Success Academy Charter School - Crown Heights

Test scores here are exceptional by any measure — 93.9% ELA and 97.9% math proficiency in 2025 far exceed the district averages of 60.5% and 57.3%. But the story is incomplete without the pandemic context: scores dropped sharply in 2022 (ELA to 70.9%, Math to 71.8%) after school closures, then rebounded dramatically to 2025 levels. The recovery pattern is especially notable in math, which climbed from 71.8% to 96.8% in just three years. Performance is strong across all tested grades, with Grade 7 hitting 100% in both subjects and Grade 8 reaching 100% in math. The overall 3.84/4 score reflects consistency, not just peak performance.

The attendance picture is mixed: a 93.4% attendance rate is slightly above the district average, but the chronic absenteeism rate of 78.1% is striking — meaning roughly 4 in 5 students missed significant school time. This disconnect suggests many families keep kids enrolled but struggle with consistent daily attendance. Survey data is limited (only 4 family responses, a 1% response rate), but available indicators show 91% parent satisfaction and 89% teacher instruction quality ratings. The 0.55% suspension rate is well below the district average, suggesting a relatively restorative approach to discipline. Without more robust survey data, the day-to-day culture feels positive based on teacher quality ratings but the attendance pattern warrants honest conversation with current families.

This is a majority-Black school in a neighborhood with a complex demographic profile. At 85% Black students, the school is more racially concentrated than the surrounding neighborhood (which has significant Caribbean and African-American populations alongside Orthodox Jewish and white residents). The diversity index of 34% reflects this homogeneity. With 66.4% economic need and 14% IEP students, the population includes families facing real challenges — yet the school is delivering top-tier results. The 14.5% homeownership in the neighborhood suggests most families here are renters, which may affect stability but also means the school draws from a mobile population.

Crown Heights is a densely populated, transit-rich neighborhood in central Brooklyn with strong family infrastructure but real safety concerns. The safety score of 13.41 (on a 0-100 scale) is notably low — this is something parents take seriously and should discuss with the school about how they manage arrival and dismissal. On the flip side, the transit score of 77.39 makes commuting easy, and the family density score of 78.54 reflects a neighborhood built for households with children. Median home values are over $1 million, but the 20.3% poverty rate and 14.5% homeownership indicate economic diversity among residents. Education orientation scores 68.2, suggesting families here value schools but may have limited high-performing options.

The neighborhood is highly walkable with good subway access (multiple lines serve the area), but parents should consider the low safety score when planning routes and supervision for younger children arriving and leaving campus.