Our inquiry-based approach to learning guides students in understanding themselves as learners, communicators, and members of a global community.
Rooted in inquiry, ISB’s academic program invites children to wonder, explore, and take ownership of their learning. Through collaboration, communication, and reflection, students build the thinking skills and character traits that will allow them to engage with the world as adventurers, advocates, changemakers, and leaders.
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27
Languages spoken at home by students
1:5
Teacher-Student
Ratio
35%
of the student body identifies as Black, Asian, or Multiracial
Reflecting the school’s core values of diversity and equity, our tuition assistance program ensures that an ISB education is accessible to students from a wide range of socioeconomic backgrounds. In 2023-2024, ISB granted more than $2.9 million in tuition assistance, helping families at all income levels access the benefits of our inquiry-based, language-rich educational program.
Learn MoreWelcome, bienvenue, and bienvenidos to International School of Brooklyn! We are excited to share information about our International Baccalaureate (IB) and French and Spanish language immersion program. From stimulating academic projects to our After School & Enrichment program, community events to athletic teams, an ISB education offers rewarding and meaningful experiences inside and outside the classroom. We look forward to connecting with you and sharing what makes us a special place for children and families.
International School of Brooklyn admits students of any race, culture, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, socio-economic status, to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, culture, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, socio-economic status in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, tuition assistance programs, athletic, and other school-administered programs.
For children entering Pre-K 3, Pre-K 4, and Kindergarten, we use a September 1st cutoff date. This means that children should turn three, four, or five years old by September 1st of the fall they enter the respective grade. For children entering in 1st Grade and up, we prioritize prior schooling when determining a grade placement. In some cases, we may discuss multiple grade placement options with a family in order to find the best fit for the child.
Yes, prioritizing a robust financial aid program is critical to ISB’s mission. In 2023-2024, over $2.9 million in tuition assistance was awarded, reaching 30% of ISB’s student body. Families applying to all grades may submit a separate application for tuition assistance through Clarity. Please see our Tuition and Tuition Assistance page for more detailed information.
Applications for the 2025-2026 school year will open on September 3, 2024. The deadline to submit an online application for the 2025-2026 school year is December 9, 2024. Supplemental materials, such as teacher reports and transcripts, are due to our office by January 9, 2025.
ISB is a proud member of the Independent Schools Admissions Association of Greater New York (ISAAGNY) and adheres to its notification and reply dates. Families who submit an application for the 2025-2026 school year by December 9, 2024 and whose files are complete by January 9, 2025 will be notified according to the dates below:
Pre-K 3 and Pre-K 4: February 27, 2025
Kindergarten: February 6, 2025
1st to 8th Grade: February 13, 2025
For Pre-K 3, Pre-K 4, and Kindergarten, we welcome applicants of all language backgrounds. Classes are carefully balanced to include native speakers, beginners, and all levels in between.
For 1st to 5th Grade, applicants are expected to speak, read, and write in French or Spanish at grade level in order to be considered for admission. A language assessment is a part of the application process for those grades. French- or Spanish-speaking students who are new to English can be accommodated in Pre-K 3 to 5th Grade.
For Middle School (6th to 8th Grade), our program offers options both for students who would be studying French or Spanish for the first time and for students who already have a strong academic background in French or Spanish. For students who already speak French or Spanish, a language assessment will be part of the application process. All students should have academic fluency in English in order to enter the Middle School.
Application fee waivers are available for:
Families for whom the application fee presents a financial hardship;
Families who submitted an application last year; or
Families affiliated with the Early Steps and Prep for Prep programs.
Yes, the admissions process offers opportunities for both parents and children to visit the school and experience our community firsthand.
Admissions tour: At least one parent/guardian should attend an admissions tour prior to submitting an online application. Tours are a fantastic time to meet members of ISB’s administration, learn more about the breadth of our academic programs, and ask lots of questions. Note that tours are for parents/guardians only; children may not attend.
Parent interview: Families applying for Pre-K 4 to 8th Grade complete a parent interview. These interviews typically take place via Zoom, but can be scheduled in person by request.
Student visit: Applicants for 1st to 8th Grade will spend a morning at ISB in November, December, or January. While at school, students visit classes and complete applicable language assessments and/or writing exercises.
Playgroup visit: Applicants for Pre-K 3, Pre-K 4, and Kindergarten attend a weekend playgroup in November, December, or January. While children interact with our teachers and each other in the classroom, parents have the opportunity to see our space again and ask additional questions over coffee and light refreshments.
The teacher recommendation form should be submitted by your child’s current teacher, the teacher who is teaching your child during the 2024-2025 school year. We recommend that you request the recommendation after November 1 to give the teacher enough time to get to know your child and complete the form before it is due on January 9, 2025.
The Preschool years, including Pre-K 3, Pre-K 4, and Kindergarten, are the most common entry points. Additionally, 6th Grade is an entry point for the Middle School program. However, each year we do welcome students in grades outside of these entry points. Because of the setup of our bilingual program, students applying for Lower School (1st to 5th Grade) should speak, read, and write at grade level in French or Spanish in order to be considered for admission.
We are honored when current families apply for their children, and many siblings enroll at ISB each year. Sibling applicants are given special consideration in the admissions process, however, we evaluate all applications according to the same criteria. We make each admissions decision with the best interests of the child in mind. Admission for siblings is not guaranteed.
No, we do not require standardized testing as part of the application process for any age group.
Early drop-off is available starting at 8:00am for students in Kindergarten to 5th Grade and 8:20am for students in Pre-K 3 and Pre-K 4. This program is available free of charge and does not require prior registration. Campus opens to Middle School students at 8:15am each day.
