At a Glance
A small, intentional Montessori community in Brooklyn Heights where the whole child leads the way
Best suited for
Families who genuinely embrace Montessori philosophy, want their child in a deeply individualized setting from toddlerhood through eighth grade, and are comfortable prioritizing child-led pacing and whole-child development over a more traditional academic structure.
What stands out
- A 4.3:1 student-teacher ratio — exceptionally low for any New York private school and central to the individualized Montessori experience.
- The Montessori Twos Program gives toddlers an unusually early entry point, with a continuous pathway through eighth grade.
- Triple accreditation through the American Montessori Society, NYSAIS, and NAIS, signaling external validation of program quality.
- A genuinely small enrollment of 152 students means every family is a known member of the community rather than a face in the crowd.
- Located in Brooklyn Heights, the school is part of the borough's long tradition of progressive independent education.
Things to consider
- Tuition of $52,100–$55,300 (2024-25) places BHMS among Brooklyn's pricier private elementary options.
- Some parent reviews flag concerns about preparation for traditional selective high schools — worth weighing if that's the destination.
- The school's small size means fewer peer groups, sports teams, and extracurricular breadth than larger Brooklyn independents.
- The Montessori method is a specific philosophy, not just a teaching style — families should observe a classroom before committing.
- December 1 application deadline means the family planning timeline starts earlier than many public or charter school timelines.
Identity
Brooklyn Heights Montessori is a nonsectarian, coeducational day school serving children from toddler age through eighth grade in a Montessori setting. The program emphasizes independent thinking, self-direction, and the development of the whole child — physical, social, emotional, and cognitive — rather than a traditional subject-by-subject curriculum. The school holds accreditation from the American Montessori Society, NYSAIS, and NAIS.
Community
With about 152 students across all grades, BHMS is a small community where most families know each other. The student body is predominantly White (about 71%) with notable Multiracial representation (about 16%) and smaller shares of Asian, Black, and Hispanic students. The families who land here tend to be committed to the Montessori approach and a progressive educational philosophy.
Neighborhood
The school sits in a well-resourced part of Brooklyn where median household income is over $150,000 and roughly 73% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The surrounding area also shows a 15.5% poverty rate, reflecting the broader economic mix of Downtown Brooklyn and its neighbors. It's a neighborhood shaped by both established Brooklyn families and a wave of newer arrivals drawn to the area's walkability and subway access.
The Bergen St F and G trains are about a four-minute walk, and Borough Hall (4/5 and 2/3) is roughly seven to eight minutes on foot — making commutes from across Brooklyn or lower Manhattan straightforward.
Notable Programs
What Parents Are Saying
Mixed reviews: Parents praise the intimate community, individualized attention, Montessori approach, and happy children. Some concerns about academic rigor and preparation for traditional high schools. Rating 4.38/5 with 58 reviews.
Synthesized from public parent reviews · Apr 2026
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Frequently Asked Questions
- Is BROOKLYN HTS MONTESSORI SCHOOL a good school?
- Published quality ratings aren't available for BROOKLYN HTS MONTESSORI SCHOOL yet on Motley. It's a private school serving grades Pre-K to 5 in Downtown Brooklyn-DUMBO-Boerum Hill.
- What grades does BROOKLYN HTS MONTESSORI SCHOOL serve?
- BROOKLYN HTS MONTESSORI SCHOOL serves grades Pre-K to 5.
- How do students get into BROOKLYN HTS MONTESSORI SCHOOL?
- BROOKLYN HTS MONTESSORI SCHOOL runs its own private admissions process — typically an application, a visit, and sometimes testing.
- Is BROOKLYN HTS MONTESSORI SCHOOL public, charter, or private?
- BROOKLYN HTS MONTESSORI SCHOOL is a private school.
- What neighborhood is BROOKLYN HTS MONTESSORI SCHOOL in?
- BROOKLYN HTS MONTESSORI SCHOOL is in Downtown Brooklyn-DUMBO-Boerum Hill, Brooklyn.