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ST PATRICK CATHOLIC ACADEMY

401 97 STREET

At a Glance

A parish-rooted Catholic school in Bay Ridge where faith formation and academics share the same classroom from pre-K through fifth grade.

Best suited for

Bay Ridge or nearby Brooklyn Catholic families seeking an affordable, faith-centered elementary education who value parish community over progressive pedagogy.

What stands out

  • Tuition ranges from $3,500 to $7,500 — notably accessible for a private, accredited Catholic academy in Brooklyn.
  • Faith formation is integrated into the school day under NCEA and Brooklyn Diocese accreditation.
  • A real spread of enrichment for an elementary school: a STEM Lab Learner program, choir and orchestra, a Drama Club, and even a Junior National Honor Society.
  • Rolling admissions mean families don't have to hit a single make-or-break application deadline.
  • Early elementary span (PK through fifth) lets families stay in one community from preschool through the elementary transition.

Things to consider

  • The 22.9:1 student-teacher ratio is high for a private school — class sizes will feel closer to public school than to a typical independent or progressive academy.
  • Parent reviews are mixed: many praise the warm community and dedicated staff, while others flag concerns about strictness and academic rigor.
  • The student body is fairly homogeneous, which may or may not align with what you're looking for.
  • Catholic identity and formation are central — this isn't a secular school with religion as an option.

Identity

Religious

Founded in the Catholic tradition and accredited through the National Catholic Educational Association and the Diocese of Brooklyn, St. Patrick is a coeducational parish academy serving the early elementary years. Its philosophy centers on forming the whole child — intellectually and spiritually — through example, service, and a supportive classroom environment. Religious identity is woven into the school day rather than offered as an add-on.

Community

Homogeneous

The student body is overwhelmingly white (about 79%), with Hispanic and multiracial students making up most of the remainder and very small Asian and Black populations. This reflects the broader demographic makeup of Bay Ridge and the surrounding parish community. Families who enroll tend to be drawn by the Catholic identity and parish connection rather than by demographic diversity.

Neighborhood

Bay Ridge

Bay Ridge is a middle-income, family-oriented Brooklyn neighborhood where half of adult residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher and the median household income sits near $89,000. The area has a strong parish and parochial school tradition, which gives Catholic academies like St. Patrick a natural feeder population. It's the kind of place where families often walk to Sunday Mass and to school.

The Bay Ridge-95 St R stop is about a three-minute walk from the school, and 86 St on the R is roughly twelve minutes on foot — both reasonable commutes for families coming along the R line.

Notable Programs

Lab Learner STEM programMusic program with choir and orchestraDrama ClubDominican Scholars ProgramJunior National Honor Society

What Parents Are Saying

Mixed reviews - parents praise dedicated staff, warm and welcoming environment, and quality education; some concerns about strictness and academic rigor; ratings of 3/5 and 3.6/5

Synthesized from public parent reviews · Apr 2026

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is ST PATRICK CATHOLIC ACADEMY a good school?
Published quality ratings aren't available for ST PATRICK CATHOLIC ACADEMY yet on Motley. It's a private school serving grades Pre-K to 5 in Bay Ridge.
What grades does ST PATRICK CATHOLIC ACADEMY serve?
ST PATRICK CATHOLIC ACADEMY serves grades Pre-K to 5.
How do students get into ST PATRICK CATHOLIC ACADEMY?
ST PATRICK CATHOLIC ACADEMY runs its own private admissions process — typically an application, a visit, and sometimes testing.
Is ST PATRICK CATHOLIC ACADEMY public, charter, or private?
ST PATRICK CATHOLIC ACADEMY is a private school.
What neighborhood is ST PATRICK CATHOLIC ACADEMY in?
ST PATRICK CATHOLIC ACADEMY is in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn.