Success Academy Charter School - Bergen Beach

Test scores at Success Academy Bergen Beach remain well above the District 22 average (61% ELA, 60% math), with 2025 proficiency at 86% ELA and 91% math. However, the trajectory tells a story: the school hit near-perfect scores in 2017-2019 (ELA near 100%, math near 98%), then dropped sharply in 2022 during pandemic disruptions (ELA 72%, math 76%), and has been climbing back since. The 2025 math score (91.3%) approaches pre-pandemic levels, while ELA (86.1%) shows strong recovery. Grade-level data reveals middle schoolers performing exceptionally — Grade 7 students hit 98% ELA and 97% math — while younger grades show more variability.

The attendance picture is complicated: the school reports a 94.1% attendance rate but an unusually high 84.4% chronic absenteeism rate, which suggests many students miss school repeatedly. This is worth noting. On the positive side, family survey data shows extraordinary trust — 100% parent satisfaction, 100% parent-teacher trust, and 100% parent-principal trust — though the survey response rate was very low (1%, only 6 responses), so take these numbers with caution. Teacher instruction quality (90%) and safety (96%) both exceed district averages, indicating a functional academic environment. The discipline approach is structured, which many charter families appreciate but others may find rigid.

The student body is predominantly Black (73%), with smaller populations of White (10%), Asian (6%), Hispanic (6%), and Multi-Racial (4%) students. The diversity index is 54%, moderate for the city. The economic need index sits at 58.8%, meaning more than half of students qualify for free or reduced lunch — this is a working-class to middle-class community, not a high-income charter school. The neighborhood around the school is predominantly white (73.9% homeownership, high median income), creating a demographic contrast between the school's enrollment and its surrounding community.

Bergen Beach is a quiet, residential neighborhood in southeast Brooklyn known for its waterways, parks, and family-friendly feel. The area scores high on stability and education orientation (80 out of 100), with a median home value of $788,673 and low poverty rate (7%). It's not a walkable, urban neighborhood — transit scores just 59, reflecting limited subway access. Families here value the safety (67/100) and the suburban quality of life while remaining connected to Brooklyn's resources. The neighborhood has several parks and is close to the Belt Parkway.

This is a car-dependent neighborhood; most families drive or take the bus. There's limited subway access, so commute time may be a factor for working parents.