P.S. 306 Ethan Allen

Test scores here have gone through something of a transformation. After hovering in the teens during the pandemic years (2022 saw just 13.6% ELA and 6.2% math proficiency), the school now sits at 64.8% ELA and 66.7% math — both well above the district averages of roughly 49% and 48%. Grade 5 students are performing particularly strongly, with 79.4% hitting proficiency in ELA. The overall score of 2.63 out of 4 places it notably above the district average of 1.94. This is a school that has clearly turned a corner academically, though the trajectory from such low pandemic-era scores means some families may want to dig into whether gains are holding across grade levels.

The climate data is remarkable in several ways. Parent satisfaction hits 94%, with nearly universal trust in both teachers (98%) and the principal (98%). Teachers report 100% instruction quality — a perfect score — and 92% feel the school is safe. Perhaps most striking: zero suspensions in the most recent year, compared to a district average of 1.56%. The attendance picture is more nuanced — the 90.9% attendance rate is slightly above district average, but chronic absenteeism is high at 59.9%, particularly for female students (65.3%). This suggests a day-to-day environment where families who are engaged feel deeply connected, but there's a subset of families struggling with regular attendance.

This is a predominantly Black school in a neighborhood that matches that profile: 73% of students are Black, 25% are Hispanic, with virtually no Asian or white students. The diversity index sits at 35%, reflecting a relatively homogeneous student body in a neighborhood with similar demographics. With 92.5% economic need — meaning nearly all students qualify for free or reduced lunch — this is a community serving families facing significant financial challenges. The PTA fundraising of $33 per student is actually above the district average of $18.50, suggesting engaged families finding ways to contribute despite economic constraints.

East New York-New Lots is a working-class Brooklyn neighborhood with real tradeoffs. The safety score of 31.42 is low — well below the percentile — reflecting elevated crime density. Transit access is decent (68.58) and the area has family density of 63.6, meaning lots of households with kids. However, education orientation scores just 37.93, suggesting this isn't a neighborhood where families are primarily drawn by school options. The median home value of $605,545 and homeownership rate of 29.3% indicate a neighborhood in transition, with many renters and increasing property values.

Families walk to this zoned school from the surrounding blocks — it's designed to serve the immediate neighborhood, so most students live within walking distance.