P.S. K396

Academic proficiency data isn't reported for this school, which makes sense given that 100% of students have IEPs — standardized tests don't capture the progress of a specialized student population the way they do for general education schools. What we do have: teacher instruction quality scores come in at 93%, which is notably above the district average of 89%. Class sizes average 19.7 students, essentially matching the district average of 19.8.

The culture and climate data tells a compelling story. Teacher-reported safety is exceptionally high at 97% — way above the district average of 90% — which is meaningful in a neighborhood where parents have real concerns about safety outside school walls. Parent trust in teachers hits 94%, and parent trust in the principal is 92%, both strong. Teachers report collegial trust at 87%, though teacher-principal trust is somewhat lower at 81% — not a red flag, but something worth watching. There's been not a single suspension, which suggests the school handles behavior through supports rather than removals. The family survey response rate of 24% is modest but yielded 142 responses, indicating meaningful parent engagement.

The student body is predominantly Black (54%) with significant Hispanic (19%) and Native American (14%) representation, plus small Asian (7%) and white (6%) populations. This mirrors the demographics of Brownsville itself, which is a predominantly working-class Black and Hispanic neighborhood. The diversity index of 72% reflects a racially and ethnically mixed student population. Notably, every single student has an IEP — this isn't a school with inclusion classrooms, it's a school specifically designed for students with special education needs. The economic need index of 90.6% indicates nearly all families meet criteria for free or reduced lunch, meaning this is a high-poverty community. PTA fundraising is minimal at $3 per student versus the district average of $11, reflecting the economic reality of the neighborhood.

Brownsville is a neighborhood of deep roots and real challenges. The median household income of $33,494 is well below city averages, and the poverty rate sits at 37.6%. Only 14% of residents own homes, meaning most families rent. The safety score of 19.16 is very low — this is something families considering the school need to weigh. Transit access is excellent (86.59), making it easy to get around without a car. The education orientation score of 39 suggests this isn't a neighborhood where families are heavily invested in private school pipelines — public schools matter here. There are parks and community resources, but the area has historically been underserved.

The high transit score means families can rely on public transportation. Walkability depends on where in the neighborhood families live — Brownsville is fairly spread out, and some areas may feel safer than others for walking to school.