Brooklyn Free School

372 Clinton Avenue

Brooklyn, NY 11238

6 Reviews

School District
Grade

PK-12
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on August 03, 2022

It's stupid how there are no required academics like math. The idea that 13 year olds with no clue about life can choose their curriculum is bloody well ridiculous. Btw, I put three because I'm sure there will be kids who are excited or run around all day even though that will provide them no future.
Submitted by parent on March 22, 2015

BFS is a wonderful, creative environment for a child, and even though there is no testing or formal assessments, it is very clear how much the children are learning--not just facts and figures, but critical thinking skills, and creative and holistic ways of approaching a variety of topics and subjects. Additionally, the school's emphasis on emotional intelligence and peaceful conflict resolution means that I see my child cultivating kind and supportive friendships--no bullying or cliques that some of my parent friends in other schools are dealing with. The detailed qualitative feedback that the teachers provide serves as a great basis for a collaboration between school staff, parents, and children in helping to identify and encourage their interests and passions, and use them as a basis for educational activities the child is excited about.
Submitted by parent on March 08, 2015

Our daughter recently graduated from BFS and we were absolutely thrilled with the growth she experienced while there. The classes and atmosphere are thought provoking and the school creates an environment that fosters independent thought and helps students find their voice. The teachers and administrators guide the students while giving them ample room to find what works best for them. This platform requires a delicate balance and BFS excels in this area. As schools nationwide have become all about testing, BFS is a shining example of what a Democratic school should be.
Submitted by parent on January 20, 2015

It s my child s fifth year at BFS. He started at age five. My search for a school began when he was in preschool. Then, I didn t know exactly what I wanted in a school. Luckily, I was very clear about what I DIDN'T want. I didn t want a public school, a traditional school, or a crowded school. I didn t want a Manhattan school, and I didn t want him to dislike learning for even one day. Since day one, BFS has checked every box on my didn t list. It is a small, independent, democratic school where children are paid attention to, appreciated, and accepted for who they are, and learning is non-coercive. Each year, I watch my son s confidence level, ability to collaborate with others, leadership qualities, resiliency, and drive to learn improve and impress me. BFS is a special place. It s where diverse individuals learn how to work together and be active citizens in a democratic society. It s also where a parent s trust in our child s ability to take responsibility for their own learning is required. Like most things, a Free School experience is what you make of it. What your child gets out of BFS is equal to what they decide to give when the opportunity to learn and grow is offered.
Submitted by parent on January 08, 2015

My son attended from BFS from fifth through twelfth grades. In a progressive public school before this, he had grown to hate school. I never thought I'd send my son to private school, but couldn't stand to see him lose his love of learning. At Brooklyn Free School he regained his curiosity and confidence. The democratic process gave him invaluable social skills. He was surrounded by adults who truly cared about him. He developed close relationships across age lines, so that he was mentored by children older than himself and mentored some younger. You have to be a parent that trusts children to be the incredible inherent learners that they are. My son didn't appear to be doing serious studying of math, for example, but then buckled down and studied math for the SATs. He wrote a 20+ page transcript of every class and extra curricular activity he had participated in for college applications. He got into all four colleges he applied to with merit scholarship offers. My son is now a Junior in college who's been on the Dean's List three times and the President's List once. He is a dedicated learner with both broad and focused interests. Thank you Brooklyn Free School!
Submitted by parent on December 12, 2014

We had a very disappointing experience at Brooklyn Free School. While we heard from other parents that they school was, a few years ago, a very inspiring place (most of the positive reviews are from 2010 or earlier), that is no longer the case. Its web site boasts of constructivist teaching, but in my experience they practice nothing of the sort. They punished my child for being disruptive by isolating him in the school office (not a constructivist method). They also, at times, excluded him from his class because they "had a feeling" that he would be disruptive. This preemptive punishment was extremely confusing to my child who didn't understand why he was being asked to leave the classroom when he hadn't done anything wrong. It is supposed to be student-centered, but we found that the activities and opportunities were actually invented by the staff, not through student input. If you have read about and were inspired by A.S. Neill's Summerhill school, please note that this school no longer follows that pedagogy. The only positive thing I can say about the school is that it has a diverse student body, and that the school has made it a priority to foster such an environment.