MS 839

321 Students

Middle School 6th - 8th

School Overview

MS 839, located at 713 Caton Avenue in the Kensington neighborhood of Brooklyn, is a public middle school that emphasizes a project-based learning approach. The school is known for fostering a collaborative, student-centered environment where students engage in hands-on, interdisciplinary work designed to connect academic concepts to real-world issues. By prioritizing critical thinking and inquiry-based instruction, MS 839 aims to move beyond traditional rote memorization, encouraging students to take an active role in their own education.

In addition to its academic curriculum, MS 839 is recognized for its commitment to social-emotional learning and inclusivity. The school environment is structured to support a diverse student body, focusing on building a strong community culture where students feel supported and encouraged to advocate for themselves. With a focus on restorative practices and a curriculum that integrates arts, technology, and humanities, the school strives to prepare its students for the academic and social challenges of high school and beyond.

321

Total Students

30.8

Full-Time Teachers

10.4

Student/Teacher Ratio

43.9%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for MS 839
Demographic	Student Count
White	142
Hispanic	79
Black	25
Asian	45
Two or More	25
American Indian	4
Pacific Islander	1

White
142 (44.2 %)
Hispanic
79 (24.6 %)
Asian
45 (14.0 %)
Black
25 (7.8 %)
Two or More
25 (7.8 %)
American Indian
4 (1.2 %)
Pacific Islander
1 (0.3 %)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Middle School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT #15
Phone:	(718)686-2730
Grade Range:	6th - 8th
Total Students:	321
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	30.8
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	10.4
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	135
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	6

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Grade 6 99

Grade 7 112

Grade 8 109

Ungraded 1