P.S./I.S. 104 The Fort Hamilton School

Test scores show a school that's competitive but inconsistent. ELA proficiency at 67% sits just above the district average of 66%, while math at 62.7% falls below the district's 71%. The bigger story is in the grade-level breakdown: Grade 5 students are posting impressive numbers (80% ELA, 78% math), but Grade 6 and 7 dip to the mid-50s in math. The historical trend is volatile — ELA peaked at 68% in 2022 and math hit 67% in 2023, but neither has sustained that momentum. Parents should know the elementary years are strong; the middle school transition is where scores soften.

The survey data tells a story of two trusting communities. Parents give high marks: 92% satisfaction, 95% trust in teachers and the principal. Teachers themselves rate instruction quality at 97% and report feeling safe (97%). But there's a tension — teacher-principal trust sits at 79%, notably lower than parent trust, suggesting some behind-the-scenes friction in school leadership. Attendance is a concern: the 92.9% attendance rate is below the district average, and a striking 75% of students are chronically absent. On the positive side, suspensions are effectively zero — this is a school that relies on restorative approaches rather than exclusionary discipline.

With 1,106 students across K-8, this is a mid-sized school serving a predominantly white (42%) and Hispanic (28%) population, with significant Asian representation (22%). The diversity index of 73% is solid, and 17% of students have IEPs — slightly above typical. The economic need index of 57.3% indicates a working-to-middle-class community, which aligns with Bay Ridge's median household income of $88,898. This isn't a highly selective school — it's a zoned neighborhood school reflecting the demographic fabric of its surrounding blocks.

Bay Ridge is a quintessential Brooklyn neighborhood — tree-lined streets, good transit (78.54 score), strong family density (79.31), and a community feel that keeps people rooted. The median home value of $912,766 tells you this is an aspirational, stable neighborhood. Education orientation scores high at 75.48, meaning families here care about schools. Safety scores are moderate (44.06), and there's a modest poverty rate of 11.5%. For families, Bay Ridge offers the Brooklyn package: good train access, local parks, and a neighborhood where kids can walk to school.

Bay Ridge is walkable and family-friendly, with good transit connections via the R train. Many families walk or bike to school — the neighborhood is known for its pedestrian-scale streets.