Uncommon Canarsie Charter School NYC

Test scores here have climbed dramatically over the past decade — ELA went from 32% in 2016 to 66% today, math from 42% to 68%, nearly doubling in both subjects. Both subjects now beat district averages by meaningful margins (8+ points in ELA, 6+ in math). The school's overall score of 2.68 outpaces the district average of 2.39. That said, there's unevenness by grade: 8th graders show strong ELA (79%) but struggling math (37%), while 3rd and 4th graders excel in math (83% and 83%). Math took a significant hit during 2022 (dropping to 42.5%) before rebounding strongly to 72% — a recovery worth watching.

The survey data tells a striking story: 100% of teachers rate instruction quality highly, and trust in leadership is nearly universal among staff (92%) and families (97-98%). Parent satisfaction at 96% is well above the district average of 93%. But here's the tension — attendance is only slightly above district average (91.5% vs 90.5%), and chronic absenteeism is alarmingly high at 70.5%, suggesting that while families who are engaged are deeply satisfied, a large portion of students are missing significant school time. This is less about school culture and more about the challenges families in this neighborhood face getting kids to school consistently.

This is a nearly all-Black school (92%) in a neighborhood that's also predominantly Black and Caribbean-American. With 5% Hispanic and minimal Asian or white enrollment, the diversity index is low at 19% — reflecting both the neighborhood's demographics and the charter's lottery process. Ten percent of students have IEPs, and 63% come from high-economic-need households, roughly consistent with the surrounding community. The school serves 783 students across K-8 with class sizes averaging 22, essentially identical to district averages.

Canarsie is a stable, residential Brooklyn neighborhood known for its tidy single-family homes and the Canarsie Pier waterfront. The median home value is $688,000, and half of residents own their homes — a sign of rootedness. Transit score of 66 is decent but not stellar, and safety scores at 57 are moderate. The area skews family-oriented (though only 15% of households have children, suggesting many are older couples or emptynesters), with moderate education orientation (62). Families should expect a suburban-feel area that requires a car for most errands but has access to the waterfront and local shops.

Canarsie has a more suburban layout — most families drive or take the bus. The area is not particularly walkable for daily errands, though the school is accessible by car from surrounding neighborhoods.