The top reported proficiency rate is 87% in English language arts. The lowest is 72% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Magnet School of Math Science & Design Technology
Magnet School of Math, Science & Design Technology is a public elementary school serving kindergarten through fifth grade in the Park Slope area of Brooklyn. It sits in a dense, walkable neighborhood where brick townhouses line tree-shaded blocks and shops and restaurants anchor nearby streets. The school is an application-based magnet rather than a zone school, so families across District 15 may apply, not just those living in the immediate catchment.
The school's academic profile rests on math and English proficiency. In the most recent state testing, third graders showed strong performance in English and solid performance in math. Fourth graders came in with comparable strength in both subjects, and fifth graders showed slightly lower math performance but maintained steady English results. Fifth-grade science proficiency dropped noticeably, sitting at about three-quarters of the group meeting standards, which is the school's lowest-proficiency metric among tested subjects. Across all tested grades and subjects, the school's overall proficiency rate places it in the top quartile among elementary schools in Kings County. This is a genuine strength and reflects the school's focused mission around STEM and design thinking.
The enrollment is diverse and mixed in family economics. A little more than a fifth of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. In race and ethnicity, the school's enrollment is plurality white, with substantial shares of Asian, Hispanic, two-or-more-race, and smaller numbers of Black students. There are no students identified as American Indian or Alaska Native. Data on English learners and students with disabilities are not publicly available for this school. Because this is a magnet with an application process rather than a zone school, families self-select in; the enrollment snapshot reflects who applied and was accepted, not a passive neighborhood draw.
The school is located in Brooklyn at a time when the borough is experiencing significant residential growth and housing development. Home values in the zip code have climbed and continue to appreciate modestly year over year. Rents have risen as well, in line with broader New York City trends. Park Slope, where the school sits, has historically been one of Brooklyn's most sought-after residential areas, anchored by proximity to Prospect Park and characterized by strong walkability and dense commercial corridors. The surrounding neighborhood is stable and well-resourced.
District 15, the school's parent district, has made substantial changes to how it allocates seats in its schools. Most notably, it eliminated academic screens for middle school admission in favor of a lottery with reserved seats for low-income students, English learners, and students in temporary housing, a change that has been associated with less economic and racial segregation and sustained above-average test performance at the middle school level. The district also completed an elementary school rezoning in 2022 that redrew attendance boundaries and set aside seats for historically underserved students. In 2025 the district reopened elementary rezoning again, with proposals under discussion that could further change how families access elementary schools, from modifying existing zone lines to moving toward a districtwide lottery. Families considering this school should track that discussion, as it may affect how the school is accessed or which families are nearby in future years.
Because this school serves only early elementary grades, there is no graduation rate or high school transition data. Data on chronic absenteeism are also not available. The school's state test results reflect participation rates of over ninety percent, indicating consistent testing; the school appears to have solid operational engagement around assessment.
The school's magnet status and its focus on math, science, and design technology position it as a choice school within the district. Its academic performance in proficiency is stronger than typical for the city, particularly in English. The science weakness in fifth grade is worth monitoring and discussing directly with school staff. For families drawn to early STEM-focused learning and with the flexibility to apply to a magnet school rather than rely on zone assignment, this school offers an explicit pathway and measurable proficiency outcomes.
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