At a Glance
A tiny, affordable PK-5 school in East New York that leans into character and a close-knit feel.
Best suited for
Families from the local East New York community (or nearby Brooklyn neighborhoods) who want an affordable, intimate elementary with a values-driven environment and are comfortable with the school's demographic makeup.
What stands out
- Flat $5,000 tuition — among the lowest private elementary tuitions anywhere in NYC.
- With just 109 students and a 10.9:1 ratio, classes are genuinely small and teachers can know each child well.
- Three subway lines (L, J/Z, C) all within a 5-minute walk, making commute flexible from across Brooklyn or Manhattan.
- Robotics and science fairs are offered at a price point where such programs are uncommon.
- Music and arts programming is built in, rounding out the academic core.
Things to consider
- Parent reviews are mixed — some families praise the teaching and warmth, others raise concerns about professionalism and curriculum depth. Visit and ask current parents directly.
- The student body is about 90% Black and 6% Hispanic, so families seeking a racially diverse setting may want to weigh that carefully.
- The school's "faith and character" language sits alongside a nonsectarian label — ask how that plays out day-to-day if it's a factor for your family.
- At 109 students across seven grades, the school simply can't offer the breadth of clubs, sports, or electives that larger privates do.
Identity
Trey Whitfield is a nonsectarian, coeducational elementary school spanning Pre-K through fifth grade. The school's own language emphasizes a "secure, nurturing, and respectful environment" and the development of "faith and character," even though it is not religiously affiliated in the formal sense. Operationally it reads as a small, values-driven traditional school.
Community
Enrollment is small and overwhelmingly Black (about 90%), with a small Hispanic share and very few students from other backgrounds. Families enrolling here should expect a community that is culturally cohesive but not demographically diverse. On the 0-to-1 diversity index the school sits at roughly 0.36, well below citywide averages.
Neighborhood
The school sits in East New York (North), a working-class Brooklyn neighborhood where the median household income is around $57,800 and roughly a quarter of residents live below the poverty line. About 15.7% of neighborhood adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, reflecting a community where many families are building educational opportunity step by step. Schools like Trey Whitfield often serve as local anchors in neighborhoods like this one.
Transit is a real strength: Atlantic Av (L) is about a 3-minute walk, Alabama Av (J, Z) about 4 minutes, and Liberty Av (C) about 5 minutes away.
Notable Programs
What Parents Are Saying
Mixed reviews - some parents praise effective teaching and nurturing environment, while others criticize professionalism and curriculum quality
Synthesized from public parent reviews · Apr 2026
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Frequently Asked Questions
- Is TREY WHITFIELD SCHOOL a good school?
- Published quality ratings aren't available for TREY WHITFIELD SCHOOL yet on Motley. It's a private school serving grades Pre-K to 5 in East New York (North).
- What grades does TREY WHITFIELD SCHOOL serve?
- TREY WHITFIELD SCHOOL serves grades Pre-K to 5.
- How do students get into TREY WHITFIELD SCHOOL?
- TREY WHITFIELD SCHOOL runs its own private admissions process — typically an application, a visit, and sometimes testing.
- Is TREY WHITFIELD SCHOOL public, charter, or private?
- TREY WHITFIELD SCHOOL is a private school.
- What neighborhood is TREY WHITFIELD SCHOOL in?
- TREY WHITFIELD SCHOOL is in East New York (North), Brooklyn.