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#2815 of 4,739 schools in NY

MS 51 William Alexander

Middle School · NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT #15

350 5TH AVE, Brooklyn, NY 11215

Enrollment

963

Student-Teacher

14.8:1

Score

6.0

Grades

6th – 8th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Brooklyn

#362 of 570

public schools

New York middle schools

#358 of 785

In district

#42 of 49

NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT #15

Equity

9.0 / 10

Exceptional

About MS 51 William Alexander

MS 51 William Alexander serves 963 middle school students in grades 6-8 in Brooklyn's affluent Park Slope area. With 65 full-time teachers, the school maintains a favorable 14.8:1 student-teacher ratio that allows for more individualized attention in the classroom. The school demonstrates strong academic performance, earning a MySchoolScout rating of 8.0 out of 10 and ranking in the 90th percentile statewide at #451 out of 4,758 New York schools.

Students particularly excel in English Language Arts, with 90% achieving proficiency or above across all grade levels. Math performance shows 66% of students meeting or exceeding proficiency standards, indicating solid achievement with continued room for growth in this subject area. MS 51 William Alexander sits in the heart of one of Brooklyn's most educated communities, where the median household income reaches $173,899 and 80% of residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher.

The neighborhood's low poverty rate of 5.9% reflects the area's economic stability. Located on 5th Avenue in ZIP code 11215, the school serves families in a vibrant urban setting known for its tree-lined streets, historic brownstones, and strong community engagement in education.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress5.3Average40%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data2
Annual Change-2.65 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2021
TrendDeclining
Academics8.9Excellent35%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency67%
Reading/ELA Proficiency92%
Math vs. State Avg+27.4 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+29.2 pts
Overall Proficiency80%
Expected (poverty-adj.)54%
vs. Expected+25.6 pts
Adjusted Percentile82th
Resources & Environment3.2Fair25%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio14.8:1

MS 51 William Alexander — Students at MS 51 William Alexander score 80% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 54%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

64.2%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores NY NYSED (2020-21)

Math Proficiency 70.8%
School
State
40.2%
ELA Proficiency 89.6%
School
State
57.2%

Based on 9 test records from NY state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2019
Math
83%
ELA
85%
2021*
Math
66.7%
ELA
90.8%

* 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: 5.3/10.

How MS 51 William Alexander Compares

See how MS 51 William Alexander performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
6.0/10
41th percentile in NY
Academic
8.9/10
8.9/10
Growth
5.3/10
Above average
Environment
3.2/10
Below average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
64%
Teaching Staff
15:1 student-teacher ratio
65 teachers

Location

350 5TH AVE, Brooklyn, NY 11215

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering MS 51 William Alexander may also want to explore other middle schools in the area. MAURICE SENDAK COMMUNITY SCHOOL (THE) (rated 9.2/10, 0.2 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is PS 32 SAMUEL MILLS SPROLE (rated 9.1/10, 0.7 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, PS 282 PARK SLOPE (rated 8.5/10, 0.5 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Brooklyn, see our Brooklyn schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 0.8 mi
School Distance Rating
MAURICE SENDAK COMMUNITY SCHOOL (THE) Brooklyn 0.2 mi 9.2
PS 39 HENRY BRISTOW Brooklyn 0.3 mi 7.7
AL-MADINAH SCHOOL Brooklyn 0.2 mi 6.0
PS 372 CHILDREN'S SCHOOL (THE) Brooklyn 0.3 mi 7.5
JOHN JAY SCHOOL FOR LAW Brooklyn 0.3 mi 7.1
PARK SLOPE COLLEGIATE Brooklyn 0.3 mi 7.8
CYBERARTS STUDIO ACADEMY Brooklyn 0.3 mi 6.2
MILLENNIUM BROOKLYN HIGH SCHOOL Brooklyn 0.3 mi 8.2
PS 321 WILLIAM PENN Brooklyn 0.3 mi 6.0
PS 124 SILAS B DUTCHER Brooklyn 0.5 mi 5.5
PS 282 PARK SLOPE Brooklyn 0.5 mi 8.5
PS 133 WILLIAM A BUTLER Brooklyn 0.6 mi 6.2
ST SAVIOUR HIGH SCHOOL Brooklyn 0.5 mi 7.3
PS 107 JOHN W KIMBALL Brooklyn 0.7 mi 7.5
MS 266 PARK PLACE COMMUNITY MIDDLE SCHOOL Brooklyn 0.6 mi 8.3
PS 77 Brooklyn 0.6 mi 7.1
PS 32 SAMUEL MILLS SPROLE Brooklyn 0.7 mi 9.1
MAGNET SCHOOL OF MATH SCIENCE & DESIGN TECHNOLOGY Brooklyn 0.8 mi 7.8
HELLENIC CLASSICAL CHARTER SCHOOL Brooklyn 0.8 mi 5.3
PS 295 Brooklyn 0.8 mi 6.2

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 11215 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$180,773

Median Home Value

$1,674,700

Median Rent

$2,803/mo

Population

70,922

College Educated

80.2%

Homeownership

40.9%

Avg Commute

38.5 min

Poverty Rate

6%

Median Age

37.4

Community Profile

The community surrounding MS 51 William Alexander has a median household income of $180,773. It is a well-educated community where 80% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $1,674,700, with a median rent of $2,803/month. The local poverty rate of 6.0% is relatively low. The average commute in the area is 39 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
ICHABOD CRANE MIDDLE SCHOOL Valatie, NY 6.0
J WATSON BAILEY MIDDLE SCHOOL Kingston, NY 6.0
JHS 167 ROBERT F WAGNER New York, NY 6.0
JHS 67 LOUIS PASTEUR Little Neck, NY 6.0
JOHANNA PERRIN MIDDLE SCHOOL Fairport, NY 6.0
LAKELAND-COPPER BEECH MIDDLE SCHOOL Yorktown Heights, NY 6.0

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about MS 51 William Alexander

What grades does MS 51 William Alexander serve?

MS 51 William Alexander serves students in grades 6th through 8th.

How many students attend MS 51 William Alexander?

MS 51 William Alexander has an enrollment of approximately 963 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at MS 51 William Alexander?

The student-teacher ratio at MS 51 William Alexander is 14.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does MS 51 William Alexander rank in NY?

MS 51 William Alexander is ranked #2815 out of 4,739 schools in NY.

What is MS 51 William Alexander's MySchoolScout rating?

MS 51 William Alexander has a composite rating of 6.0 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 MS 51 William Alexander?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, MS 51 William Alexander has 70.8% math proficiency and 89.6% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is MS 51 William Alexander a charter school?

No, MS 51 William Alexander is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is MS 51 William Alexander a Title I school?

No, MS 51 William Alexander is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for MS 51 William Alexander?

64.2% of students at MS 51 William Alexander qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
99 Walker's Paradise
Transit Score
100 Rider’s Paradise
Bike Score
91 Biker’s Paradise

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR. County-level only.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
6th – 8th
Enrollment
963
Student-Teacher Ratio
14.8:1
Teachers (FTE)
65
Free/Reduced Lunch
64.2%
Type
regular
Setting
Large City
County
Kings County
Data Year
2023–2024

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

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