The top reported proficiency rate is 34% in English language arts. The lowest is 25% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Legacy School of the Arts
Legacy School of the Arts serves sixth through eighth grade in East New York, Brooklyn, as a regular public school in District 19. The school enrolls a small student body, with enrollment roughly evenly distributed across its three grades. The neighborhood sits at the southern edge of Brooklyn, historically one of the city's lower-income areas, though the broader borough is in active growth and development.
The student population reflects the neighborhood's economic reality. A substantial majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The enrollment is predominantly Black, with a significant Hispanic population and very small numbers of Asian, white, and multiracial students. Detailed data on English learners and students with IEPs was not available.
State test results from 2024-2025 show consistent patterns across grade levels and subjects. In mathematics, proficiency declines noticeably from sixth to seventh grade, then stabilizes slightly in eighth. In English language arts, results are similarly modest across grades, with eighth grade performing marginally better than the middle grades. Science, measured only in eighth grade, falls in the same range. Across all tested areas and grades, the school's overall proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile relative to other middle schools in Kings County. Participation rates in testing were strong, above ninety percent in most grades, suggesting the results reflect actual student performance rather than testing gaps.
The school's small size means that test counts are modest. Grade-level cohorts range from around twenty-five to sixty students tested per subject, so individual performance shifts can move percentages noticeably. That context does not change the basic picture: achievement levels are well below the county median, and parents evaluating this school should understand that academic performance, at least as measured by state assessments, is a clear area of concern. A parent may want to look into this further with the school to understand what supports are in place, what curriculum and instruction changes are underway, and what pathways the school offers to help students build skills over their time there.
The school's name suggests an arts focus, though specific information about its programming, course offerings, arts curriculum, or how the arts component functions within the academic day was not available. This is worth exploring directly with the school to understand what arts access students have and how it relates to the broader academic program.
District 19 recently adopted the Wit & Wisdom reading curriculum as part of the citywide literacy mandate beginning in 2023-2024, so Legacy is part of that shift toward a science-of-reading approach. The district has also seen notable enrollment shifts, with a growing share of families in the area choosing charter schools and fewer middle-school-aged residents overall enrolling in district middle schools. These trends shape the competitive landscape and resource reality for district schools like Legacy.
East New York and neighboring neighborhoods are experiencing significant new housing development and residential growth. The median home value in the 11207 zip code is modestly above the state benchmark, and rents have risen at a slightly faster pace than the national average. This reflects both the area's transformation and the broader pressures on affordability across New York City. The neighborhood remains economically stressed, but development activity suggests demographic and economic change is underway.
Legacy School of the Arts is a small, Title I-eligible school serving a predominantly low-income, Black and Hispanic student population in a neighborhood in transition. Its state test results indicate substantial academic challenges. Families considering this school should weigh its arts focus against these performance metrics and seek clarity from the school about its academic improvement strategy and what support structures exist for students.
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