- Enrollment
- 3,503
- Students per teacher
- 15.1:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Brooklyn, NY
Is 281 Joseph B Cavallaro
Federal NCES profile for Is 281 Joseph B Cavallaro, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 39/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 360015202792
👥 S:T ratio 46
📋 Attendance 32
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Is 281 Joseph B Cavallaro earns 39/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 76% of New York schools. It is also one of the largest schools in New York.
- #25 of 94
- middle schools in Brooklyn · Resource Index
- 39
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.5:1
- large classes for New York
- 80.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Is 281 Joseph B Cavallaro has class sizes larger than 76% of New York schools. Computed live against every New York school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Is 281 Joseph B Cavallaro ranks #25 of 94 middle schools in Brooklyn, NY.
School address
District: New York City Geographic District #21 · New York
NCES ID 360015202792 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+68 students YoY
Is 281 Joseph B Cavallaro grew from 1,164 students in 2022-23 to 1,232 in 2023-24 (+5.8%).
Teacher FTE added 89.9 → 93.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+68 students YoY 360015202792 · Brooklyn, NY Middle · MID · TRAD
1,198 enr · 13.5:1 · 80.7% lunch · RII 39
Nearest enrollment peer: Edward R Murrow High School (3,503 students)
Is 281 Joseph B Cavallaro grew from 1,164 students in 2022-23 to 1,232 in 2023-24 (+5.8%). Teacher FTE added 89.9 → 93.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · New York schools → · Find another →
Is 281 Joseph B Cavallaro in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Edward R Murro
Edward R Murrow High School
3,503 students
- Abraham Lincol
Abraham Lincoln High School
2,210 students
- John Dewey Hig
John Dewey High School
2,209 students
- Is 228 David a
Is 228 David a Boody
1,555 students
- Is 98 Bay Acad
Is 98 Bay Academy
1,435 students
- This school 1,198
Is 281 Joseph B Cavallaro
1,198 students
What this shows Is 281 Joseph B Cavallaro reports 1,198 students on the CCD universe file.
How Is 281 Joseph B Cavallaro compares
Is 281 Joseph B Cavallaro is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs New York and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs New York | New York avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.5:1 | ▲ 14% | 11.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 80.7% | ▲ 44% | 56.2% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,198 | top 5% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.5:1
Leaner classes than 62% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
1,198
Bigger than 94% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
80.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 44% above the New York average of 56.2%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
13.5:1
students per teacher
- 14% above state mean
Top 76% in New York - lower ratio than 24% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
27.3%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Student demographics
Asian 39.7%
Hispanic or Latino 27.6%
White 24.5%
African American 6.5%
Two or More 1.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.5%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: Asian at 39.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 70.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 70.2, Is 281 Joseph B Cavallaro is more mixed than the New York school average of 45.5.
How Is 281 Joseph B Cavallaro Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edward R Murrow High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Abraham Lincoln High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| John Dewey High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Is 228 David a Boody | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Is 98 Bay Academy | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Is 281 Joseph B Cavallaro's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,210
- Students per teacher
- 17.7:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
- Enrollment
- 2,209
- Students per teacher
- 14.1:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
- Enrollment
- 1,555
- Students per teacher
- 14:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 1,435
- Students per teacher
- 19.1:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
Nationwide middle schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~1,198 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~13.5:1)
Frequently asked questions about Is 281 Joseph B Cavallaro
How many students attend Is 281 Joseph B Cavallaro?
Is 281 Joseph B Cavallaro has 1,198 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Brooklyn, NY. CCD year-over-year: 1,164 (2022-23) → 1,232 (2023-24), up 68.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Is 281 Joseph B Cavallaro?
The student-teacher ratio at Is 281 Joseph B Cavallaro is 13.5:1, which is 14% higher than the New York average of 11.8:1 and 14% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Is 281 Joseph B Cavallaro?
80.7% of students at Is 281 Joseph B Cavallaro are eligible for free lunch, compared to the New York average of 56.2%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Is 281 Joseph B Cavallaro?
The largest demographic group at Is 281 Joseph B Cavallaro is Asian at 39.7% of enrollment, in Brooklyn, NY. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 70.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Is 281 Joseph B Cavallaro?
Is 281 Joseph B Cavallaro has a Resource Investment Index of 39/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 2 factors: student-teacher ratio, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology). Limited indicators were available, so the index reflects partial data.
How does Is 281 Joseph B Cavallaro rank among middle schools in Brooklyn?
By Resource Investment Index, Is 281 Joseph B Cavallaro ranks #25 of 94 middle schools in Brooklyn, NY. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Brooklyn on the city page.
What other schools are in New York City Geographic District #21?
Besides Is 281 Joseph B Cavallaro, New York City Geographic District #21 also operates Edward R Murrow High School (3,503 students), Abraham Lincoln High School (2,210 students), and John Dewey High School (2,209 students). See the New York City Geographic District #21 district page for the complete list.