Performing Arts and Technology High School

No specific proficiency scores are reported in this dataset, so traditional academic metrics aren't available to compare against the district averages of about 49% ELA and 48% math. What's clear is the school's academic menu: AP courses for college-bound students, ELL support, and Spanish, layered on top of arts and technology tracks that pull in students for non-test-prep reasons. Class size at 21.8 lands right at the district average, and an IEP rate of 25% suggests the school serves a wide range of learners alongside its audition-admitted cohort. The economic need index of 83 means most students arrive facing real challenges outside the classroom.

This is where the school quietly stands out. Parent trust scores sit in the 93–96% range, teacher trust in the principal lands at 99%, and teacher rating of instruction quality also hits 99% — figures that outpace district averages on every available survey measure. Zero suspensions across the entire student body is striking for a high school of any size, and it tells a story about how the school handles behavior before it becomes a discipline issue. The day-to-day feel is warm and orderly, with families feeling heard and staff feeling supported by leadership. One caveat: only 29 teachers responded to the survey, so the staff voice here is smaller than the family voice.

The student body is 69% Black and 28% Hispanic, with Asian, White, Multi-Racial, and Native American students making up the remaining 3% — a diversity index of 41% that reflects the school's Black and Hispanic concentration rather than broad NYC-style mixing. An economic need index of 83 means most students come from low-income households, and with 25% of students having IEPs, this is a genuinely inclusive environment rather than a selectively screened one. The neighborhood demographically mirrors the student body: East New York is a working-class, predominantly Black and Hispanic community where most families are renters.

East New York (North) is a working-class Brooklyn neighborhood where median household income sits just under $58,000 and about a quarter of residents live below the poverty line. Roughly 17% of households have children present, and homeownership is relatively low at 30% — meaning families here are more likely renting than owning. About 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, which is well below the citywide rate and matches the economic profile of the area. The school is an asset in a neighborhood where strong educational options can be hard to come by.

Three subway stops are within a 7-minute walk: Pennsylvania Av and Van Siclen Av on the 3 line, plus Livonia Av on the L. That mix of the 3 and L makes the school reachable from a wide swath of Brooklyn and Queens.