Spring Creek Community School

Test scores at Spring Creek are significantly below the District 19 averages — 30.8% ELA proficiency versus the district's 48.9%, and 26% math versus 48.2%. The school earned an overall quality score of 1.14 out of 4, compared to the district average of 1.94. Looking at the trend, there has been meaningful improvement since the 2016 baseline (ELA rose from 17.8% to 30.8%), but progress has been uneven, with a dip during the pandemic years and math scores still lagging considerably behind ELA. Grade-level data shows Grade 7 performing notably stronger (45.5% ELA, 36.4% math) than grades 6 or 8, suggesting pockets of effectiveness but inconsistent outcomes across the school.

The culture here is a study in contrasts. On the family side, things look strong: 88% of parents report satisfaction, 95% trust their children's teachers, and an impressive 96% trust the principal. Teacher instruction quality scores 90%, above the district average. But the teacher-to-leadership relationship shows serious strain — only 42% of teachers trust the principal, a red flag that matters. Attendance is a concern: while the overall rate is 90.9% (roughly average for the district), chronic absenteeism is a staggering 62.9%, hitting female students (67.6%) and Black students (63.6%) hardest. On the upside, there were zero suspensions last year — a zero-tolerance policy that reflects either exceptional behavior or a restorative approach to discipline. The family survey response rate was low at 22%, so take the parent numbers with a grain of salt, but the signals that are there point to a school where leadership connects with families but may be struggling to retain teacher buy-in.

This is a predominantly Black school in a predominantly Black neighborhood. Students are 71% Black and 24% Hispanic, with nearly identical neighborhood demographics. The economic need index of 84.2% reflects a community where most families are living at or near the poverty line. One in four students has an IEP, indicating high special education needs. The diversity index of 41% is relatively low, reflecting the neighborhood's racial homogeneity. At 491 students across grades 6-12, the school is mid-sized, with class sizes averaging 21.8 — right on the district average.

Spring Creek-Starrett City is a quiet corner of East Brooklyn characterized by a mix of public housing and small residential blocks. The neighborhood scores poorly on family density (26.82 percentile) and education orientation (34.48), meaning it's not especially packed with families or education-focused resources. Transit options are limited (40.61 percentile), and the safety score of 50 is essentially average. Environmental health indicators show concerns — the asthma emergency department rate is high at 104 per 1,000, and lead exposure rates are elevated. Median home values are relatively affordable at $476,000, and homeownership is extremely low at 10%, indicating a mostly renting population. There are few parks or family-oriented amenities in immediate proximity.

Families primarily arrive by bus or car — the limited transit options mean most students have longer commutes, and walking isn't practical for most families in this area