Average

#533 of 991 private schools in NY

Brooklyn Independent

Middle School

38 LAFAYETTE AVE AVE-5TH FL, Brooklyn, NY 11217

Last updated: May 2026

Private Estimated Score

Estimated academic score. This school does not have standardized test data. Based on NY statewide data. Learn more

Enrollment

Student-Teacher

16.8:1

Score

6.2

Grades

6th – 8th

Enrollment

Student-Teacher

16.8:1

Score

6.2

Grades

6th – 8th

Updated
2021-22

Updated 2021-22

How this school compares

In Brooklyn

#67 of 173

public schools

New York middle schools

#20 of 37

About Brooklyn Independent

Brooklyn Independent is a middle school located in the heart of Brooklyn, offering education to students from grades six through eight. With an enrollment of 84 students and a student-teacher ratio of 16.8:1, the school provides a relatively small classroom setting that allows for more individualized attention. There are five full-time equivalent teachers dedicated to fostering academic growth among its middle schoolers.

While Brooklyn Independent currently has room for improvement in terms of test scores, the school focuses on student development and holistic education. It aims to nurture young minds by providing a supportive learning environment where each child can thrive. The school is situated in a bustling city setting, offering students access to diverse cultural experiences and resources that complement their academic journey.

Brooklyn Independent stands as a welcoming community-focused middle school right in the heart of Brooklyn.

What Parents Should Know

With an enrollment of 84 students, Brooklyn Independent is a smaller school where families often find a close-knit community atmosphere. Smaller settings can mean more individual attention from teachers and staff, though they may offer fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.

As a private school, Brooklyn Independent operates independently from the local public school district. Families considering this school should inquire about tuition costs, financial aid availability, and the admissions process. Private schools are not required to follow the same curriculum standards as public schools, which can be either an advantage or a consideration depending on your priorities.

Financial Overview

Source: IRS Form 990 (2023 filing)

Per-Pupil Spending: Total expenses ÷ enrollment; $28,943
Per-Pupil Revenue: Total revenue ÷ enrollment; $25,462
Financial Health: Revenue-to-expense ratio (>1.0 = surplus); 0.88x — At Risk
Tuition Dependency: Share of revenue from program services (tuition, fees); 83%
Total Assets: End-of-year total assets from IRS filing; $1.4M

Financial data from IRS Form 990 filings via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Per-pupil figures based on current enrollment of 84 students. Not all private schools file Form 990.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How Brooklyn Independent compares to 218 public schools serving similar grades in Brooklyn, NY

