The Middle School of Media, Law and Fine Arts

Test scores have climbed significantly but still trail the district averages — ELA sits at 46.9% versus the district's 58.4%, and math at 59.2% versus 61.4%. What stands out is the trajectory: math proficiency jumped from 11.4% in 2016 to 59.2% in 2025, and ELA from 15.4% to 46.9% over the same period. Grade 8 is performing strongest with 51.8% ELA and 69.6% math, suggesting the school's improvements are accumulating as students move through the grades. Science proficiency at 18.2% is notably low, and the overall score of 2.12/4 is slightly below the district average of 2.39.

The culture here is defined by exceptional trust between staff and leadership — teacher instruction quality scores a perfect 100%, and teacher-principal trust sits at 95%. Parents report similarly high confidence: 94% satisfaction and 96% trust in the principal. However, chronic absenteeism is a serious concern at 59.5%, affecting Black students disproportionately (66.2% versus 33.3% for Hispanic students). Attendance sits at 88.7%, below the district average of 90.5%. Suspensions remain low at 3% (5 students), trending down from 6 the prior year. The day-to-day feel appears collaborative and trusting, but the school is battling chronic absenteeism — a pattern that likely suppresses academic outcomes.

The student body is nearly all Black (85%) with small Hispanic (8%), white (3%), and Asian (2%) populations. With 85% of the neighborhood also identifying as Black and a median household income of $71,298, the school reflects its community. The economic need index is high at 83.4%, and 27% of students have IEPs. The diversity index is low at 34%, which is unsurprising given the homogeneous neighborhood. Families here are working-class to middle-income, and the school's unscreened admissions mean it's accessible to all neighborhood families.

East Flatbush-Rugby is a family-oriented neighborhood in central Brooklyn with moderate transit access (67.82 percentile) and a homeownership rate of 38.8%. Median home values are $668,743, reflecting a neighborhood in transition. Safety scores are low (29.5 percentile), which parents should factor in. The area has modest education orientation (52.87 percentile) and family density (60.92 percentile). Asthma rates are notably high (104.4 per 10,000), and lead exposure risk is elevated at 22.1%. Families should know these environmental health factors when considering the area.

The school is on Winthrop Street in a walkable residential area near local bus routes. Families in the immediate East Flatbush neighborhood can walk, but those coming from further afield will rely on bus or car.