P.S./I.S. 045 Horace E. Greene

Test scores here have climbed meaningfully over the past decade — ELA went from 27.8% in 2016 to 42.6% in 2025, and math jumped from 22.2% to 40.4%. That's real growth, not a blip. But the school still sits below district averages (45.9% ELA, 43.2% math), and proficiency varies wildly by grade — third graders are hitting 60.5% in ELA while fourth graders are at just 10.9%. Math shows similar whiplash: Grade 3 at 73.2%, Grade 8 at 9.3%. The overall score of 1.66/4 trails the district average of 1.78, suggesting this isn't a high-performing school yet, but it's moving in the right direction.

If you talk to families, you'll hear almost universal praise: 94% parent satisfaction, 97% parent-teacher trust, and a remarkable 99% trust in the principal. Teachers report 98% safety and 93% say instruction quality is strong. The discipline record is nearly spotless — just one suspension last year, maintaining a 0% rate for three straight years. But there's a tension: chronic absenteeism sits at 65.6%, far above the district average, meaning nearly two-thirds of students are missing significant school time. That's the big shadow over everything — families trust the school, teachers are supported, but too many kids aren't showing up consistently.

The student body is 54% Hispanic, 40% Black, 2% Asian, and 3% white — mirroring the predominantly Latino and Black neighborhood around it. With 84.1% economic need index and 19% IEP students, this is a high-need population. Class sizes average 20.8, nearly identical to the district average, keeping things relatively intimate. The diversity index of 54% reflects a school that's culturally rich but not economically diverse — most families here are working through significant financial pressure.

East Bushwick is a transit-rich, family-dense neighborhood where 82.76% of residents are families with kids. Median home values have climbed to $949,127, though only 20.5% of residents own — most are renters navigating the city's housing pressures. The poverty rate sits at 23.9%, and safety scores (23.75 out of 100) are low, which is a real factor for families considering schools here. That said, transit access is exceptional (89.66), making commutes manageable for working parents.

The neighborhood is walkable and well-served by subway lines, making it practical for families without cars — though the area's safety concerns mean many parents walk their kids to and from school.