At a Glance
A Brooklyn Friends school where a 3.9-to-1 student-teacher ratio and specialized reading instruction reveal the brilliance in students with language-based learning differences.
Best suited for
Families seeking a small, Quaker-rooted elementary for a child with a language-based learning disability — most commonly dyslexia or dysgraphia — who will thrive with intensive individualized reading and writing support and can manage $87,000 in annual tuition.
What stands out
- A 3.9-to-1 student-teacher ratio — extraordinarily low for any NYC school and the engine of the program.
- A mission specifically designed for students with language-based learning differences, supported by the Orton-Gillingham PAF, Wilson Reading System, and Judith Hochman's Teaching Basic Writing Skills curricula.
- A Quaker foundation (Friends school values) that shapes community expectations around honesty, equality, and social responsibility.
- An unusual set of electives for an elementary, including a Rock Band program, Spanish, and American Sign Language.
- Broad accreditation spanning Friends, secular, and independent-school bodies (FCE, ISAAGNY, GISNY, NAIS, NYSAIS, Parents League).
Things to consider
- Tuition for 2025-26 is $87,000 — at the very top of the NYC market, and only worthwhile if your child genuinely needs the specialized support.
- Self-reported demographics are 100% White with a diversity index of 0; families prioritizing racial or socioeconomic diversity should look carefully.
- The school is a specialized LD program in Friends-school clothing — it is not a general progressive elementary that also serves some learning-disabled students.
- Parent reviews are mixed: faculty is widely praised, but several families across review sites describe tension with the administration.
- The Boerum Hill location is subway-friendly but parking and morning drop-off in this dense area require planning.
Identity
Founded on Quaker values of equality, integrity, peace, and social responsibility, this coed combined elementary serves students through a student-centered, relationship-driven approach. Its specific mission is to reveal the brilliance in children with learning disabilities through specialized teaching methodologies. It operates within the long-standing American Friends school tradition while functioning, in practice, as a specialized language-based program.
Community
Self-reported demographics are 100% White with a diversity index at the floor of the scale — making this one of the least racially diverse private elementary programs in the city. The surrounding community is supported by relatively affluent Brooklyn families, many of whom are seeking out specialized reading instruction for their children rather than a broadly diverse school experience.
Neighborhood
The school sits in downtown-adjacent Brooklyn, where about 73% of adults hold a bachelor's degree and median household income is roughly $150,000. About 15.5% of area residents live below the poverty line — a reminder that even relatively affluent neighborhoods here include meaningful economic spread. The Boerum Hill area is dense and residential, with grocery stores, playgrounds, and brownstones within short walking distance.
Bergen St (F, G) is about a three-minute walk; Borough Hall (4, 5) is roughly eight minutes on foot, and Borough Hall (2, 3) about nine minutes.
Notable Programs
What Parents Are Saying
Mixed reviews with generally positive sentiment about dedicated faculty, small class sizes, and academic rigor; some concerns about administration; ratings range from 3.6-5.0 across review sites
Synthesized from public parent reviews · Apr 2026
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Frequently Asked Questions
- Is MARY MCDOWELL FRIENDS SCHOOL-ELEMENT a good school?
- Published quality ratings aren't available for MARY MCDOWELL FRIENDS SCHOOL-ELEMENT yet on Motley. It's a private school serving grades Pre-K to 5 in Downtown Brooklyn-DUMBO-Boerum Hill.
- What grades does MARY MCDOWELL FRIENDS SCHOOL-ELEMENT serve?
- MARY MCDOWELL FRIENDS SCHOOL-ELEMENT serves grades Pre-K to 5.
- How do students get into MARY MCDOWELL FRIENDS SCHOOL-ELEMENT?
- MARY MCDOWELL FRIENDS SCHOOL-ELEMENT runs its own private admissions process — typically an application, a visit, and sometimes testing.
- Is MARY MCDOWELL FRIENDS SCHOOL-ELEMENT public, charter, or private?
- MARY MCDOWELL FRIENDS SCHOOL-ELEMENT is a private school.
- What neighborhood is MARY MCDOWELL FRIENDS SCHOOL-ELEMENT in?
- MARY MCDOWELL FRIENDS SCHOOL-ELEMENT is in Downtown Brooklyn-DUMBO-Boerum Hill, Brooklyn.