Specific schoolsFull briefing
The Brooklyn New School lost 52 points of math proficiency in six years
The longer form of the briefing for this story: the original thesis, the supporting findings the data team flagged, and the reporting directions a journalist could follow. For the short version and the data analysis, see the main story page.
Thesis
PS 146, The Brooklyn New School — a celebrated progressive ES — went from 70% grade-5 math proficient in 2018-19 to 18.2% in 2024-25. That's the biggest decline in the city. Did the test change, did the school change, or did the students change?
Supporting findings
- BNS grade-5 math proficient: 70.0% (2018-19) → 18.2% (2024-25). Delta: -51.8 points.
- Citywide grade-5 math went up over the same period (with test recalibration). BNS went down 52 points. That's not test artifact.
- BNS is in Carroll Gardens — gentrifying, but not the highest-poverty area.
- Did the school's enrollment shift? Pull 2018-19 vs 2024-25 demographics for BNS.
- Did teacher turnover spike? Pull staff change data.
- Progressive elementary that downplays standardized prep — was the gap always real but now showing in scores?
- Compare ELA trajectory at BNS — if math collapsed but ELA held, that's a math-instruction story.
- Compare with other progressive ES (Manhattan New School, Children's Workshop) — same pattern?
- BNS was an InsideSchools darling — check their longitudinal coverage.
- Survey teacher voice + parent satisfaction at BNS — are they aware?
Reporting directions
- Pull BNS demographics over 5 years and compute composition change.
- Interview BNS principal + UFT chapter chair.
- Visit BNS, observe math instruction in a 4th grade classroom.
- Compare with 2-3 other progressive elementaries to see if this is a movement-wide pattern.