P.S. 298 Dr. Betty Shabazz

At 33.7% ELA proficiency and 26.6% math, P.S. 298 trails the District 23 averages of about 52% and 51% by a wide margin — students here are catching up, not leading. The trajectory has been bumpy: scores climbed sharply from very low single-digit figures in 2016 into the mid-20s by 2019, dipped during the pandemic years, spiked in math in 2023 (50%), and have since settled back down. Grade-level breakdowns show real variation — third graders hit 42.3% in ELA while fourth graders land at just 17.2%, suggesting the experience is uneven depending on which classroom a child lands in.

Here's the split parents should understand: the people inside this school feel good about it, but a lot of kids aren't showing up. Chronic absenteeism runs at 46.5% — nearly half of students miss enough school to be flagged — and overall attendance (86.7%) trails the district's 88.6%. On the upside, parent satisfaction sits at 93% (matching the district), parent-teacher trust is 96%, and zero suspensions over three years tells you discipline isn't being routed through the office. Teacher-reported safety at 80% is below the district's 90%, which is a flag worth asking about, but the strong relationship numbers suggest families feel heard.

The student body is 64% Black and 33% Hispanic, with small percentages of Asian, white, and multiracial students — a makeup that closely mirrors Brownsville's neighborhood demographics. About one in five students has an IEP (22%), higher than you'd typically see, reflecting both the school's inclusive special education program (grades PK-5 plus SE) and the broader needs of the area. The diversity index of 44% is on the lower side, meaning most students share a similar racial background, which can be a plus for cultural cohesion but means less daily exposure to difference.

Brownsville is a working-class, predominantly renter neighborhood with a median household income around $33,500 and a poverty rate of roughly 38% — among the higher poverty rates in Brooklyn. Only 8% of households have children, lower than the citywide norm, which means the families who do live here often rely on schools as a hub. Homeownership is low (14%) and the housing stock tends toward rentals. Getting around depends on the L train at Sutter Avenue or Atlantic Avenue, and the A and C lines stop at Broadway Junction a bit farther out.

The school is within walking distance of the L train at Sutter Avenue (about 7 minutes) and Atlantic Avenue (about 8 minutes), with the A and C at Broadway Junction roughly 11 minutes away.