Brooklyn School District

Brooklyn School District in Connecticut is a small two-school district serving 842 students in grades PK–8, with Brooklyn Elementary School (PK–4) and Brooklyn Middle School (5–8) sharing the same campus. The district ranks in the 34th percentile statewide, but that aggregate number hides a sharp divide: the middle school is the clear standout, ranking in the 62nd percentile among Connecticut middle schools, while the elementary school ranks in the 40th percentile and is trending downward.

Brooklyn Middle School outperforms the state in English Language Arts at every grade level, with 7th grade a remarkable 13 points above the state average. Science is also a hidden strength, with both 5th and 8th grade scores roughly 10 points above state averages. Upper-grade math is strong too, though 6th-grade math is a major red flag: just 30.4% proficient, a 20-point drop from the prior year. The middle school also has excellent attendance, with only 6.4% chronic absenteeism versus 16.4% statewide. In contrast, Brooklyn Elementary School is struggling, particularly in ELA: 4th grade proficiency is 35.7%, more than 15 points below the state. The elementary school’s 4th-grade scores collapsed from the previous year, and its chronic absenteeism rate (11.7%) is nearly double the middle school’s. The elementary school also serves a higher-poverty population (43.5% free/reduced lunch) and spends about $2,600 less per student than the middle school.

The two schools are on opposite trajectories. The middle school improved from the 59th to 62nd percentile over three years, while the elementary school fell from the 54th to 40th percentile. Since the elementary school feeds directly into the middle school, the 4th-grade slide in both ELA and math could become the middle school’s problem in the coming years. For parents, the takeaway is clear: Brooklyn Middle School offers strong academics, especially in ELA and science, with excellent attendance and resources. Brooklyn Elementary School has more challenges, including higher absenteeism, lower spending, and declining test scores, but its math in 3rd grade remains a bright spot. The district’s overall rating is dragged down by the elementary school, and addressing the elementary slump and the 6th-grade math drop would lift the entire district.