The Madeleine Brennan School

Brennan's 80% ELA proficiency and 85% math proficiency beat the district averages of 66% and 71% by substantial margins, and science proficiency lands at 75.3%. The trend line is one of the more impressive in the borough: ELA has climbed from 62.9% in 2016 to 80% in 2025, while math has risen from 65.6% to 85%. Seventh and eighth grade outcomes (ELA 83.9% and 81.1%, math 86.9% for both) outpace the sixth grade class (ELA 74.3%, math 80.9%), suggesting the screened admissions process and the program's structure pay off most by year two.

Survey data points to a tight-knit school community. Parent-principal trust is at 97% and parent-teacher trust at 96%, with 94% of families satisfied overall — roughly matching the district average. Teachers rate instruction quality at 94% (district avg 92%) and trust among colleagues at 90%. Attendance is solid at 95.3%, edging out the district's 94.2%. Discipline is light: only 7 suspensions in 2023-24, effectively zero as a share of enrollment. Worth flagging honestly: the suspension count has crept from 1 to 3 to 7 over the past three years, even though absolute numbers remain small at a school this size.

The student body is majority Asian (59%) with notable White (23%) and Hispanic (17%) representation, broadly reflecting Dyker Heights' family demographics. About 14% of students have IEPs, and ELL support is offered as a program track. The economic need index is 64.3, indicating a mixed-income population. The PTA pulls in roughly $88 per student in fundraising — well above the district average of $61 — which signals engaged families with resources to contribute.

Dyker Heights is a family-dense, largely owner-occupied neighborhood: 51.7% of households own their homes, and about a quarter have children under 18. Median household income is $76,739, and the typical home value is over $1 million. Roughly a third of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The area skews residential and quiet, with most families driving or walking locally rather than leaning on the subway.

Getting here without a car takes some planning. The nearest subway options are the D line at 79 St or 71 St, both about a 16-minute walk, or the N at Fort Hamilton Parkway, roughly 20 minutes on foot.