The top reported proficiency rate is 42% in English language arts. The lowest is 33% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on New York City Geographic District #32
New York City Geographic District 32 serves a very large student population across pre-kindergarten through grade 12 in Brooklyn. The district is predominantly Hispanic, with a substantial Black enrollment and smaller Asian, white, and multiracial communities. The racial composition is heavily weighted toward Hispanic students.
The state testing data shows proficiency rates below the midpoint among Kings County's districts. In mathematics across grades 3 through 8, roughly two in five students scored at proficiency in the tested grades, with third grade performing somewhat better and sixth grade notably lower. English language arts results track similarly, ranging from the mid-30s to mid-40s across grades 3 through 8. Science proficiency, measured in grades 5 and 8, falls below the ELA and math rates. One notable feature of the eighth-grade science result is a participation rate substantially below the tested grades in ELA and math, which a parent may want to look into further with the district or individual schools to understand how many eighth graders are actually assessed in science.
The district does not report a graduation rate in the available data, which is a gap worth noting. Free-or-reduced-price-lunch eligibility counts and special-education and English-learner rates are also not provided. State testing data was not available for high school grades, consistent with the structure of New York's assessment system. Chronic absenteeism runs just under half the enrollment, placing the district slightly below the county median on this measure. Overall proficiency sits in the bottom quartile of Kings County districts.
Within the last few years, District 32's elementary schools entered the NYC Reads initiative, a city-wide curriculum mandate. All elementary schools in the district now use the "Into Reading" program from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, ending principals' previous freedom to select their own reading materials. This standardizes instruction around the science of reading. Some Brooklyn families and educators have noted concerns about this specific curriculum, citing limited emphasis on critical thinking and cultural responsiveness, so this is a characteristic of instruction families should understand. District 32 is scheduled for middle school curriculum rollout under the same mandate beginning in the 2026-27 school year, meaning families with middle-grade children should expect further standardized curriculum changes in the near term.
The district operates a broad portfolio of elementary, middle, and secondary schools, including specialized secondary programs such as schools focused on humanities, math and science, urban planning and engineering, and social justice. The range of school options within the district provides variety for families navigating secondary enrollment.
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