PS 32 SAMUEL MILLS SPROLE vs PS 361 EAST FLATBUSH EARLY CHILDHOOD SCHOOL

PS 361 East Flatbush Early Childhood School edges out PS 32 Samuel Mills Sprole in overall rating by 0.2 points — 9.3 versus 9.1 out of 10 — but both schools rank among New York's best. In a state with 4,739 ranked schools, PS 361 East Flatbush Early Childhood School sits at #16 while PS 32 Samuel Mills Sprole lands at #42, a meaningful gap that places both schools in the top 1% statewide. For Brooklyn parents, either choice represents elite performance relative to peers citywide.

On academic and growth metrics, PS 361 East Flatbush Early Childhood School holds a consistent lead across the board. Its academic score of 8.8/10 tops PS 32 Samuel Mills Sprole's 8.6/10, and the growth score gap is sharper: PS 361 East Flatbush Early Childhood School posts a 9.9/10 against PS 32 Samuel Mills Sprole's 9.6/10. That three-tenths difference in growth suggests students at PS 361 are outpacing peers at a slightly higher rate year over year — a signal worth weighing for families prioritizing academic momentum alongside absolute achievement.

The two schools diverge sharply on demographics and classroom structure. PS 32 Samuel Mills Sprole enrolls 448 students with a student-teacher ratio of 8.3:1 and a free/reduced lunch rate of 39%. PS 361 East Flatbush Early Childhood School is smaller at 364 students, carries a higher ratio of 9.6:1, and serves a significantly higher-need population — 90% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch. That 51-percentage-point gap in FRL eligibility reflects fundamentally different community contexts, and PS 361's top-16 statewide ranking is especially notable given that socioeconomic profile.

One practical distinction affects the youngest children: PS 32 Samuel Mills Sprole offers Pre-K through 5th grade, giving families an earlier entry point, while PS 361 East Flatbush Early Childhood School begins at Kindergarten. The two campuses sit 3.7 miles apart in Brooklyn, so geography will factor into the decision for most families.