Student-Teacher Ratio

16.8:1

This School

11.5:1

Public Avg

Avg School Size

This School

535

Public Avg

Avg School Scout Rating

6.2

This School

6.3

Public Avg

Student Demographics

Black 38.1% vs 0%

White 28.6% vs 0%

Hispanic 23.8% vs 0%

Asian 9.5% vs 0%

Brooklyn Independent Brooklyn Public Avg

Nearby Middle Schools

School	Distance	Enrollment	STR	Rating
Brooklyn Independent (this school)	—	84	16.8:1	6.2
MATH AND SCIENCE EXPLORATORY SCHOOL (THE)	0.3 mi	524	9:1	7.4
MS 113 RONALD EDMONDS LEARNING CENTER	0.3 mi	188	7.5:1	5.8
PS 369 COY L COX SCHOOL	0.3 mi	506	5.2:1	7.1
MS 266 PARK PLACE COMMUNITY MIDDLE SCHOOL	0.6 mi	81	5.1:1	8.3
PS 77	0.6 mi	381	5.4:1	7.1
BROOKLYN PROSPECT CHARTER SCHOOL-CSD 13	0.6 mi	730	11.8:1	7.9
COMMUNITY ROOTS CHARTER SCHOOL	0.6 mi	464	10.3:1	7.7
FORT GREEN PREPARATORY ACADEMY	0.6 mi	201	8.7:1	8.3
ACHIEVEMENT FIRST ENDEAVOR CHARTER SCHOOL	0.7 mi	674	16:1	4.5
DR SUSAN S MCKINNEY SECONDARY SCHOOL OF THE ARTS	0.7 mi	189	5.9:1	7.8
BRIDGES: A SCHOOL FOR EXPLORATION AND EQUITY	0.7 mi	253	9.7:1	8.4
URBAN ASSEMBLY INSTITUTE OF MATH AND SCIENCE FOR YOUNG WOMEN	0.8 mi	392	9.8:1	9.0
IS 340	0.8 mi	140	10:1	7.8
PS 372 CHILDREN'S SCHOOL (THE)	0.8 mi	452	6.8:1	7.5
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP CHARTER SCHOOL	0.9 mi	413	9.8:1	7.2
BOERUM HILL SCHOOL FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDIES (THE)	0.9 mi	796	11.5:1	8.1
URBAN ASSEMBLY UNISON SCHOOL (THE)	0.9 mi	179	8.1:1	5.1
MS 51 WILLIAM ALEXANDER	1.1 mi	963	14.8:1	6.0
PS/IS 157 BENJAMIN FRANKLIN HEATH AND SCIENCE ACADEMY (THE)	1.1 mi	244	7.9:1	4.5
BROOKLYN LABORATORY CHARTER SCHOOL	1.1 mi	573	15.9:1	7.6

Showing 20 of 218 schools. View all schools in Brooklyn

Demographics sourced from NCES Private School Survey (PSS) and Common Core of Data (CCD). Comparisons are based on enrollment-weighted averages.

Score Breakdown

What This Rating Measures

This rating reflects classroom size, instructional time, student diversity, community resources, and school characteristics. Private schools are ranked against other private schools in NY.

Classroom Attention

C 2.9 / 10

View breakdown

Student-Teacher Ratio 16.8:1

Instructional Commitment

A 9.4 / 10

View breakdown

School Day Length 8 hours

Annual Instructional Hours 1,440

Diversity & Inclusion

A+ 9.6 / 10

View breakdown

Diversity Index 71%

Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile

B- 5.3 / 10

View breakdown

Enrollment 84

View data sources

Score basis: Private school model

Data coverage: 80% of scoring components had data

Components scored: 4 of 5

Ranking pool: Private schools in NY

Test Scores

Test score data not yet available for this school.

Student Demographics NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Black 38.1%

White 28.6%

Hispanic 23.8%

Asian 9.5%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

38 LAFAYETTE AVE AVE-5TH FL, Brooklyn, NY 11217

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Brooklyn Independent may also want to explore other middle schools in the area. MS 266 PARK PLACE COMMUNITY MIDDLE SCHOOL (rated 8.3/10, 0.6 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is MATH AND SCIENCE EXPLORATORY SCHOOL (THE) (rated 7.4/10, 0.3 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, MS 113 RONALD EDMONDS LEARNING CENTER (rated 5.8/10, 0.3 miles away), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Brooklyn, see our Brooklyn schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 0.6 mi

School	Distance	Enrollment	Rating
MUSE ACADEMY Brooklyn	0.0 mi	51	4.9
BROOKLYN TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL Brooklyn	0.2 mi	5,808	7.5
KHALIL GIBRAN INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY Brooklyn	0.1 mi	112	8.7
BROOKLYN HIGH SCHOOL OF THE ARTS Brooklyn	0.3 mi	912	6.9
MATH AND SCIENCE EXPLORATORY SCHOOL (THE) Brooklyn	0.3 mi	524	7.4
BROOKLYN RISE CHARTER SCHOOL Brooklyn	0.3 mi	300	6.5
GERMAN SCHOOL BROOKLYN Brooklyn	0.3 mi	43	5.4
MS 113 RONALD EDMONDS LEARNING CENTER Brooklyn	0.3 mi	188	5.8
COMPASS CHARTER SCHOOL Brooklyn	0.3 mi	317	6.9
PS 38 PACIFIC (THE) Brooklyn	0.3 mi	548	8.2
PS 369 COY L COX SCHOOL Brooklyn	0.3 mi	506	7.1
PS 20 CLINTON HILL Brooklyn	0.4 mi	651	7.8
PS 133 WILLIAM A BUTLER Brooklyn	0.5 mi	617	6.2
MS 266 PARK PLACE COMMUNITY MIDDLE SCHOOL Brooklyn	0.6 mi	81	8.3
PS 77 Brooklyn	0.6 mi	381	7.1
PS 67 CHARLES A DORSEY Brooklyn	0.6 mi	181	5.4
COMMUNITY ROOTS CHARTER SCHOOL Brooklyn	0.6 mi	464	7.7
PS 753 SCHOOL FOR CAREER DEVELOPMENT Brooklyn	0.5 mi	362	7.1
BROOKLYN FREE SCHOOL Brooklyn	0.5 mi	51	5.5
PS 46 EDWARD C BLUM Brooklyn	0.6 mi	222	5.2

