SMITH STREET ARTS ET LETTRES

Families who want their young child immersed in French within a nurturing, progressive elementary environment — and who are prepared to navigate a middle-school transition at the end of fifth grade.

• Full French immersion in preschool tapering to roughly 75% French by upper elementary — meaningful bilingualism by fifth grade.
• Hybrid progressive philosophy drawing from Montessori, Reggio Emilia, and Developmental-Interaction approaches rather than committing to a single label.
• Dedicated art studio with a named teacher (Marina) that parents consistently single out as a highlight.
• Full-time science teacher — unusual for an elementary program of this size.
• December 15 priority deadline with rolling admissions afterward, giving families a small window of flexibility.

• Tuition in the high $20Ks to low $30Ks places this in the upper range for Brooklyn elementary privates, though consistent with the neighborhood's demographics.
• School ends at fifth grade, so families will need to navigate middle-school admissions separately.
• The French-first model is a strong fit for families who want bilingualism, but may feel intense for children with no prior French exposure — worth asking how newcomers are supported.
• Small progressive programs like this can vary year-to-year as faculty turn over; visiting in person and speaking with current parents matters more than usual.
• The school does not publish demographic data, so families prioritizing a specific kind of diversity will want to ask directly.