P.S. 327 Dr. Rose B. English

Test scores are well below the district average — 33.8% ELA proficiency versus a district average around 52%, and 32.5% math versus roughly 50.5% — but the trajectory tells a different story than the snapshot. In 2016 the school posted single-digit proficiency in both subjects (8.9% ELA, 5.1% math). By 2023 those numbers had climbed to 38.7% and 34.8% respectively, a near-quadrupling over seven years. There was a notable dip in 2024 (23.6%/22.7%) before partial recovery in 2025, suggesting some volatility year to year but a clear long-term upward arc. Grade-by-grade results show math strength in 3rd grade (44%) and ELA strength in 5th grade (42.3%), while 4th grade lags in both subjects.

Day-to-day culture here is defined by a striking gap between how families and how staff experience the building. Parent trust metrics are excellent — 90% parent satisfaction, 94% parent-teacher trust, 91% parent-principal trust, and a remarkable 97% report strong relationships. Teacher-side metrics tell a less settled story: teacher-principal trust sits at 69% and collegial trust at 59%, and only 81% of teachers report feeling safe (notably below the district average of roughly 90%). The discipline picture is the most positive signal: zero suspensions in each of the past three reported years, and 41 families returned surveys — a decent response rate for a small school. Attendance is the persistent worry, at 85.5% against a district average near 89%, and 41.5% of students are chronically absent.

The student body of 216 closely mirrors the surrounding neighborhood: 68% Black, 24% Hispanic, with smaller shares of Asian, White, and multiracial students. The economic need index of 90.4% places this among the higher-need schools in the city, and 21% of students have IEPs, a meaningful share for a small school. Class sizes hover around 19.7 — virtually identical to the district average — so despite the high needs, students aren't being squeezed into oversized rooms.

Brownsville is one of the poorest neighborhoods in Brooklyn, with a median household income around $33,494 and a poverty rate near 38%. Just 7.9% of households have children at home, and only 13.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree — context that helps explain why the economic need index at P.S. 327 runs so high. Homeownership is rare (14.2%), though the median home value among those who do own sits around $482,021. The neighborhood has deep roots and a tight community fabric, and this school is a known anchor within it.

Families reach P.S. 327 via the 3 train at Rockaway Av (about a 9-minute walk) or Saratoga Av (about 11 minutes), or the L at Sutter Av (about an 11-minute walk)