At a Glance
A Tiny Community School in the Heart of Flatbush
Families in the Flatbush neighborhood seeking a small, intimate school community where their children will be known as individuals. This school works well for parents who prioritize a tight-knit, neighborhood-based feel over extensive programming, and who are comfortable with a less diverse student body. The small scale is ideal for families who believe their child will thrive with significant teacher attention rather than the resources of a larger institution.
- Extremely small scale — only 76 students in grades PK-5
- Low student-teacher ratio of 12.7:1 enables significant individual attention
- Located in a historic 1928 building on Bedford Avenue
- Strong neighborhood identity tied to the Cortelyou Road commercial district
- Good transit access via the Q train
- Very low diversity — the student body is 94.7% Black with minimal representation from other groups
- Small size means limited extracurricular offerings and resources compared to larger schools
- Low neighborhood safety score requires families to assess their own comfort with the area
- Tuition costs for private school in this area will be a significant factor for most families
- May not be the right fit for families seeking a more diverse student body or broader programming
This is a nonsectarian private school with a tight-knit community feel. The small scale is the defining feature — you're not going to find extensive athletic facilities, multiple enrichment programs, or a wide array of extracurriculars here. What you get is a neighborhood school that feels like an extended family.
The student body is overwhelmingly Black (94.7%), with minimal racial diversity in the student population. This reflects the demographics of the surrounding Flatbush neighborhood. The school serves a specific community — families who value a small, neighborhood-based setting over a larger institutional feel.
Flatbush is a dense, predominantly Caribbean and African-American neighborhood in central Brooklyn. The Cortelyou Road area around the school has a commercial strip with shops and restaurants, good subway access (the Q train stops at Cortelyou Road), and a strong local community feel. It's a neighborhood where people know their neighbors.
The school is highly walkable given the urban density and good transit connections. Families in the immediate Flatbush area can easily walk or take short bus rides. However, the low safety score (5/100) in the broader neighborhood is a real consideration for families assessing commute options.
Notable Programs
What Parents Are Saying
Parents describe the school as one of the best in Brooklyn with caring and attentive staff; children thrive in curriculum-rich environment; strong academics with high test scores; teachers very informative and involved in child development; faith-based morals and values emphasized; highly recommended
Synthesized from public parent reviews · Apr 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is CORTELYOU EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER a good school?
- Published quality ratings aren't available for CORTELYOU EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER yet on Motley. It's a private school serving grades Pre-K to 5 in Flatbush.
- What grades does CORTELYOU EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER serve?
- CORTELYOU EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER serves grades Pre-K to 5.
- How do students get into CORTELYOU EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER?
- CORTELYOU EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER runs its own private admissions process — typically an application, a visit, and sometimes testing.
- Is CORTELYOU EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER public, charter, or private?
- CORTELYOU EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER is a private school.
- What neighborhood is CORTELYOU EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER in?
- CORTELYOU EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER is in Flatbush, Brooklyn.
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