The top reported proficiency rate is 60% in English language arts. The lowest is 45% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on New York City Geographic District #13
NYC Geographic District 13, which serves parts of Brooklyn, operates as one of the city's largest school districts, enrolling students across pre-kindergarten through grade 12. The district comprises a mix of traditional public elementary and middle schools, specialized and themed high schools, and alternative programs. The demographic profile reflects Brooklyn's diversity: the student body is roughly a third Black, a fifth Asian, and a fifth white, with smaller populations of Hispanic students and other groups. The district's proficiency index across all tested subjects and grades sits above the midpoint when compared with other districts in Kings County, suggesting performance that holds its own regionally, though individual grade-level results paint a more layered picture.
In the elementary grades where testing begins, the district shows its strongest results. In third grade, both English language arts and math proficiency exceed 70 percent, indicating that a majority of students are meeting state standards in literacy and numeracy at entry to tested grades. By fourth grade, ELA remains in the upper 60s, though math performance dips to the low 60s. This pattern continues through fifth grade, where ELA remains in the low 60s while math proficiency slides below 53 percent. The middle grades show a more consistent decline. By sixth grade, both ELA and math proficiency fall to the low 50s and low 40s respectively. In seventh and eighth grade, ELA hovers near 55 and 51 percent respectively, while eighth-grade math proficiency drops to around 31 percent. Science results, available for fifth and eighth grades, show roughly 47 percent proficiency in grade 5 and 44 percent in grade 8. Across most grades from sixth onward, fewer than half of tested students are meeting proficiency benchmarks, a pattern a parent may want to explore further with the district regarding curriculum continuity, instructional support, or the transition to middle school work.
Participation rates in testing are strong in the elementary and middle grades, generally ranging from 80 to 90 percent. However, at eighth grade, participation drops sharply to 36 percent in math and 35 percent in science, a significant decline that may reflect alternative testing pathways, student moves, or other structural factors the district could clarify.
The district's composition shows substantially more high school students than elementary students, with roughly equal enrollment across grades 9 through 12. This differs from the smaller grades 3 through 8, which have smaller cohorts. No traditional graduation rate was available in the data. However, the district offers a notably varied set of high school options. Alongside standard comprehensive schools like Brooklyn Technical High School and George Westinghouse Career and Technical Education High School, the district houses specialized and themed programs including schools focused on music and art, law and justice, STEAM studies, professional arts, and mathematics and science. There is also a school specifically for international students. This breadth of pathways suggests intentional design to meet varied student interests and needs, though a parent would want to investigate which schools feed from middle school, which require separate applications, and how accessible each option is.
Recent structural changes in the district have reshaped school options for families. Beginning in 2021, all middle schools adopted a lottery-based, screen-free admissions model with a majority of seats reserved for students from low-income families and those in temporary housing. This represents a deliberate shift toward reducing barriers and prioritizing access for economically vulnerable students. In the 2020-2021 school year, two schools merged to form a new K-8 program in Fort Greene with similar lottery and socioeconomic priority in admissions. For the 2024-2025 school year, the Dr. Susan S. McKinney Secondary School, a 6-12 arts school, was truncated to serve grades 9-12 only, eliminating a middle-grades arts option in that neighborhood. These changes reflect ongoing reconfiguration of the district's school footprint and enrollment pathways.
The district carries a chronic absenteeism rate in the mid-40s, positioning it above the median among Kings County districts. This level warrants attention; a parent may want to ask how the district is supporting attendance and what services are available to families facing barriers to regular school participation.
Data on free and reduced price lunch eligibility, special education enrollment, and English learner population were not available, limiting a fuller picture of the economic and instructional needs the district serves. High school graduation data were also absent. The district's website and individual school pages would provide more granular information about program specifics, student supports, and enrollment processes for families considering which schools fit their children.
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