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 11217 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$158,314

Median Home Value

$1,614,200

Median Rent

$2,800/mo

Population

42,569

College Educated

73%

Homeownership

28.9%

Avg Commute

35.8 min

Poverty Rate

10.1%

Median Age

35.9

Community Profile

The community surrounding Brooklyn Independent has a median household income of $158,314. It is a well-educated community where 73% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $1,614,200, with a median rent of $2,800/month. The area has a poverty rate of 10.1%. The average commute in the area is 36 minutes, which is above the national average. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School	Enrollment	Rating
ACADEMY FOR NEW AMERICANS Astoria, NY	94	6.2
ST IGNATIUS SCHOOL Bronx, NY	76	6.3
YESHIVA PRIMARY & JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL Oakland Gardens, NY	74	6.3
ELIJAH STROUD MIDDLE SCHOOL Brooklyn, NY	114	6.1
NATIVITYMIGUEL MIDDLE SCHOOL, ST MONICA CAMPUS Buffalo, NY	59	6.1
WHITELAW REID ACADEMY OF ARTS AND BUSINESS Brooklyn, NY	85	6.4

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Brooklyn Independent

What grades does Brooklyn Independent serve?

Brooklyn Independent serves students in grades 6th through 8th.

How many students attend Brooklyn Independent?

Brooklyn Independent has an enrollment of approximately 84 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Brooklyn Independent?

The student-teacher ratio at Brooklyn Independent is 16.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does Brooklyn Independent rank in NY?

Brooklyn Independent is ranked #533 out of 991 private schools in NY.

What is Brooklyn Independent's MySchoolScout rating?

Brooklyn Independent has a composite rating of 6.2 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

Is Brooklyn Independent a private school?

Yes, Brooklyn Independent is a private coeducational school with a Nonsectarian affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.

Is Brooklyn Independent a religious school?

No, Brooklyn Independent is a nonsectarian (non-religious) private school.

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Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades: 6th – 8th
Enrollment: 84
Gender Split: 65% M / 35% F
Student-Teacher Ratio: 16.8:1
Teachers (FTE): 5
Type: private
Coed Status: coed
Affiliation: Nonsectarian
School Day: 8 hours
Days Per Year: 180 days
Setting: Large City
County: KINGS
Phone: (646) 930-1246
Data Year: 2022–2023

Resources & Links

Search for School Website ↗ Google Maps & Reviews ↗ GreatSchools Profile ↗ Niche Reviews ↗ Official NCES Data ↗

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

Data sources

NCES PSSSY 2021-22 Census ACS2019-2023 AI description MySchoolScout Rankings2024 Full details →

Brooklyn Independent

How this school compares

About Brooklyn Independent

What Parents Should Know

Financial Overview

Compare to Public Schools

Student Demographics

Nearby Middle Schools

Score Breakdown

What This Rating Measures

Test Scores

Student Demographics NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Location

Nearby Alternatives

Nearby Schools

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Community Profile

Similar Schools

Frequently Asked Questions

Explore More Schools

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Resources & Links

How We Rate Schools

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