At a Glance
A progressive Brooklyn Heights elementary where curiosity and the arts come first, and report cards never do.
Best suited for
A Brooklyn Heights family with a curious, artistically inclined child who learns best through exploration and would be slowed rather than helped by traditional grades and test prep.
What stands out
- No grades, rankings, or prizes through 5th grade — students receive narrative teacher reports and ongoing dialogue instead.
- Arts are described as nationally recognized and central to the curriculum rather than a separate specialty.
- Science curriculum and a Seminars program (elective after-school courses) extend learning into enrichment territory.
- Small elementary footprint of 202 students keeps the community intimate.
- Tucker Hill location on Pierrepont Street places the school in the architectural heart of brownstone Brooklyn Heights.
Things to consider
- Tuition of roughly $58,550–$66,400 is at the top of the Brooklyn independent school market.
- The 19.2:1 student-teacher ratio is higher than many progressive Brooklyn independents; classes are not tiny.
- Parent reviews are mixed: the no-grades philosophy and arts are widely loved, but some families have raised concerns about cultural climate at the broader school — worth asking current parents directly.
- This profile covers the elementary division only (PK–5); families needing a K-12 path should confirm continuation plans separately.
- The student body skews White and affluent, which may or may not match what your family is looking for.
Identity
Despite its name and listed Catholic affiliation, St. Ann's explicitly describes itself as a nonsectarian independent school, and the daily life of the school reflects that progressive orientation. It is coeducational and serves elementary-age children only (PK through 5th grade per the data). Education here is framed as a rich exploration and questioning of the world, with arts at the center and no grades, rankings, or prizes — only ongoing teacher dialogue and narrative reports.
Community
With 202 students, St. Ann's is an intentionally small elementary community. The student body is predominantly White (66%) with meaningful Hispanic (18%) and Asian (8%) representation and a small Black student share (3%); the diversity index of 0.64 reflects a moderately diverse but not majority-minority population. Families tend to be highly educated, arts-engaged Brooklyn parents who have actively chosen a no-grades philosophy.
Neighborhood
Brooklyn Heights is one of Brooklyn's most established and affluent neighborhoods — the census shows a median household income above $178,000, a bachelor's-degree rate over 85%, and a poverty rate under 5%, painting a picture of a stable, well-resourced residential community. The school sits just off a busy commercial corridor with brownstones, bookstores, and family-friendly streets within easy reach.
Transit is genuinely convenient: Court St (R) is about a 2-minute walk, Borough Hall (2, 3) about 3 minutes, and Borough Hall (4, 5) about 4 minutes, giving multiple Manhattan-bound options.
Notable Programs
What Parents Are Saying
Mixed reviews. Praised for excellent arts programs, language department, and unique no-grades policy that promotes love of learning. Criticisms include toxic school culture in middle/high school, concerns about racism and classism, and alcohol/drug use among students. Ratings of 3.7/5 and 4.12/5.
Synthesized from public parent reviews · Apr 2026
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Frequently Asked Questions
- Is ST ANN'S SCHOOL a good school?
- Published quality ratings aren't available for ST ANN'S SCHOOL yet on Motley. It's a private school serving grades Pre-K to 5 in Brooklyn Heights.
- What grades does ST ANN'S SCHOOL serve?
- ST ANN'S SCHOOL serves grades Pre-K to 5.
- How do students get into ST ANN'S SCHOOL?
- ST ANN'S SCHOOL runs its own private admissions process — typically an application, a visit, and sometimes testing.
- Is ST ANN'S SCHOOL public, charter, or private?
- ST ANN'S SCHOOL is a private school.
- What neighborhood is ST ANN'S SCHOOL in?
- ST ANN'S SCHOOL is in Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn.