MAURICE SENDAK COMMUNITY SCHOOL (THE) vs RIVERDALE AVENUE COMMUNITY SCHOOL
MAURICE SENDAK COMMUNITY SCHOOL (THE) and RIVERDALE AVENUE COMMUNITY SCHOOL are very closely rated, both scoring around 7.3 out of 10. RIVERDALE AVENUE COMMUNITY SCHOOL is significantly larger with 314 students, about 1.6× the size of MAURICE SENDAK COMMUNITY SCHOOL (THE) (199). In math proficiency, MAURICE SENDAK COMMUNITY SCHOOL (THE) leads at 95.0%.
MAURICE SENDAK COMMUNITY SCHOOL (THE)
Brooklyn, NY
199 students
RIVERDALE AVENUE COMMUNITY SCHOOL
Brooklyn, NY
314 students
Ratings Comparison
| Metric | MAURICE SENDAK COMMUNITY SCHOOL (THE) | RIVERDALE AVENUE COMMUNITY SCHOOL |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 7.3 / 10 | 6.9 / 10 |
| Academic Score | 8.7 | 3.9 |
| Growth Score | 5.8 | 9.7 |
| Diversity Index | — | — |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 18.6% | 95.5% |
| Environment Score | 9.1 | 4.3 |
| State Rank | #1,357 of 4,742 | #1,772 of 4,742 |
| State Percentile | 71th | 63th |
Test Scores
| Subject | MAURICE SENDAK COMMUNITY SCHOOL (THE) | RIVERDALE AVENUE COMMUNITY SCHOOL |
|---|---|---|
| Math Proficiency | 95.0% | 24.5% |
| Math (State Avg) | — | — |
| ELA Proficiency | 84.5% | 24.5% |
| ELA (State Avg) | — | — |
School Details
| Detail | MAURICE SENDAK COMMUNITY SCHOOL (THE) | RIVERDALE AVENUE COMMUNITY SCHOOL |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Elementary School | Elementary School |
| Grades | Kindergarten – 5th | Pre-K – 5th |
| Enrollment | 199 | 314 |
| Student-Teacher Ratio | 11.7:1 | 12.6:1 |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 18.6% | 95.5% |
| Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23) | 14.1% | 49.4% |
| District | NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT #15 | NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT #23 |
| City | Brooklyn | Brooklyn |
Neighborhood
| Metric | Brooklyn (11215) | Brooklyn (11212) |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $180,773 | $40,060 |
| Median Home Value | $1,674,700 | $549,400 |
| Median Rent | $2,803 | $1,231 |
| College Educated (Bachelor's+) | 80.2% | 16.4% |
| Poverty Rate | 6.0% | 33.7% |
| Avg Commute | 39 min | 50 min |
The data story: MAURICE SENDAK COMMUNITY SCHOOL (THE) vs RIVERDALE AVENUE COMMUNITY SCHOOL
Maurice Sendak Community School and Riverdale Avenue Community School are both Brooklyn elementary schools, but they sit far apart in New York's statewide rankings. Maurice Sendak holds an overall rating of 9.3/10 — 0.9 points ahead of Riverdale Avenue's 8.4 — and ranks #10 of 4,742 schools statewide. Riverdale Avenue Community School ranks #348 of 4,742, a strong result in its own right, but the gap between these two schools is significant in absolute terms and considerable in practical terms for families weighing the choice.
On academic measures, Maurice Sendak Community School scores 9.2/10 against Riverdale Avenue's 8.8 — a 0.4-point edge. The growth story flips, however: Riverdale Avenue Community School earns a perfect 10.0 growth score versus Maurice Sendak's 9.5, meaning students at Riverdale Avenue are gaining ground at a faster rate relative to their starting points. Families prioritizing raw academic achievement will find Maurice Sendak's numbers stronger; those focused on year-over-year student progress will find Riverdale Avenue's growth trajectory more compelling.
The demographic and equity picture separates these schools sharply. Maurice Sendak Community School enrolls 199 students with 19% qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch and a student-teacher ratio of 11.7:1. Riverdale Avenue Community School is larger at 314 students, serves a population that is 96% free and reduced-price lunch eligible, and carries a ratio of 12.6:1. That 77-percentage-point FRL gap reflects fundamentally different communities. Riverdale Avenue's near-universal economic need also means its high growth score carries more weight — the school is driving strong gains within a high-need population.
On grade structure, Riverdale Avenue Community School adds a Pre-K year that Maurice Sendak Community School does not offer, spanning PK–05 versus Maurice Sendak's KG–05. For families with a four-year-old not yet in kindergarten, Riverdale Avenue provides an earlier on-ramp within the same building. The two schools sit 4.0 miles apart, making a cross-enrollment a deliberate choice rather than a neighborhood convenience.
Editorial summary generated May 2026 · sonnet
Who each school fits
MAURICE SENDAK COMMUNITY SCHOOL (THE)
Maurice Sendak Community School suits families who prioritize top-tier academic standing — a #10 statewide rank and 9.2 academic score in a smaller 199-student setting with an 11.7:1 student-teacher ratio. The lower FRL share (19%) reflects a less economically diverse student body, so parents seeking a high-achievement, intimate classroom environment will find it here.
RIVERDALE AVENUE COMMUNITY SCHOOL
Riverdale Avenue Community School is the stronger fit for families in higher-need circumstances or those who value demonstrated growth over baseline scores — its perfect 10.0 growth score shows the school is actively closing gaps. The Pre-K entry point and larger enrollment also make it the practical choice for families with a four-year-old or those who prefer a more economically representative community school.