The top reported proficiency rate is 72% in Math. The lowest is 59% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on New York City Geographic District #20
Geographic District 20, which covers Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Borough Park, and part of Sunset Park in Brooklyn, serves a large and diverse student population from pre-K through grade twelve. The district has built a reputation as one of the city's highest-performing, a distinction now shaping decisions about housing and school choice throughout the neighborhoods it covers.
Recent state testing shows solid proficiency across elementary and middle grades in both math and English language arts. In math, roughly three-quarters of third graders meet proficiency, with rates holding in the low-to-mid seventies through fifth grade before dipping somewhat into middle school. English language arts proficiency runs a few percentage points lower across the elementary grades, clustering in the mid-to-upper sixties. Science proficiency, tested at grades five and eight, sits lower, around six in ten students meeting the bar. The district's overall proficiency index places it in the top tier among the other districts in Kings County, a position that reflects consistent performance across its schools.
Chronic absenteeism in the district runs below the county median, another sign of engaged families and community stability. The district serves a notably diverse population by race and ethnicity. Asian students make up a large plurality of enrollment, followed by Hispanic students and white students; Black students, while present, represent a smaller share. The district does not report free-or-reduced-price-lunch counts or counts of students with disabilities or English learners, so the socioeconomic profile and support populations cannot be fully assessed from available data.
A major shift in how the district operates is now reshaping school choice for families with children entering middle grades. District 20 has dramatically expanded the use of academic screening for middle school admissions, nearly quadrupling the number of screened programs in a single year and now housing more than a quarter of the city's academically screened middle school seats. This expansion means that families cannot simply assume a neighborhood middle school placement; instead, they navigate a selective admissions process where academic performance matters heavily. For some families, this creates clear pathways to specialized, competitive programs. For others, it introduces uncertainty about middle school access and heightens pressure on elementary school performance.
Separately, the district has added capacity to relieve long-standing overcrowding. Three new schools opened in fall 2024 in Bay Ridge, including new elementary and middle school buildings, along with specialized offerings in medical science and STEAM. This expansion directly eases class sizes and widens the roster of school options, particularly for families seeking particular programs or concerned about volume-driven crowding.
The district operates a network of roughly fifty schools ranging from traditional neighborhood elementaries and middle schools to specialized or themed programs such as the High School of Telecommunication Arts and Technology, the School of Math, Science and Healthy Living, and the Brooklyn School of Inquiry. Information about high school graduation rates for the district was not available, so college and career readiness outcomes at the secondary level cannot be assessed from the data provided.
Parents considering the district should understand that it is a high-demand area where elementary proficiency is above average, middle school admissions have become merit-based and competitive, and new capacity is coming online. The strong reputation and academic performance come with pressure: the academic screening at middle school and the visibility of test results shape how families navigate and plan their children's pathways through the system.
See more original research from School Decision →