School of the Future Brooklyn

Test scores are improving rapidly but remain below district averages — 36.8% ELA proficiency versus the district average of 48.9%, and 24.3% math versus 48.2% district average. However, the eight-year trend shows something worth watching: ELA climbed from the low single digits in 2016 to nearly 37% now, while math went from around 5% to 24%. The grade-level breakdown reveals an encouraging pattern: 8th graders are hitting 47.7% ELA and 30.4% math, significantly outpacing 6th and 7th graders — suggesting the school is getting better at serving students the longer they stay. The overall quality score of 1.22/4 places it below the district average of 1.94, but the trajectory matters as much as the current number.

Here's where the school shines in ways test scores don't capture: families trust this staff deeply. Parent satisfaction sits at 95%, and nearly all families report strong trust in both teachers (98%) and the principal (98%). Teachers give similarly high marks — 89% say instruction quality is strong, and 91% trust the principal. There's one wrinkle: teacher collegial trust is lower at 68%, though with only 15 teacher survey responses, that number is fragile. Attendance is a concern — the 88.4% rate is slightly below the district average, and a striking 62.7% of students are chronically absent, with Black students (68.5%) and females (65.6%) missing more than their peers. On discipline, the school has gone from 13 suspensions in 2021-22 to zero last year — a remarkable turnaround that families and neighbors likely notice.

This is a nearly all-Black and Hispanic student body — 67% Black, 32% Hispanic, with 1% Native American — reflecting the neighborhood's demographics. Nearly all students (92.4%) come from economically disadvantaged households, and 38% have IEPs. The economic need index is among the highest you'll see. Despite these challenges, the school shows up: 112 families responded to the survey (a 99% response rate), suggesting strong community engagement. The diversity index of 38% is modest, but given the neighborhood's composition, this reflects the area rather than a lack of diversity efforts.

East New York-New Lots is a working-class Brooklyn neighborhood where families are navigating higher poverty rates (22.6%) and lower college education rates (16% with BA+). Median household income is $58,000, and homeownership sits at just 29%. The area scores poorly on safety (31st percentile) and has elevated environmental health concerns, including higher lead and asthma rates. On the upside, transit access is solid (68th percentile), and family density is high (64th percentile) — meaning lots of kids in the neighborhood. There's a family-oriented feel here, even as economic pressures shape daily life.

Many families walk or take public transit — the area has moderate transit access, and with only 96 students, the morning arrival is likely manageable for most