Compass Charter School

300 Adelphi Street

School District

COMPASS CHARTER SCHOOL
Grade

PK, K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:11
Type

charter

GreatSchools Rating

The school rating calculation is based on four ratings: the Student Progress Rating or Academic Progress Rating, College Readiness Rating, Equity Rating, and Test Score Rating each designed to show different facets of school success. Learn more about GreatSchools Ratings

Reviews

Submitted by parent on February 07, 2024

We started at a different charter in Brooklyn and switched to Compass mid-year. I am SO HAPPY to be part of this community. The balance of learning, academics, play, community and social issues is just incredible. My children are THRIVING! My son was previously in special reading groups as he needed more help and after a few weeks at Compass everything just "clicked" for him and he is back on track! They are learning about important social (anti-bias) issues and also getting music and sustainability education. It truly feels like a community.
Submitted by parent on January 03, 2022

I could not recommend Compass any more highly! Our daughter started halfway through kindergarten and will graduate this Spring and our son is in second grade. We have been so, so happy with the school. The academics are great - we love the inquiry-based and student-led curriculum. Both kids love school and love learning. My daughter especially went from floundering at her DOE school (where she had weekly spelling tests and mountains of homework every night - in kindergarten!) to flourishing at Compass. One thing that has really stood out is how they handle social and interpersonal interactions. We were invited to a meet and greet for a babysitting coop with kids who all happened to go to other local schools. The boys all ganged up on the two girls, ruined their project, and excluded them when they wanted to play. I asked my daughter afterward how she felt about what happened and she said it was tough. I asked her how the teachers would handle that situation at Compass and she responded, shocked, "That would never happen at Compass!" I remember those years as being rough as kids can be mean, but I think Compass is doing a really good job of fostering a culture of inclusion and respect among the students and dealing with issues that arise. I also can't say enough about how well they handled the pandemic. They made sure that every student would get what they need, whether a laptop, food or clothing assistance, help with internet access, a setting up free access to pods / tutors for those who need them and can't afford to pay. My daughter's teacher even organized a private book club with just her and my daughter to encourage her to read chapter books. (It worked! She's devouring them now!). Compass is truly a gem of a school. Hopefully they will be able to open a middle school soon. Even still, I would not have chosen another school just to have a seamless K-8 experience. Compass has been providing great support with the MS application process. There are lots of great options including DOE and charter schools. Meanwhile, my kids have been so cared for, so nourished, and so supported. I am so grateful for Compass!!
Submitted by parent on December 07, 2021

As a black mother, both of my black daughters have found joy & self-confidence in an inclusive community that is always seeking to learn, improve, and rethink what it means to be black in America and at Compass. One of my favorite memories was during Black Lives Matter week, the students arrived to see self photographs of every teacher, student, administrator, & staff member who identify as black hanging throughout the halls to honor and acknowledge that their life mattered. What may be considered to some as a simple gesture, to my family was a bold statement that Compass is here to do the real work and create an inclusive school community where all children feel seen & heard! With that said, it goes without saying that Compass is also an exceptional academic environment. During the last 4 years at Compass, my daughters have both flourished as self-guided learners. I attribute their joy for learning to their teachers who have all deposited something unique and special in each of them. I have personally witnessed Compass teachers recognize and reward the talents and passions of each student. I have seen how teachers do not simply lecture and expect their students to memorize information, instead they engage their students in active, hands-on learning. For a whole child PreK-5 learning environment, I highly recommend Compass Charter School!
Submitted by parent on December 02, 2021

Incredibly progressive and inclusive leadership and community; folx are really invested in learning from each other and doing better. Both of my children are there, and are happy and finding joy in learning. The system of looping (having a the same class and teachers for 2 years) has been wonderful, especially during pandemic remote schooling. Operationally it's good enough but not amazing, like there are some inefficiencies and weird communications, but I'm glad to overlook and deal with those because of the outstanding learning (academic and social-emotional), curriculum, and community. I also think that some of these inefficiencies may have to do with it being a relatively young school, and imagine that it will get better over time (as it has over the past 3 years that we've been there).
Submitted by parent on November 22, 2021

