Original Research by School Decision on Ember Charter School
Ember Charter School is a kindergarten-through-twelfth-grade charter network operating three locations in central Brooklyn, serving a small and predominantly Black student body across its K-12 span. The school recently completed its build-out into a full college-preparatory program, opening a high school in DUMBO and graduating its inaugural high school class in 2023, which means a family enrolling now can expect to have their child travel through the school from entry through graduation rather than transferring out after middle school, as would have been necessary in earlier years.
The student population is concentrated heavily among Black students, with a smaller Hispanic population and very few students from other racial or ethnic backgrounds. The enrollment itself has contracted measurably over recent years, with the total now sitting at around four hundred students spread across thirteen grades. The upper grades, particularly grades nine through ten, are much smaller than the lower elementary classes, reflecting either the relative newness of the high school or ongoing enrollment challenges in those grades. A parent may want to ask the school directly about why the high school grades show notably fewer students and what that means for course breadth and peer group size at the secondary level.
State assessment data and graduation rates were not available for this charter school, so prospective families cannot see recent testing results or track how many students graduated on time from the inaugural class or completed college applications. The school's website and public materials would be the primary source for understanding academic performance and college-placement outcomes. Charter schools operating in New York are held to state accountability standards, but the specific results for this entity did not appear in the data provided, a gap worth exploring directly with the school if you are considering enrollment.
Among Kings County's districts, Ember stands out for spending substantially above the countywide median on per-pupil current expenditure, suggesting a higher-cost operational model or staffing structure. At the same time, chronic absenteeism at the school is significantly elevated compared to other county districts, placing it in the bottom quartile countywide. This pattern warrants a direct conversation with the school about attendance support, family engagement strategies, and what barriers to consistent daily attendance the school is working to address.
The high school location in a converted warehouse space in DUMBO is a practical reality for families: it is separate from the elementary and middle schools, both situated in Bedford-Stuyvesant, so a high school student would commute to a different neighborhood. The school positions itself explicitly around college preparation and serves a population that is nearly entirely students of color, a context that shapes both the peer environment and the school's stated mission.
A family considering Ember is weighing a brand-new high school program with limited track record, a small enrollment footprint, and enrollment trends moving downward rather than up. The strengths are a clear college pathway, continuity from early elementary through secondary within one institution, and per-pupil investment above typical for the county. The open questions are the academic results themselves, the reasons for the attendance and enrollment challenges, and what kind of stability and programming depth a school this size can sustain.
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