P.S. 268 Emma Lazarus

P.S. 268 has undergone a remarkable academic transformation. In 2016, only 24% of students were proficient in ELA and 16% in math — well below district averages. By 2024, those numbers hit 72% and 88% respectively, outpacing the district by significant margins. The 2025 scores (63% ELA, 71% math) show a modest dip but remain above the district averages of 58% and 61%. Third graders lag behind older grades (39% ELA vs. 74-76% in grades 4-5), suggesting the school is still building its early-grade instruction. The overall 2.69/4 score exceeds the district average of 2.39.

This is a school where relationships clearly work. Parent satisfaction sits at 93%, parent-teacher trust at 96%, and parent-principal trust at an exceptional 98%. Teachers report equally strong trust in leadership (95%) and each other (95%), with 96% rating instruction quality as strong. The school has achieved zero suspensions for two consecutive years — a 100% reduction from the single suspension in 2021-22. However, the 52.9% chronic absenteeism rate is a real concern: more than half of students are missing significant school time, which likely contributes to the academic dip in third grade. The attendance rate of 88.3% trails the district average of 90.5%.

With 244 students, P.S. 268 is a small school where most families know each other. The student body is 90% Black, 8% Hispanic, and reflects the predominantly Black East Flatbush neighborhood. The economic need index of 77.1% is high — three-quarters of students qualify for free or reduced lunch. Fourteen percent of students have IEPs, indicating robust special education services. At 93% parent satisfaction and 38% survey response rate, there's a core of highly engaged families, though response rates suggest not all families are equally connected.

East Flatbush is a working-to-middle-class Brooklyn neighborhood with strong Caribbean influence, known for its family-oriented feel and community gatherings. The area has solid transit access (67.82 score) and decent family density (60.92), making it practical for commuters. However, safety scores are low (29.5) and neighborhood stability is limited (23.37), reflecting concerns common in parts of East Flatbush. Median home values of $668,743 suggest a neighborhood in transition. Families should note the area's health environment score (18.77) is low, with elevated asthma rates.

The neighborhood is walkable with decent sidewalk infrastructure, though families often drive from slightly farther distances. Transit options serve commuters reasonably well, but parents frequently walk younger children to school given the traffic and safety concerns.