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J.H.S. 220 John J. Pershing

Grades: 6-8
4812 9th Avenue
Brooklyn NY 11220
Phone: 718-633-8200

Our Insights

What’s Special

Collaboration with nearby Maimonides Medical Center

The Downside

The school struggles to raise its reading scores

Housed in a red brick building with tall white columns flanking its main entrance, JHS 220 John J. Pershing is located near Maimonides Medical Center in Sunset Park. The hospital provides enrichment and community service opportunities to students, introducing them to different science and medical careers. In the heart of a diverse community of immigrants from Latin America and China, more than one-third of the school’s 1,500-plus student population are English Language Learners. 

Test scores at JHS 220 have improved in recent years, but are still low compared to the city and other middle schools in District 20. One bright spot is the math scores of the English Language Learners, who outperform similar students in other schools, according to the School Quality Guide. More advanced students may take the Living Environment, Algebra and Spanish Regents exams for high school credit. 

The school does a good job creating an inclusive, positive learning environment for all types of learners and their parents, says the School Quality Review. The school provides several parent resources, including English as a New Language classes and access to the school-based health center. Principal Sheldon Dempster, who took the helm in 2017-18, got high marks on school surveys in his first year for creating a strong sense of community at the school; but other survey results reveal some concerns about bullying, discipline and student behavior. 

The school offers visual art and music to all students and is working on expanding their dance and drama offerings, according to the Arts in Schools Report. It also offers a “comprehensive architectural program” for all 7th graders in partnership with Maimonides Medical Center, in which students prepare floor plans and scale models, and ten finalist teams present their designs to a panel of professional architects in Manhattan. Another partnership with Broadway Juniors helps the students to participate in a school musical production each year, according to the school’s Comprehensive Educational Plan. 

Students may play outside during recess in a school yard built in 2005 by the Trust for Public Land. It includes a track that circles around a basketball court, a volleyball court, an outdoor classroom area and open space for community use.

Admissions: Neighborhood school with two additional programs open to students across District 20 and a small Spanish Dual Language open to all in Brooklyn. (Nicole Mader, web reports, March 2019)

 

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School Stats

Citywide Average Key
This school is Better Near Worse than the citywide average

Is this school safe and well-run?

From the 2020-21 NYC School Survey

How many students say they feel safe in the hallways, bathrooms and locker rooms?
78%
78% Citywide Average
How many students think bullying happens most or all of the time at this school?
50%
58% Citywide Average
How many teachers say the principal is an effective manager?
86%
84% Citywide Average

From the 2019-20 NY State Report Card

How many students were suspended?
1%
4% Citywide Average

From this school's most recent Quality Review Report

Are teachers effective?

From the 2021-22 School Quality Guide

How many teachers have 3 or more years of experience teaching?
89%
79% Citywide Average
Years of principal experience at this school
5.1

How do students perform academically?

From the New York State 2022-2023 Assessment Database

How many middle school students scored 3-4 on the state math exam?
76%
46% Citywide Average
How many middle school students scored 3-4 on the state reading exam?
60%
51% Citywide Average

From the 2021-22 School Quality Guide

How many 8th-graders earn high school credit?
37%
39% Citywide Average

Who does this school serve?

From the 2022-23 Demographic Snapshot

Enrollment
1231
Asian
58%
Black
0%
Hispanic
36%
White
5%
Other
0%
Free or reduced priced lunch
85%
Students with disabilities
19%
English language learners
27%

From the 2021-22 School Quality Guide

Average daily attendance
95%
90% Citywide Average
How many students miss 18 or more days of school?
15%
38% Citywide Average

From the 2020 School Directories

Uniforms required?
No
This school offers Transitional Bilingual Education in Chinese.

How does this school serve special populations?

From the New York State 2022-2023 Assessment Database

How many English language learners scored 3-4 on the state math exam?
56%
15% Citywide Average


For more information about our data sources, see About Our Data · More DOE statistics for this school

Contact & Location

Location

Borough Park (District 20)
Trains: D Line to Fort Hamilton Parkway
Buses: B11, B16, B35, B70

Contact

Principal
Sheldon Dempster
Parent Coordinator
Shana Musler

Other Details

Shared campus?
No
This school is in its own building.
Uniforms required?
No
Metal detectors?
No

Zone for the 2019-2020 school year. Call school to confirm.

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