhood where only about 12.5% of households own their homes and 9.2% include children — characteristic of an area with lots of young adults and shared households. The median household income of roughly $82,000 and 24% poverty rate describe a working-class stretch with real economic pressure, even as 44% of adults hold a bachelor's degree. The blocks immediately around the school are well-served by subway, with three stations within walking distance.

Flushing Av (M, J) is roughly a 4-minute walk, Lorimer St (M, J) about 7 minutes, and Montrose Av (L) about 8 minutes — about as transit-rich a location as you'll find in Brooklyn.