RIVERDALE AVENUE COMMUNITY SCHOOL vs PS 361 EAST FLATBUSH EARLY CHILDHOOD SCHOOL

PS 361 East Flatbush Early Childhood School holds a clear overall ratings advantage over Riverdale Avenue Community School — 9.3 vs 9.0 out of 10 — and that gap becomes more significant when viewed against New York's full school landscape. PS 361 ranks #16 of 4,739 schools statewide, placing it in the top fraction of a percent in New York. Riverdale Avenue Community School ranks #70 of 4,739, which is still an exceptional standing, but PS 361's lead at the top of those rankings is a concrete, meaningful difference for parents who weigh state-level benchmarking.

On academic performance, these two Brooklyn elementary schools are perfectly matched: both Riverdale Avenue Community School and PS 361 East Flatbush Early Childhood School score 8.8 out of 10. Where Riverdale Avenue Community School pulls ahead is in student growth — a 10.0/10 growth score versus PS 361's 9.9/10. That near-perfect growth score at Riverdale signals that students are advancing faster than academic baselines predict, a strong indicator of instructional effectiveness regardless of incoming skill levels.

The demographic profiles of both schools show high concentrations of economically disadvantaged students, but with a gap worth noting. Riverdale Avenue Community School serves 96% of students on free or reduced lunch, compared to 90% at PS 361 East Flatbush Early Childhood School. Class size is where PS 361 holds a structural advantage: its student-teacher ratio of 9.6:1 versus Riverdale's 12.6:1 means PS 361 students get roughly three more minutes of one-on-one teacher time in every class period. PS 361 is also the larger school, enrolling 364 students versus 314 at Riverdale, meaning it can support a broader range of programs while still maintaining smaller classroom environments.

One practical distinction shapes enrollment decisions before a child ever steps through the door. Riverdale Avenue Community School accepts students starting in pre-kindergarten, offering PK–05 grade coverage, while PS 361 East Flatbush Early Childhood School begins at kindergarten. Families seeking an earlier public school entry point — and the developmental benefits of a structured pre-K year — have that option only at Riverdale. Both schools sit 2.4 miles apart within Brooklyn, making neighborhood proximity a relevant tiebreaker for many families.