At a Glance
A tiny, Reggio-inspired launchpad at the heart of Brooklyn Heights
Best suited for
Brooklyn Heights and nearby Brooklyn families seeking a progressive, intimate, inquiry-driven start to their child's education, who value small communities and hands-on learning, and are comfortable navigating premium tuition and rolling admissions without published aid details.
What stands out
- Enrollment of just 88 students across PK3 through fifth grade means every child is genuinely known
- Reggio-inspired signature spaces including a dedicated Atelier art studio and an Innovation Lab
- A rooftop play space — a rare amenity for a small urban elementary
- Specialty instruction in dance, music, studio art, science, library, and physical education starting in the earliest grades
- A student body that is unusually diverse for an affluent Brooklyn independent school
Things to consider
- Tuition of $44,700 sits at the higher end of Brooklyn private elementary pricing
- Rolling admissions can mean spots close unpredictably — early inquiry is wise
- Some parent reviewers mention a competitive undercurrent and limited grade transparency; ask current parents how progress is communicated
- The very small size is a feature for some families and a constraint for others — class cohorts are tight and the peer pool is limited
- Confirm financial aid availability directly with the admissions office, as it is not detailed in publicly available data
Identity
Packer Early is a small, progressive elementary program built on the belief that children are competent co-constructors of their own learning. The school pairs foundational social-emotional growth with hands-on inquiry, exploration, and creative making from the earliest years.
Community
Parents describe a warm, welcoming atmosphere where teachers are passionate and students come across as kind and open-minded. Some families flag a competitive undercurrent and questions around grade transparency that are worth probing directly during the admissions process.
Neighborhood
Brooklyn Heights is one of Brooklyn's most established family neighborhoods, anchored by brownstones, the Promenade, and a population that skews wealthy and highly educated — median household income near $178,600 and roughly 85% of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher. The school sits squarely in the heart of it, within easy reach of Borough Hall and the surrounding commercial strip.
Exceptionally walkable and well-served by transit. Court St (R) is roughly a two-minute walk, and Borough Hall (2/3 and 4/5) is about four minutes, putting most of Manhattan and a wide swath of Brooklyn within an easy commute.
Notable Programs
What Parents Are Saying
4.27/5 rating; parents describe teachers as passionate, community as warm and welcoming; students noted as kind and open-minded; some concerns about competitive culture and grade transparency
Synthesized from public parent reviews · Apr 2026
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Frequently Asked Questions
- Is PACKER COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE EARLY a good school?
- Published quality ratings aren't available for PACKER COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE EARLY yet on Motley. It's a private school serving grades Pre-K to 5 in Brooklyn Heights.
- What grades does PACKER COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE EARLY serve?
- PACKER COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE EARLY serves grades Pre-K to 5.
- How do students get into PACKER COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE EARLY?
- PACKER COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE EARLY runs its own private admissions process — typically an application, a visit, and sometimes testing.
- Is PACKER COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE EARLY public, charter, or private?
- PACKER COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE EARLY is a private school.
- What neighborhood is PACKER COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE EARLY in?
- PACKER COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE EARLY is in Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn.