The top reported proficiency rate is 64% in English language arts. The lowest is 44% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on New York City Geographic District #14
New York City Geographic District 14 serves the Williamsburg and Greenpoint neighborhoods of Brooklyn, spanning pre-K through grade 12 across a network of around three dozen schools. The district enrolls a substantial student body that is predominantly Hispanic, with significant African American and Asian populations and a notable white population as well. The racial and ethnic composition reflects the diversity of these historically immigrant neighborhoods.
Elementary grades show the strongest academic performance. In grades 3 through 5, proficiency in math ranges from roughly 61 to 67 percent, with ELA (English language arts) at similar levels or slightly higher in grade 5, where about 72 percent of students test proficient. By sixth grade, proficiency drops noticeably: math falls to around 48 percent and ELA to about 60 percent. Middle school performance continues to decline, with grade 8 math proficiency at around 32 percent, though ELA rebounds somewhat to about 63 percent. Science proficiency is lower across the board, at about 48 percent in grade 5 and 40 percent in grade 8.
When compared to other districts in Kings County (Brooklyn), District 14 sits above the midpoint on overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades. Chronic absenteeism is nearly at the county median, which parents may want to look into further with the school. The data did not include four-year graduation rates for the district, and per-pupil spending figures were also unavailable.
The district landscape has shifted significantly in recent years. In 2021-22, New York City eliminated selective middle school admissions screens citywide, replacing them with a lottery system. While some screens returned afterward, far fewer schools now use them, fundamentally changing how families in District 14 are matched to middle schools. Additionally, a 2022 state law requires the city to phase in smaller class-size caps (20 students in K-3, 23 in grades 4-8, and 25 in high school) through the late 2020s, a structural change that will shape classroom experiences going forward.
District 14 has experienced steep enrollment declines since the 2018-19 school year, with elementary and middle school enrollment drops that exceeded borough-wide declines. These contractions have prompted the city to accelerate school mergers and consolidations, with a significant concentration of closures in Brooklyn. Families considering the district should be aware that these enrollment pressures may trigger additional school changes or consolidations over time.
Program variety includes both traditional public schools and several specialized high schools focused on career pathways and design, such as A-Tech High School, the High School for Enterprise Business and Technology, and Williamsburg High School for Architecture and Design. Schools like Brooklyn Latin, Young Women's Leadership School of Brooklyn, and several preparatory academies offer alternative approaches to education within the district. El Puente Academy for Peace and Justice and schools designed around specific themes provide additional options for families seeking different learning environments.
The district serves a community with substantial housing diversity across Williamsburg and Greenpoint, neighborhoods that have experienced significant demographic shifts and housing market changes over the past decade. This creates varied economic circumstances within the district's catchment, though specific free-and-reduced-price lunch eligibility data was not available.
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