At a glance
Reported students
1,198
NCES CCD 2024–25
Teachers (FTE)
91.79
NCES CCD 2024–25
Student–teacher ratio
13.1:1
Calculated; not a class-size measure
Grades served
06–08
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
School benchmarks
New York middle enrollment
95th percentile
Compared with 789 same-level schools reporting enrollment.
District median enrollment
694
IS 281 Joseph B Cavallaro: 1,198 reported students.
State peer staffing position
91st percentile
13.1:1 reported; state peer median 10.2:1. Ratio is not class size.
What the reported data says about IS 281 Joseph B Cavallaro
IS 281 Joseph B Cavallaro is a public middle school serving grades 06–08 in Brooklyn. It is one of 41 current school records connected to New York City Geographic District #21. NCES reports 1,198 students for 2024–25.
Among 789 middle schools in New York with comparable records, this school is larger than the reported median of 447 students. Its enrollment is at approximately the 95th percentile for that peer group. Size describes the campus, not instructional quality.
The reported student–teacher ratio is 13.1:1, above the New York median of 10.2:1 for the same school level. This ratio uses total enrollment and teacher FTE; it is not an average classroom headcount and can be affected by special programs or part-time staffing.
The largest reported race and ethnicity groups are Asian (39.7%) and Hispanic or Latino (27.6%). These figures help families understand who the school serves; they are not rating inputs.
Questions worth asking IS 281 Joseph B Cavallaro
- 1How do the reported 13.1:1 student–teacher ratio and 91.79 teacher FTE translate into actual class sizes by grade?
- 2Which advanced, gifted, career, arts, and computer-science courses are available this year, and how do students qualify?
- 3How many counselors, nurses, psychologists, and social workers currently serve students?
- 4Does community eligibility provide breakfast and lunch to every enrolled student, and are summer meals available?
Enrollment needs
- Free/reduced-price lunch
- 85%
- Lunch program
- Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White24.5%
- Hispanic27.6%
- Black6.5%
- Asian39.7%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.5%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.2%
- Multiracial1%
Race/ethnicity: NCES CCD 2024–25. English learner and disability context: CRDC 2021–22. Lunch eligibility: NCES CCD 2024–25. Privacy rules can produce missing values.
Other schools in New York City Geographic District #21
Start with campuses at the same school level or with similar reported enrollment.
Mark Twain IS 239 for the Gifted and Talented
Middle · Grades 06–08
1,295 reported students
IS 98 Bay Academy
Middle · Grades 06–08
1,435 reported students
IS 96 Seth Low
Middle · Grades 06–08
851 reported students
IS 228 David a Boody
Middle · Grades 06–08
1,555 reported students
IS 303 Herbert S Eisenberg
Middle · Grades 06–08
416 reported students
Middle School of Innovation
Middle · Grades 06–06
Enrollment not reported
Public schools near IS 281 Joseph B Cavallaro
Closest campuses by straight-line distance between NCES geocodes, favoring the same school level. Distance is not drive time or an attendance assignment.
| School | Grades | Students | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| IS 228 David a Boody Middle · New York City Geographic District #21 | 06–08 | 1,555 | 1 mi |
| IS 96 Seth Low Middle · New York City Geographic District #21 | 06–08 | 851 | 1 mi |
| Mark Twain IS 239 for the Gifted and Talented Middle · New York City Geographic District #21 | 06–08 | 1,295 | 1.1 mi |
| IS 303 Herbert S Eisenberg Middle · New York City Geographic District #21 | 06–08 | 416 | 1.4 mi |
| JHS 227 Edward B Shallow Middle · New York City Geographic District #20 | 06–08 | 1,327 | 1.9 mi |
| Madeleine Brennan School (The) Middle · New York City Geographic District #20 | 06–08 | 1,518 | 1.9 mi |
Frequently asked questions about IS 281 Joseph B Cavallaro
What grades does IS 281 Joseph B Cavallaro serve?
IS 281 Joseph B Cavallaro reports grades 06–08 in the NCES 2025–26 preliminary directory. It is classified as a middle school in New York City Geographic District #21.
How many students attend IS 281 Joseph B Cavallaro?
IS 281 Joseph B Cavallaro reported 1,198 students in the NCES 2024–25 membership file. That places it near the 95th percentile among 789 New York middle schools reporting enrollment.
What is the student–teacher ratio at IS 281 Joseph B Cavallaro?
The calculated ratio is 13.1:1, based on 1,198 students and 91.79 full-time-equivalent classroom teachers in 2024–25. The New York median for the same school level is 10.2:1. A ratio is not the same as average class size.
Is IS 281 Joseph B Cavallaro a public, charter, or magnet school?
IS 281 Joseph B Cavallaro is a public school and is not a charter school. Enrollment is generally based on New York City Geographic District #21 attendance boundaries and transfer rules.
What share of IS 281 Joseph B Cavallaro students qualify for free or reduced-price meals?
85% of students were eligible for free or reduced-price lunch in 2024–25. The school participates in community eligibility, which can provide meals to every student and changes how eligibility is reported. This describes the students served and is not a quality measure.
Which school district is IS 281 Joseph B Cavallaro in?
IS 281 Joseph B Cavallaro is part of New York City Geographic District #21, based in Brooklyn, NY, which operates 41 current schools. Confirm attendance zones and enrollment rules with the district.
What public schools are near IS 281 Joseph B Cavallaro?
The closest public schools by straight-line distance include IS 228 David a Boody (1 mi), IS 96 Seth Low (1 mi), Mark Twain IS 239 for the Gifted and Talented (1.1 mi). Distance does not determine eligibility; attendance boundaries and program rules do.