The Brooklyn Green School

The raw scores tell a mixed story: ELA proficiency at 54.7% sits a few points below the district average of about 58%, and math proficiency at 41.8% is well below the district average of 57%. But the trend line is what makes this school worth a close look. In 2019, just 14.6% of students were proficient in ELA and 7.3% in math — those numbers have risen dramatically, with ELA quadrupling and math nearly sextupling in only five years. Results also vary sharply by grade: 7th graders post strong scores (66% ELA, 62% math), while 8th-grade math proficiency is only 29%. The overall score of 1.93/4 lands below the district average of 2.29/4, so families should expect real progress and real work-in-progress, especially in math.

This is where The Brooklyn Green School really distinguishes itself. Parent satisfaction is 93% (above the district average of 91%), and trust numbers are exceptional: 100% of surveyed parents trust the principal, 98% trust their teachers, and 98% rate instruction quality highly — far above the district's 86% mark on that last measure. Teachers report similarly strong relationships with leadership (96%) and each other (99%). Discipline is minimal — only one suspension last year, down from two in prior years. Attendance at 90.8% beats the district average of 88.7%, though chronic absenteeism at 67.7% is high, suggesting the families who do show up are highly engaged even though a sizable share of students miss extended stretches. The day-to-day feel reads as collaborative and supportive rather than punitive.

The student body is 73% Black, 17% Hispanic, 6% White, 3% Asian, and 1% each Multi-Racial and Native American, with a diversity index of 48% — relatively more homogeneous than many Brooklyn middle schools. Three-quarters of students qualify on the economic need index, and 27% have IEPs, well above typical rates. Average class size is 17.9, matching the district average. This demographic mix largely reflects the surrounding Crown Heights neighborhood, where longstanding Black and Caribbean communities overlap with newer, higher-income arrivals — the median home value above one million dollars tells that story plainly.

The school sits in the northern part of Crown Heights, a neighborhood with a median household income around $74,000 and a poverty rate of about 20%. Roughly 11% of nearby households include children, and 42% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Homeownership is low at 16%, and a median home value above one million dollars points to ongoing gentrification pressure across the area.

Families can reach the school via the A or C trains at Utica Av (about an 8-minute walk), the 3 or 4 trains at Crown Hts-Utica Av (about a 9-minute walk), or the C train at Ralph Av (about an 11-minute walk).