Ps 99 Isaac Asimov, Brooklyn NY - Test Scores & Data

Original Research by School Decision on Ps 99 Isaac Asimov

PS 99 Isaac Asimov sits in a dense, highly walkable part of Brooklyn with strong transit access and a neighborhood-centered civic life. The school serves the full elementary and middle grade span, from pre-K through grade eight, and operates as a traditional public school within New York City Geographic District 21.

The student population reflects Brooklyn's diversity, with a substantial share of students identifying as Asian, followed by White, Hispanic, and smaller shares of other backgrounds. A significant majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a community with modest family income. The school draws roughly equal numbers of students across most grades, with enrollments fairly consistent from kindergarten through eighth grade.

On state assessments, PS 99 shows mixed proficiency across subjects and grades. In mathematics, third grade performs strongest, with proficiency just above the midpoint. Performance dips in grades four through six, reaching the lowest point in sixth grade, then recovers somewhat in grades seven and eight. English language arts follows a similar pattern: third and eighth grades show the highest results, while sixth and seventh grades perform below the midpoint. Science results are available for grades five and eight only; both sit below the midpoint, with fifth grade lower than eighth. Overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades places the school below the midpoint when compared to other schools in Kings County. A parent may want to ask the school directly about what supports are in place for students in the lower-performing grades and what instructional strategies the school is using to address gaps.

The school participates in NYC Reads, the citywide literacy curriculum mandate that standardizes reading instruction across all elementary schools in the city using one of three science-of-reading-aligned programs. By the 2027-28 school year, NYC Solves, a similar standardized math curriculum mandate, will apply to all middle schools including this one. These shifts mean instruction in both reading and mathematics is now governed by city-level requirements rather than school-level choice.

The neighborhood around the school is typical of Brooklyn's residential character: dense blocks of housing mixed with retail and services, highly walkable, and well-served by transit. Housing values in the zip code are above state benchmark and have risen modestly year over year. Rents have also climbed substantially, reflecting broader Brooklyn market pressures. Major employers in the area include healthcare systems, higher education, and city government; the tech sector has grown as well. Prospect Park and the Brooklyn Public Library system are anchors of daily life for residents, and transit via multiple subway lines and bus routes is extensive.

The school feeds into the broader ecosystem of District 21 middle school options, which includes screened programs such as Mark Twain for the Gifted and Talented, where admission is based on competitive talent exams and auditions. For families considering this school, the question is less about whether it is an exceptional performer and more about whether a neighborhood school with solid but uneven grade-by-grade results and instructional approaches now set by the city fits the family's needs and expectations.

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Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

New York Regents Exams

2 courses reported · 2024-25

End-of-course exams required for a New York Regents diploma. Each row shows the cohort size and the share of students scoring at the proficient level or higher.

Course	Students tested	% proficient
Math	30	90.0%
Science	28	54.0%

Math

Grade 361%

School 61% · District 67% · ▼ 6 pts below district

▲ 2 pts above state median · ▼ 10 pts below county median

Grade 447%

School 47% · District 63% · ▼ 17 pts below district

▼ 12 pts below state median · ▼ 20 pts below county median

Grade 550%

School 50% · District 61% · ▼ 11 pts below district

▼ 2 pts below state median · ▼ 8 pts below county median

Grade 640%

School 40% · District 64% · ▼ 24 pts below district

▼ 5 pts below state median · ▼ 10 pts below county median

Grade 762%

School 62% · District 74% · ▼ 12 pts below district

▲ 10 pts above state median · ▲ 4 pts above county median

Grade 858%

School 58% · District 70% · ▼ 12 pts below district

▲ 21 pts above state median · ▲ 18 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 340%

School 40% · District 59% · ▼ 19 pts below district

▼ 12 pts below state median · ▼ 24 pts below county median

Grade 448%

School 48% · District 57% · ▼ 9 pts below district

▼ 5 pts below state median · ▼ 14 pts below county median

Grade 549%

School 49% · District 61% · ▼ 12 pts below district

▼ 5 pts below state median · ▼ 13 pts below county median

Grade 639%

School 39% · District 64% · ▼ 25 pts below district

▼ 7 pts below state median · ▼ 13 pts below county median

Grade 740%

School 40% · District 66% · ▼ 26 pts below district

▼ 7 pts below state median · ▼ 17 pts below county median

Grade 851%

School 51% · District 64% · ▼ 13 pts below district

▲ 2 pts above state median · ▼ 6 pts below county median

Science

Grade 544%

School 44% · District 46% · ▼ 2 pts below district

▲ 2 pts above state median · ▲ 4 pts above county median

Grade 853%

School 53% · District 54% · ▼ 1 pts below district

▲ 19 pts above state median · ▲ 28 pts above county median

Social studies

Grade 572%

School 72% · district not reported

▼ 19 pts below state median · ▼ 10 pts below county median

Grade 834%

School 34% · district not reported

▼ 44 pts below state median · ▼ 9 pts below county median

This schoolNEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT #21, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 3Lower-income34%Higher-income67%33 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income42%Higher-income77%35 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income47%Higher-income60%13 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income37%Higher-income67%30 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income42%Higher-income25%16 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income51%Higher-income50%1 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income55%Higher-income86%31 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income42%Higher-income71%30 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income46%Higher-income67%21 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income39%Higher-income50%11 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income64%Higher-income50%14 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income57%Higher-income80%23 pp gap