Excellent
#441 of 4,739 schools in NY
Top 9% in state
Life Academy High School for Film and Music
High School · NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT #21
2630 BENSON AVE, Brooklyn, NY 11214
Enrollment
214
Student-Teacher
10.7:1
Score
8.2
Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
214
Student-Teacher
10.7:1
Score
8.2
Grades
9th – 12th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Brooklyn
#64 of 570
public schools
New York high schools
#102 of 1,160
In district
#6 of 40
NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT #21
Equity
9.7 / 10
Exceptional
About Life Academy High School for Film and Music
Life Academy High School for Film and Music is a public high school in Brooklyn, NY, part of the NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT #21. The school serves approximately 214 students in grades 9th – 12th with a student-teacher ratio of 10.7:1. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.2/10, placing it in the 90.7th percentile among NY schools — an above average rating overall.
Students demonstrate 91% proficiency in math and 86% in reading/language arts. The school scores particularly well in school environment (8.6/10). Located in a neighborhood with a median household income of $64,286, where 32% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
The school is situated in a large city setting.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 4/4 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Life Academy High School for Film and Music — Students at Life Academy High School for Film and Music score 85% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 47%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
86%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores NY EDFACTS (2020-21)
Based on 4 test records from NY state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
↓ DecliningAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 4.6/10.
How Life Academy High School for Film and Music Compares
See how Life Academy High School for Film and Music performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has improved from 87% (2019) to 95% (2021). Reading/ELA proficiency has declined from 97.5% (2019) to 74.5% (2021).
Location
2630 BENSON AVE, Brooklyn, NY 11214
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Life Academy High School for Film and Music may also want to explore other high schools in the area. LEADERS HIGH SCHOOL (rated 7.2/10), with a comparable rating. Another option is KINGSBOROUGH EARLY COLLEGE SCHOOL (rated 7.0/10), a more accessible option. Additionally, JOHN DEWEY HIGH SCHOOL (rated 6.9/10, 0.4 miles away), a more accessible option. For more schools in Brooklyn, see our Brooklyn schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 1.0 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| HIGH SCHOOL OF SPORTS MANAGEMENT Brooklyn | 0.0 mi | 6.7 |
| KINGSBOROUGH EARLY COLLEGE SCHOOL Brooklyn | 0.0 mi | 7.0 |
| LEADERS HIGH SCHOOL Brooklyn | 0.0 mi | 7.2 |
| INTERNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL AT LAFAYETTE Brooklyn | 0.1 mi | 5.0 |
| PS 212 LADY DEBORAH MOODY Brooklyn | 0.4 mi | 7.8 |
| GESHER YEHUDA Brooklyn | 0.4 mi | 6.3 |
| PS 721 BROOKLYN OCCUPATIONAL TRAINING CENTER Brooklyn | 0.4 mi | 7.1 |
| JOHN DEWEY HIGH SCHOOL Brooklyn | 0.4 mi | 6.9 |
| PS 101 VERRAZANO (THE) Brooklyn | 0.4 mi | 7.6 |
| HEBREW LANGUAGE ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL 2 Brooklyn | 0.5 mi | 4.4 |
| IS 281 JOSEPH B CAVALLARO Brooklyn | 0.4 mi | 5.9 |
| PS 97 HIGHLAWN (THE) Brooklyn | 0.6 mi | 8.2 |
| PS 95 GRAVESEND (THE) Brooklyn | 0.6 mi | 7.3 |
| IS 228 DAVID A BOODY Brooklyn | 0.7 mi | 6.8 |
| JEWISH CENTER FOR SPECIAL EDUC Brooklyn | 0.8 mi | 6.7 |
| YESHIVAH OHEL MOSHE Brooklyn | 0.9 mi | 7.5 |
| MAGEN DAVID YESHIVAH HIGH SCHOOL Brooklyn | 0.9 mi | 3.7 |
| EAST ACADEMY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY Brooklyn | 0.8 mi | 6.6 |
| ACADEMY OF TALENTED SCHOLARS (THE) Brooklyn | 1.0 mi | 6.7 |
| BROOKLYN SCHOOL OF INQUIRY Brooklyn | 1.0 mi | 6.9 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 11214 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$64,286
Median Home Value
$1,007,400
Median Rent
$1,710/mo
Population
88,994
College Educated
32.4%
Homeownership
33.9%
Avg Commute
45.2 min
Poverty Rate
18.9%
Median Age
41.1
Community Profile
The community surrounding Life Academy High School for Film and Music has a median household income of $64,286. It is an area where 32% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $1,007,400, with a median rent of $1,710/month. The area has a poverty rate of 18.9%. The average commute in the area is 45 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 | Rating |
|---|---|
| BUFFALO SEMINARY Buffalo, NY | 8.2 |
| MARIE CURIE HIGH SCHOOL-NURSING Bronx, NY | 8.2 |
| MURRY BERGTRAUM HIGH SCHOOL FOR BUSINESS CAREERS New York, NY | 8.2 |
| NELSON MANDELA HIGH SCHOOL Brooklyn, NY | 8.2 |
| UNITY CENTER FOR URBAN TECHNOLOGIES New York, NY | 8.1 |
| MURRAY HILL ACADEMY New York, NY | 8.3 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Life Academy High School for Film and Music
What grades does Life Academy High School for Film and Music serve?
Life Academy High School for Film and Music serves students in grades 9th through 12th.
How many students attend Life Academy High School for Film and Music?
Life Academy High School for Film and Music has an enrollment of approximately 214 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Life Academy High School for Film and Music?
The student-teacher ratio at Life Academy High School for Film and Music is 10.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Life Academy High School for Film and Music rank in NY?
Life Academy High School for Film and Music is ranked #441 out of 4,739 schools in NY.
What is Life Academy High School for Film and Music's MySchoolScout rating?
Life Academy High School for Film and Music has a composite rating of 8.2 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.
What are the test scores at Life Academy High School for Film and Music?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Life Academy High School for Film and Music has 91.0% math proficiency and 86.0% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Life Academy High School for Film and Music a charter school?
No, Life Academy High School for Film and Music is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Life Academy High School for Film and Music a Title I school?
No, Life Academy High School for Film and Music is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Life Academy High School for Film and Music?
86.0% of students at Life Academy High School for Film and Music qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
Neighborhood Context
Powered by 
FBI UCR. County-level only.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- 9th – 12th
- Enrollment
- 214
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 10.7:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 20
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 86.0%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large City
- County
- Kings County
- Phone
- (718) 333-7750
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT #21- District Enrollment
- 34,525
- Schools in District
- 40
- District Rank
- #6 of 40
Other Schools in This District
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 methodologyRelated reading
- Best Public Schools in New York 2026: Top Districts from NYC to the Suburbsbest schools
- Best Schools in New York, NY — 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best States for Public Schools in 2026: A Complete Rankingdata insights
- Charter Schools vs Public Schools: What the Data Actually Shows (2026)school choice
- Student-Teacher Ratio by State: Complete 2026 Rankingsdata insights
Get school insights in your inbox
New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.