Sunset Park Avenues Elementary School

Test scores have improved meaningfully over the past three years — ELA rose from 30.1% in 2022 to 45.6% in 2025, and math climbed from 22.3% to 47.5%. That's a real gain, not a fluke. But at 45.6% ELA and 47.5% math, this school still sits well below the District 15 averages of 65.5% and 63.3%. Grade-level data shows 3rd graders performing strongest (57.9% math, 48.7% ELA), while 5th graders lag behind (34.1% math, 37.2% ELA). The overall quality score of 1.86 out of 4 reflects this gap — the school is improving but has not yet reached district parity.

The survey data tells a striking story: families love this school. Parent satisfaction sits at 94%, parent-teacher trust at 98%, and parent-principal trust at 96%. Every single family surveyed (100%) reported strong relationships. Teachers rate instruction quality highly at 91% and report feeling completely safe (100%). But there's a tension beneath the surface — teacher-principal trust is only 77% and teacher collegial trust is 70%, suggesting some friction between staff and leadership that parents may not see. Attendance is a concern: while the overall rate is 92.2%, chronic absenteeism is a alarming 68.4%, with Hispanic students at 66% and males at 72.5%. On the positive side, discipline is excellent — zero suspensions for three consecutive years.

The student body mirrors the neighborhood: 78% Hispanic, 13% White, 8% Asian, and 1% Black. With 394 students and an average class size of 25, this is a mid-sized elementary school. Twenty-one percent of students have IEPs, and the economic need index of 77 indicates most families face significant financial challenges. PTA fundraising is remarkably low at $23 per student (versus a district average of $491), reflecting the neighborhood's economic constraints rather than any lack of engagement — the family survey response rate of 63% and sky-high trust scores suggest families are plenty engaged, just not with deep pockets.

Sunset Park is a high-density, working-class neighborhood in southwestern Brooklyn known for its immigrant roots and family-heavy households. Median household income is $81,377 with a 17.3% poverty rate, and only 25% of residents own homes. The area scores low on safety (42.5 percentile) and education orientation (41.8), but high on family density (74.3 percentile). There's decent transit access, though the neighborhood isn't particularly walkable for families without cars. Environmental indicators show elevated lead rates (12.1%) and asthma rates (104 per 10,000), worth noting for families with health concerns.

The neighborhood is mixed-use with good transit options, but the area's density and traffic patterns (collision rate of 156) mean most families drive or take buses — walking is doable but requires caution on busy streets