Uncommon Kings Charter School NYC

Test scores here have climbed dramatically — from 38.8% ELA in 2016 to 70% in 2025, and math from 52.3% to 70.1%. That's not a fluke; it's a sustained upward trend across nine years of data. Compared to District 18's averages (58.4% ELA, 61.4% math), Uncommon Kings is now clearly ahead. The elementary grades are particularly strong: Grade 3 students hit 92.8% math proficiency and 79.7% ELA, and Grade 4 follows at 85.9% math. Middle school grades (6-8) hold steady in the 50-78% range, with Grade 8 ELA reaching 77.8%. The overall 2.8/4 score reflects this trajectory — above the district average of 2.39.

The survey numbers are striking: 95% of families report satisfaction, 97% trust teachers, and 97% trust the principal. Teachers are even more bullish — 99% trust the principal and 94% rate instruction quality as good or excellent. That's exceptional. But there's a real tension: chronic absenteeism sits at 75%, meaning three-quarters of students miss significant school time. It's slightly worse for male students (78.5%) than female (71.4%), and notably higher for Black students (75.7%) than Hispanic students (62.7%). Attendance overall (92.5%) is slightly above district average, so the chronic absenteeism metric may be capturing a specific subset of students with attendance challenges. The family survey response rate is low at 13% (162 responses), which means the high satisfaction scores come from a subset of engaged families — worth noting when weighing how representative this feedback is.

This is a highly homogenous student body: 86% Black, 11% Hispanic, and just 1% each white, multi-racial, and Native American. The diversity index of 28% reflects this. With 74% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch and an economic need index of 73.9%, the school serves a predominantly low-income population. Eleven percent of students have IEPs. The neighborhood itself (East Flatbush-Remsen Village) has only 9% of households with children, so the school's 1,251 students represent a significant concentration of young people in an area that isn't heavily family-oriented.

East Flatbush-Remsen Village has excellent transit (80.84 percentile) but real safety challenges (14.18 percentile — in the bottom 15th for safety). The poverty rate is 18.9%, median income $57,611, and homeownership is low at 23.5%. The neighborhood scores low on family density (39.08) and education orientation (40.61), meaning it's not particularly geared toward families with children. Median home values are $691,851, suggesting an area in transition. Families should know the safety metrics here are a real consideration — crime density and collision rates are elevated.

The neighborhood has excellent transit access (80th percentile), making it accessible by bus and subway. However, the low safety score suggests families may prefer driving or coordinating carpools, especially for younger children, and should be aware of the area's safety context.