After School programming is offered until 6:00pm on every full day of school for students in Pre-K 3 to 5th Grade. Students can sign up for enrichment classes or After School Care on a trimester basis. Drop-in options are also available. For more information, visit our After School Care & Enrichment page. During the afternoons, Middle School students have the option to visit the Learning Commons or participate in athletics and other classes.
Yes, we partner with the New York City Department of Education to offer bus service within an approximate four-mile radius of ISB. Morning and afternoon bus service is available free of charge to students in Kindergarten through 5th Grade. 6th Grade students are eligible to ride the bus in the mornings.
Bus routes feature stops in the following neighborhoods: Bed-Stuy, Boerum Hill, Brooklyn Heights, Clinton Hill, Cobble Hill, Crown Heights, Downtown Brooklyn, Gowanus, Kensington, Park Slope, Prospect Heights, Prospect Lefferts Gardens, Prospect Park South, South Slope, and Windsor Terrace. A full list of bus stops can be found here.
Students have the option to bring lunch from home or to sign up for the Little Green Gourmets hot lunch program for an additional fee. Students in Pre-K 3 to Kindergarten eat lunch in their classrooms and students in 1st Grade and up eat in the cafeteria.
ISB is open from 8:00am to 6:00pm daily.
Pre-K 3 and Pre-K 4: 9:00am to 3:00pm
Kindergarten to 5th Grade: 8:30am to 3:30pm
Middle School (6th to 8th Grade): 8:45am to 3:45pm (optional zero period from 8:15am to 8:45am)
After School programming: Dismissal to 6:00pm
365 students attend ISB.
Our current student body is composed of students from a variety of identities and family backgrounds. 35% of our students identify as Black or African American, Asian, or of two or more races. Our students represent 25 nationalities and speak 27 languages at home.
ISB is located on Court Street between Luquer and Nelson in Carroll Gardens. Visitors should enter via reception at 192 Luquer Street. The closest subway stations to ISB are Carroll Street (F/G) and Smith & 9th Streets (F/G). The B57 and B61 bus routes also run near the school. A number of CitiBike stations are located in the blocks surrounding ISB.
ISB attracts families from many neighborhoods in Brooklyn as well as families from Lower Manhattan and Queens. While many of the students in the Preschool and Lower School live within walking distance, more than half of our students arrive each day by bike, public transportation, school bus, or carpool.
Parents and guardians have a variety of options for communicating with their child’s teacher, whether by phone, email, note, or appointment. Families are encouraged to share information about a child with teachers and teachers send regular communications home in order to keep families informed of classroom activities. Progress reports are emailed home at the end of each semester. Families are invited to school three times a year for conferences; parent/teacher conferences are held in November and April and student-led conferences take place in June.
ISB has a student/faculty ratio of 5:1 and the average class size is 18 students.
ISB graduates are highly sought after by high schools for their strong academic backgrounds, creativity, compassion, and critical thinking skills. ISB students apply to a broad range of high schools, including independent day schools, schools with religious affiliations, public schools, specialized public schools, and boarding schools. Our individualized high school placement process allows students to consider their strengths and goals and find the high school that is the right next step for them. Over the past five years, our graduates have been accepted to the following high schools:
American School in London (UK)
Avenues: The World School
Bard High School Early College Queens
Bay Ridge Preparatory School
Beacon High School
The Berkeley Carroll School
Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School
Boerum Hill School for International Studies
The Brearley School
Brooklyn Friends School
The Brooklyn Latin School
Brooklyn Technical High School
The Dalton School
Dwight School
Edward R. Murrow High School
Elisabeth Irwin High School (LREI)
Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts
Frank Sinatra School of the Arts
Friends Seminary
Grace Church School
The Hewitt School
High School of Art and Design
Léman Manhattan Preparatory School
Loyola School
Mary McDowell Friends School
Manhattan/Hunter Science High School
Midwood High School
Millennium Brooklyn High School
Notre Dame School of Manhattan
The Packer Collegiate Institute
Poly Prep Country Day School
Saint Ann’s School
Sint-Romboutscollege (Belgium)
Stuyvesant High School
Townsend Harris High School
United Nations International School (UNIS)
Xavier High School
Our college list includes a variety of institutions of learning in the United States and abroad, and the list’s diversity reflects the individual passions and interests of our graduates. In the last three years, our graduates enrolled at the following colleges and universities:
American University
American University of Paris (France)
Bard College
Bennington College
Berklee School of Music
Concordia University (Canada)
Cornell University
DePaul University
Drexel University
Emerson College
Emory University
Fashion Institute of Technology
George Washington University
Ithaca College
Johns Hopkins University
Kings College London (UK)
Leiden University (Netherlands)
Macalester College
Macaulay Honors College at CUNY
McGill University (Canada)
Middlebury College
Northeastern University
Norwich University of the Arts (UK)
Oberlin College
The Ohio State University
Pitzer College
Rochester Institute of Technology
Sarah Lawrence College
Sciences Po (France)
Skidmore College
Stony Brook University
SUNY Purchase
Trinity College Dublin (Ireland)
Tulane University
Universidad CEU San Pablo (Spain)
Università Bocconi (Italy)
University of California Santa Cruz
University College Dublin (Ireland)
University of Colorado Boulder
University of Glasglow (Ireland)
University of Massachusetts Amherst
University of Southern California
University of Toronto (Canada)
Villanova University
Wesleyan University
Reach out to us at admissions@isbrooklyn.org at any time.
ISB is located in historic and happening Carroll Gardens, a neighborhood with the warm feel of a small town right in New York City. Here on Court Street, we are situated on a storied and vibrant Brooklyn block with many cafés, parks, shops, and restaurants, as well as several French and Spanish-speaking businesses. Our school is truly an international community within an international community, where language immersion begins in our classrooms and continues out onto the street.
477 Court St.,
477 Court St.,