My daughter started Kindergarten at Compass in the Fall of 2019. We were happy to get in as it was in top of our list after almost a full year of going on endless school tours. Still I was nervous on whether or not it was the right decision. Almost immediately those feelings vanished because her classroom teachers were amazing, I watched them welcome the children, making them individually feel at home, and even worked with families of kids who needed more support with transitions. My daughter was excited to come home and tell me what she had learned, and the special things she got to do in class.We chose a progressive school because we wanted something different than what we grew up with and it's been happy to see not just my daughter but now my son flourish in classrooms where they feel seen, and have someone always willing to support them when they have a hard time. We love that they get so much time to explore outdoors in the early grades with longer recess and forest school.One of the selling point that swayed us towards Compass was the fact that the classrooms looped, and kids would have the same teacher for 2 years. At that time of course none of us knew there was a looming pandemic, but let me tell you not having to deal with adjusting to brand new class and teachers on top of the madness, really helped. The community of parents is awesome, and really steps up when needed. I love the emphasis on equity, sustainability and social justice and how the school, even prior to it being a trending topic, was dedicated in having that be part of the curriculum.No school is perfect, but this still being a new-ish shcool has provided our children an amazing experience the last 3 years and we feel confident that it will continue to do so.
Submitted by parent on November 19, 2021

We feel really lucky to be at this school. The teachers are amazingly committed and amazing at what they do. Leadership is consistently smart and thoughtful. All children should have access to a school like this. I have one graduate and two more remaining at the school. All are very different children, and they have all had great experiences.
Submitted by parent on November 18, 2021

We came to Compass because of its warm supportive environment. The teachers are experienced and invested in creating environments that help children explore, ask questions and gain confidence in their abilities to solve problems and help others. The teachers are really invested in the students.As a parent who has had a child graduate and move on to middle school with ease I feel confident in the education, and am happy my 2nd child is here.
Submitted by parent on November 18, 2021

I have one Compass graduate and one son in 2nd grade.Let it be said, if you are looking at Compass, it is because you are comfortable with a progressive approach to education. If you are looking for homework, rigor, test-focused education, you will likely be uncomfortable with Compass. People sign up for a "progressive education" and then react when they compare to peers, in more traditional learning environments in the district.I do wish, that coming out of the pandemic, we can focus more on functional basics as opposed to a social agenda. Some of the social justice work can be lost or over the heads of the younger students who need to catch up on reading and writing.That being said, Compass hires well. They have great teachers and support staff. My public school experiences have not yet met the caliber or dedication of the Compass staff. My kids both love learning and have eagerly attended school each day.Happy kids who like to learn, to me indicates a wonderful learning environment---- Even though, at times, I had questions about the process. I personally do not feel children, both with slight learning disabilities would have received the same attention in another environment. They were cared for by the staff and give the support I am not sure I would get elsewhere.My now 6th grader was more than prepared to start a public MS and is eager to take tests and do homework. The children she graduated with are all hard-working, kind children and I do believe a love of learning was fostered in all of them.
Submitted by parent on November 17, 2021

We could not be more grateful for the chance of being part of such a unique institution. Our daughter received a late offer to join the kindergarten class after having already started at another public school. That was one of those with the highest reputation in Brooklyn, so it's even hard for me to imagine what may take place in other across our district. No matter how many stickers they were awarding her with after any given assignment, our child was not happy; she was not engaged; she was not inspired. So, it felt like winning the lottery to receive an offer from Compass. Our child now calls the PS she was attending before, "the school where they make you seat at the desk all day." She can't wait every morning to go to school. At Compass Charter they take the kids to the park every Monday, for forest school. They have sustainability class, art and music. Their curriculum, progressive education, focus on social and environmental justice, and on emotional development feel like one of the best expression of NYC, definitely more alike public education in Europe than of elsewhere in the US. The leaders and the teachers at Compass Charter are people who spent a long time thinking about how to reform public education in America and are deeply committed to the idea of education as the best way, the only way really, to set the seeds for a different and more just society for the future.
Submitted by parent on November 17, 2021

Our family has been part of the Compass community for 4 years, and now has two children enrolled in K and 3rd grade. We have found Compass to be an extremely welcoming community - who is extremely intentional about inclusion and making sure every student gets what they need. One of our children has a disability, and we have found that by and large - the teachers and administration at Compass are eager to hear concerns, and provide support to help every child thrive on an educational and social/emotional level. During a pandemic, especially - it is important to feel supported by the community of the school - to have your concerns taken seriously by staff and educators. Though no school is 100% perfect 100% of the time - Compass has heart. Listening to parents whose kids attend other schools - while every school has a different feeling and may not be right for every single kid (for example, if your child likes hours of homework, this is not the place for them :) - but we feel so happy that Compass has created a nurturing environment - which is inclusive of children with a variety of needs, from the kid who is reading 2 levels above grade level - to the child who is struggling to learn to read. I love the weekly community meeting ( a chance for parents and all students to zoom, sing songs together and build community) the school's focus on social justice and the environment. My kids love going to school this year, and I'm so grateful for all the ways compass supports our family .
Submitted by other on November 02, 2021

