The Exploratory School

Both ELA (70.8%) and math (69.9%) run about 5–7 points above the District 15 averages of 65.5% and 63.3%, putting the school in the upper tier of the district but well short of its pre-pandemic self. From 2016 to 2019, the school posted ELA and math proficiency in the 82–87% range; the post-pandemic rebound has plateaued in the high 60s to mid 70s. By grade, seventh graders are the strongest cohort (ELA 72.5%, math 77.6%), while eighth-grade math at 63.4% drags down the school's overall math average — worth asking about if your child is entering 8th grade.

The day-to-day feel is a mixed picture. On one side: zero suspensions last year (down from six the year prior), a formal Restorative Circles program, and parent-principal trust at 98% — the kind of climate where families feel heard and discipline is handled without removing kids from class. On the other side: teacher-reported instruction quality is 82%, seven points below the district's 89%, and chronic absenteeism sits at an eye-catching 88.5% — a figure worth pressing the school on directly, since it sits oddly against an otherwise strong 95% daily attendance rate and high trust scores.

The student body is 44% White, 23% Hispanic, 15% Black, and 12% Asian — Whiter than Brooklyn as a whole and a pretty clear reflection of the surrounding neighborhood, where the median household income tops $150,000 and over 73% of adults hold a bachelor's degree. The economic need index of 43.7% is moderate, well below the citywide norm, signaling a largely middle- and upper-middle-class community. With 27% of students classified as having IEPs and a formal ELL support program, the school serves a meaningfully wide range of learners despite its relatively affluent profile.

Downtown Brooklyn-DUMBO-Boerum Hill is one of Brooklyn's wealthiest and most transit-connected neighborhoods, with a typical home valued above $1.4 million and a median household income north of $150,000. Most families rent — only about a quarter of households own their homes — and three-quarters of adults have a bachelor's degree. The area draws professionals and young families who prize walkability and quick access to Manhattan.

One of the easiest school commutes in the city — the Atlantic Av-Barclays Ctr station complex is a 2- to 4-minute walk from the school, putting the D, N, R, 2, 3, 4, 5, B, and Q lines at the front door.