The Gregory Jocko Jackson School of Sports, Art, and Technology

The academics story here is one of the more striking turnarounds in District 23. In 2016, only about 14% of students were ELA-proficient and under 10% were math-proficient. By 2025, ELA proficiency hit 54.3% and math reached 58.3% — both edging above district averages of roughly 52% and 51%. The overall quality score of 2.25/4 also sits a notch above the district average of 2.06. Grade-level data is mixed: 4th graders are doing best (66.7% ELA, 73.7% math), 3rd graders are solid (53.8% ELA, 69.2% math), but 5th graders slipped (46.2% ELA, 37% math). The trajectory is clearly upward, though the dip in 2022 shows the work is fragile.

Parents and teachers clearly like each other here. Parent-teacher trust is 97%, parent-principal trust is 96%, and 98% of teachers rate instruction quality positively — well above the district average of 89%. Teacher-reported safety is 88%, a touch below the district's 90.5%, which is worth knowing. Zero suspensions over three consecutive years is exceptional. The flip side: chronic absenteeism runs high at 57.5%, with boys (63.2%) and Black students (63.9%) particularly affected. Attendance rate is 88.9%, roughly matching the district. The day-to-day feel is warm and relational — but getting kids to school every day is a real challenge.

The student body mirrors Brownsville: 63% Black and 35% Hispanic, with almost no white or Asian students. The diversity index of 43% reflects that the school draws from essentially two demographic groups. About a fifth of students have IEPs (21%). Families tend to be working-class — neighborhood median household income is $33,494 and over a third of residents live in poverty — but parent engagement is strong, with 94% parent satisfaction. Seventy families responded to the survey, which is meaningful participation for a school this size.

Brownsville is a working-class Brooklyn neighborhood where median household income sits around $33,494 and more than a third of residents live below the poverty line. Only 8% of households include children, and just 13.4% of adults have a bachelor's degree. Homeownership is rare (14%), though the median home value of around $482,021 reflects the broader New York market more than local buying power. It's a community where many families are renting and stretching, but where schools tend to be tightly woven into daily life.

Three subway options sit within roughly 7–8 minutes on foot: the 3 train at Rockaway Avenue and Junius Street, and the L train at Sutter Avenue. Most families likely arrive on foot or by bus from nearby blocks.