New York City Geographic District #21 School District

501 West Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11224
8/
10
Top 30%

Top Rankings

New York City Geographic District #21 School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in New York for:

Category
Attribute
Diversity
Most diverse schools (Top 1%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2025-26 school year, there are 12 public high schools serving 12,184 students in New York City Geographic District #21 School District. This district's average high testing ranking is 4/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public high schools in New York.
Public High Schools in New York City Geographic District #21 School District have an average math proficiency score of 49% (versus the New York public high school average of 55%), and reading proficiency score of 65% (versus the 59% statewide average).
Public High School in New York City Geographic District #21 School District have a Graduation Rate of 85%, which is less than the New York average of 89%.
The school with highest graduation rate is Kingsborough Early College School, with ≥95% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in New York or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 73% of the student body (majority Hispanic and Black), which is more than the New York public high school average of 61% (majority Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (NY)
# Schools
40 Schools
1,462 Schools
# Students
33,559 Students
948,443 Students
# Teachers
2,508 Teachers
85,120 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
13:1
13:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

New York City Geographic District #21 School District, which is ranked #280 of all 1,009 school districts in New York (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 84% has increased from 75% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (NY)
#268 out of 1017 school districts
(Top 30%)
59%
52%
59%
49%
81%
78%
84%
87%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.75
0.72
% American Indian
1%
1%
% Asian
25%
9%
% Hispanic
27%
30%
% Black
12%
18%
% White
33%
39%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
2%
3%
All Ethnic Groups

Best New York City Geographic District #21 School District Public High Schools (2025-26)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
John Dewey High School
(Math: 55% | Reading: 89%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
50 Ave X
Brooklyn, NY 11223
(718) 373-6400
Gr: 9-12 | 2,186 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 78%
Rank: #22.
Edward R Murrow High School
(Math: 59% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
1600 Ave L
Brooklyn, NY 11230
(718) 258-9283
Gr: 9-12 | 3,595 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 70%
Rank: #33.
Life Academy High School For Film And Music
(Math: 50-59% | Reading: 60-79%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
2630 Benson Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11214
(718) 333-7750
Gr: 9-12 | 214 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 73%
Rank: #44.
Leaders High School
(Math: ≥50% | Reading: 80-84% )
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
2630 Benson Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11214
(718) 333-7700
Gr: 9-12 | 373 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 74%
Rank: #55.
Kingsborough Early College School
(Math: 50% | Reading: 66%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
2630 Benson Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11214
(718) 333-7850
Gr: 6-12 | 722 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 74%
Rank: #66.
Abraham Lincoln High School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 40-49%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
2800 Ocean Pkwy
Brooklyn, NY 11235
(718) 333-7400
Gr: 9-12 | 2,163 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 86%
Rank: #77.
Brooklyn Studio Secondary School
(Math: 39% | Reading: 51%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
8310 21st Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11214
(718) 266-5032
Gr: 6-12 | 879 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 58%
Rank: #88.
International High School At Lafayette
Magnet School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 35-39% )
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
2630 Benson Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11214
(718) 333-7860
Gr: 9-12 | 335 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 71%
Rank: #99.
Liberation Diploma Plus
(Math: 21-39% | Reading: ≥50%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
2865 W 19th St
Brooklyn, NY 11224
(718) 946-6812
Gr: 9-12 | 152 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 91%
Rank: #1010.
Rachel Carson High School For Coastal Studies
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 20-29%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
521 West Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11224
(718) 265-0329
Gr: 9-12 | 589 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 46%
Rank: #1111.
High School Of Sports Management
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 30-39%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
2630 Benson Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11214
(718) 333-7650
Gr: 9-12 | 328 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 71%
Rank: #1212.
William E Grady Career And Technical Education High School
Vocational School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 20-29%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
25 Brighton 4th Rd
Brooklyn, NY 11235
(718) 332-5000
Gr: 9-12 | 648 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 76%

Recent Articles

School Choice vs. Neighborhood Schools: Key Factors
School Choice vs. Neighborhood Schools: Key Factors
Explore school choice vs. neighborhood schools in 2025. Learn key factors parents should weigh when deciding the best fit for their child.
Best School Match 2025: Public vs Charter vs Magnet
Best School Match 2025: Public vs Charter vs Magnet
Compare 2025 public, charter, and magnet school options with updated data, trends, and strategies to find the best fit.
Public School Boundaries and Equity in 2025
Public School Boundaries and Equity in 2025
Explore how public school boundaries shape access, equity, and opportunity for students in 2025. Learn the impact on families and education policy.

Quick Facts (2025-26)

  • District size: 40 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 33,559 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 13:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 67%
  • : 84% (Top 50% in NY)
  • : Top 30%
  • : 59% (Top 50%)
  • : 59% (Top 30%)
  • : 81% (Top 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), NY Dept. of Education

Quick Links