At a Glance
A parish-rooted Catholic elementary school passing down faith and academics across generations of Brooklyn families
Best suited for
Catholic or Catholic-curious Brooklyn families — especially those already rooted in the Dyker Heights parish community — looking for an affordable, faith-centered elementary school with a real academic program and tight-knit school culture.
What stands out
- Three-generation family loyalty, with current parents who attended as children themselves
- Honors program pathway for middle schoolers signals academic seriousness beyond the elementary years
- CYO sports give kids a competitive athletics track within the parish ecosystem
- STEM and art studies round out the standard Catholic curriculum
- Tuition range ($4,950–$16,050) is meaningfully lower than most independent schools, with sliding scale built in
Things to consider
- The Catholic identity is central — families who aren't practicing or comfortable with daily faith formation should look elsewhere
- Tuition varies widely by grade and program ($4,950 up to $16,050), so ask exactly what your child's year costs before assuming the lower number
- 18.3:1 student-teacher ratio is average for a Catholic academy — smaller than public schools, but not intimate
- End is at fifth grade, so the middle school transition is a real decision point (honors program mentions middle school — clarify whether that means on-site or at a partner school)
- Subway commutes are 13+ minutes on foot, which matters in winter with small children
Identity
Founded as a parish school under the Brooklyn Diocese, St. Ephrem grounds its identity in Catholic tradition while keeping a clear eye on academic preparation for the next school. It's coeducational and serves the early elementary years (pre-K through fifth grade). The faith component isn't window dressing — it's the daily spine of the school.
Community
At 262 students, this is a modest-sized academy where most people know each other — the kind of school where a parent might bump into their child's teacher at Saturday Mass. The student body is predominantly White, with a sizable Hispanic minority and a smaller Asian population, and parent testimonials strongly suggest multigenerational parish families. Third-generation attendance is a point of pride here.
Neighborhood
Dyker Heights is a quiet, middle-class residential pocket of southwest Brooklyn known for its single-family homes and active parish life. Census figures put median household income around $76,739 with about a third of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher, and a poverty rate near 19%. It's a neighborhood built for strollers and Saturday errands more than night life.
Subway commuting is doable but not seamless: the 77 St (R) and Fort Hamilton Pkwy (N) are both about a 13-minute walk, and 8 Av (N) is roughly 14 minutes on foot.
Notable Programs
What Parents Are Saying
Parents describe the school as a warm, welcoming community with strong academics and spiritual foundation. Multiple testimonials praise wonderful teachers, seamless COVID-19 remote learning transition, and the principal's dedication. Parents note third-generation attendance and appreciate the combination of Catholic faith with quality education.
Synthesized from public parent reviews · Apr 2026
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Frequently Asked Questions
- Is ST EPHREM CATHOLIC ACADEMY a good school?
- Published quality ratings aren't available for ST EPHREM CATHOLIC ACADEMY yet on Motley. It's a private school serving grades Pre-K to 5 in Dyker Heights.
- What grades does ST EPHREM CATHOLIC ACADEMY serve?
- ST EPHREM CATHOLIC ACADEMY serves grades Pre-K to 5.
- How do students get into ST EPHREM CATHOLIC ACADEMY?
- ST EPHREM CATHOLIC ACADEMY runs its own private admissions process — typically an application, a visit, and sometimes testing.
- Is ST EPHREM CATHOLIC ACADEMY public, charter, or private?
- ST EPHREM CATHOLIC ACADEMY is a private school.
- What neighborhood is ST EPHREM CATHOLIC ACADEMY in?
- ST EPHREM CATHOLIC ACADEMY is in Dyker Heights, Brooklyn.