BROOKLYN, N.Y. - Newly released statistics show attempts to diversify middle schools in one Brooklyn school district are apparently working, despite skeptics who warned it would lead to what some called "white flight".

The data, put out by the city Department of Education, shows the percentage of white students enrolled in District 15 middle schools was 31 percent as of October 31 — the exact same as the previous year. 

The district includes neighborhoods like Park Slope and Carroll Gardens, where school populations have historically been more white and wealthy, and Red Hook and Sunset Park, where many more students were non-white or from low-income homes.

The plan removed selective criteria for middle school admissions, instead using a lottery across the district and prioritizing admissions for students from low-income homes, in temporary housing, or learning English. 

The idea was to have all schools in the district serving a similar percentage of those students between 40 to 75 percent.

The data shows that plan is working: Eight of the 11 schools were in that target range this year, up from just three before the changes took effect.