Updated Student Enrollment Data from Compass Charter School:2021-2022 DataTotal Students: 339Black: 91 (26.84%)White: 165 (48.67%) Asian: 28 (8.26%)Native American: 5 (1.47%)Pacific Islander: 2 (.59%)Mixed Race: 47 (13.86%)Males: 169 (49.56%)Females: 170 (50.24%)Economically Disadvantaged: 107 (31.56%)Students with Disabilities: 63 (18.58%) English Language Learners: 12 (3.54%)2020-2021 DataTotal Students: 354Black: 100 (28.25%)White: 178 (50.28%)Asian: 30 (8.47%)Native American: 5 (1.41%)Pacific Islander: 2 (.56%)Mixed Race: 39 (11.03)Males: 180 (50.85%)Females: 174 (49.15%)Economically Disadvantaged: 113 (31.92%)Students with Disabilities: 64 (18.08%)English Language Learners: 9 (2.54%)
Submitted by parent on May 17, 2020

We love Compass and have felt lucky to be part of the school community.
Submitted by parent on February 05, 2020

It was bad. We had to leave as we felt our child in the older grade was not safe. We are now in a much better environment and our kids are thriving and so much happier.
Submitted by parent on May 03, 2019

Excellent. I would highly recommend entering the lottery.
Submitted by parent on March 26, 2019

Thus far, we've had a very positive experience at Compass. We are simply blown away by the teachers in our child's classroom. We feel incredibly lucky to have landed at this school by some magic of the lottery. There has not been a single day in the year during which our child has voiced reluctance to go to school. (This was not so elsewhere in Pre-K.) He comes home every afternoon excitedly spilling over with stories about what they're doing and the desire to pass along what he has learned. It is a complete District 13 gem.
Submitted by parent on January 30, 2019

Our experience at Compass has been extremely positive. I feel like we won the lottery with the school. My son has grown so much, both academically and socially. Whereas he used to hate going to school at his previous school, his teachers have tapped into his natural curiosity and drawn him out. My son finds joy in learning and loves his classroom. I also greatly value the school's commitment to diversity and social justice. The teachers are deeply committed to the students, and go above and beyond to get to know each one of them. If I could chose any school in the world for my son, I would chose Compass.
Submitted by parent on October 13, 2018

The school's aim is for children to love learning and engage deeply with their work, rather than to push children to learn as much as possible as quickly as possible. This is worked well for my children in some ways: they love reading and math, and think of themselves as good at it. At times, I have wished for them to be pushed a little harder, and they sometimes complain to me that school is boring and not challenging enough.But on the whole they really enjoy going to school, enjoy their classmates and their teachers. Compare this to my older daughter's friend who goes to a nearby PS public school, which is well-respected but more traditional, who is very good at reading but says she hates reading.In a broader context, I actually think the support and attention that students and parents receive at Compass is remarkable. I consistently feel that staff members have been paying close attention to my daughters and know them and their learning progress very well. When I have seen discipline issues being handled, they have been handled appropriately, attentively, and with nuance, even when students have been very distressed. This is a school that will work with each student and each family, and treat them as allies. Numerous times, I've seen teachers interact with frustrated students with extended, patient, thoughtful attention, and I have wished that all schools could provide students that sort of individualized attention.The Family-School Collaborative, Compass's version of a PTA, is very active and supportive.Students go on many field trips and engage in lots of hands-on learning, and take great advantage of New York's incredible museums and other resources.
Submitted by parent on October 01, 2018

Overall, its not an ideal school for our child, who had been consistently bullied for the last 4 years. If we had another option and another school, we would remove our child asap. Think long and hard before you send your child here. There is a complete disregard for discipline and not enought attention devoted to the learning process.
Submitted by parent on September 30, 2018

We love it and feel incredibly fortunate to be a part of the community.
Submitted by other on June 26, 2018

Avoid this school like the plague. It is a toxic environment for children.