Bay Ridge Preparatory School

I am a former teacher who worked at BRP, and by the end, I was happy to get out. The other reviewers who claim the faculty and administration plays favorites is absolutely correct. In fact, the majority of the staff/admin are related or have been friends since high school or something, all of them kind of weirdly devoted to the old guy who heads the high school. There's a big emphasis on the "psychology" they use to shape and direct the school, but their tendency to allow bullying and favoritism completely undermines their stated mission. They are also blinded by jargon and technology (which I recall few people using effectively). Inappropriate social contact between favorite students and faculty/staff is also a problem, in my opinion, with things like the LS/MS PE "teacher" promoting his band among the students, selling things and giving inappropriate hugs to adolescent girls. (He's also related in several ways to the people who run the school.) This might be a great school for some kids, but for the most part, I was very disappointed with the difference between their stated ideals and the slanted, prejudiced way kids were treated.

This is a school for children who need to be held by the hand to get by. Little is expected of them as far as homework or completing ones work, rules are written but rarely followed. Hardly an acceptable environment to prepare one for the workload of high school.
—Submitted by a parent

I am a former BRP student who attended the school from the fourth grade up until my junior year of high school. Leaving was the best single decision I have ever made. Many of the teachers played heavy favorites which in turn lead to grade discrimination. However, there are a few (3) teachers who could teach and cared about the education of their students rather than their own appearence in front of them. Many of them were stubborn and couldnt understand the concept that they may be wrong. I remember 2 specific situation in which I approached a teacher who misused a fact with detailed and accurate information and I was told that I was wrong and disregarded. Most of the people in charge were completly imcompetant and incapable of handeling situation properly. As pertaining to the curriculam, I am in college at a difficult school and I was not prepared. At Bay Ridge Prep, not only was studying not essential, but it was barely needed if needed at all. Comming into college, I found rather quickly that I was not prepared and this I had to take on a lighter workload beacuse of it. It took another whole semester before I learned the necessity of studying. 7 years of my life, wasted.

Hello, I am a Bay Ridge Prep student. I have been a BRP student since the seventh grade, and I am graduating this June, and all I can say is, I could not imagine a worse high school experience. My parents have paid $12,000 (I have a half scholarship) each year for me to be miserable and anxious every day. The school is small, but it's too small, I almost feel trapped. There is not enough space for the 190 students in the high school I feel very uncomfortable. Next there are the teachers, most of which, I like, but certain ones tend to have a lot of favoritism. This favoritism is very evident, and I'm not the only one who has mentioned it. I'm doing well academically, but I do not study one bit or try that hard and I have maintained a 3.7 GPA, so it's not challenging if that's what you're looking for. And as for the students, maybe it's just me, but there is always so much drama, because the majority of the students there have never been to another school and they have the maturity of a Kindergartner, I'm not even exaggerating. This school is pathetic, and I regret not transferring to another school, thank God I'm leaving in a month!

I was horrified to see that we were paying approximately 23 grand for this school and to find out that my son was getting picked on by other kids. So much for a preparatory private school. The school was rented and not completely owned. I expected this school to have a better surrounding and students to be well behaved instead of picking on my son. But the only good thing about this school was that the teachers were well prepared in teaching the students that wanted to learn. As well as the faculty would contact the parents to tell them what is happening in school about there child.
—Submitted by a parent

This newly founded school (approx 13 yrs) has grown from 30 students to almost 400 students. Needless to say for a school without a campus, this, in my opinion, speaks for itself. This schools academic design is genius ! In my opinion when one pays for a private school you hope to see your child excel academically. In short,to sum up my experience and that of many others, children excel to their highest potential . In order to achieve this goal, in addition to academics they concern themselves, and take into account, a child's emotional intelligence. This develops a well rounded human being. It is no wonder this school was founded by three PhD's. I highly recommend this school. bayridgrprep.org .
—Submitted by a parent

I have three sons. One graduated from BRP and is in a highly rated high school in Manhattan, one is in middle school and one is in the lower school. I could not be happier with the curriculum, quality of teaching and atmosphere. All students are treated individually and given work according to their needs: my middle school student is given advanced reading material and additional work in Science. The teachers are all caring, dedicated and nice. It is a kind, nurturing and intellectually creative environment. A playground would be a nice addition but that is my only complaint.
—Submitted by a parent

I love Bay Ridge Prep. I love the teachers, the small, cozy building, and (most of) my classmates. I wish I could spend forever there. It's my home away from home.
—Submitted by a student

My son attended BRP for one year. Based on the open houses we thought the school would be much more progressive and emotionally supportive than it was. We found BRP to be a very traditional school with standard 45 minute lessons and a lot of rules and structure. Children are taught to write in kindergarten by taking dictation and they teach reading by encouraging the children to guess what the text says based on the pictures. The reading method completely confused my son. The children were taken outside to play only once a week. We were disappointed by the overall environment and the curriculum. I thought the curriculum was weak in both math and social studies. I would not recommend this school if you are looking for a progressive school with a well rounded curriculum.
—Submitted by a parent

Well educated, kind and caring teachers and an outstanding, highly qualified administration! My son just began his fourth year at the school and must be one of the few children around who thinks summer vacation lasts too long! He is a confident learner and a motivated student because of the school's belief in individualized instruction and appreciation for a child's individual learning style. It is one of Brooklyn's best kept secrets and I am happy that my family is in on it!
—Submitted by a parent

My son was a student at Bayridge Prep in the mainstream program in the high school for one year. I was not at all impressed with what I saw. While the teachers were supportive and friendly, there was very little if any discipline and students seem to run the school. There is little direction from the principal and his methods seemed to me questionable. In addition many teachers do not have teaching certificates which is compulsory in most schools. The bridge program in contrast seems well run and effective. I would only recommend this school to parents enrolling their children in the bridge program.
—Submitted by a parent

BRP is only for those who need a supremely strong support system. The teachers are top-notch, but they devote their time and effort to ensuring that nobody feels inferior (which is defintely a noble goal), however this greatly hinders the potential of those students who do not need this constat attention and can move through more advanced material at a much faster pace. If your child needs more help than the average student, then, by all means, prepared to be awed by the loving community at BRP. However, if your child is an above average student, then his/her attention-needy classmates will certainly hinder his/her potential.
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter is a high school senior at BRP. Efficiency at this school is attained through a child-centered approach of customizing the pace of instruction for each student. If all schools could achieve that magical balance of students being neither bored nor overwhelmed along with instilling that feeling of being a true contributor we would have a model educational system.
—Submitted by Dina, a parent

My son attended the BRP Middle School for two years (in the Bridge Program, a curriculum designed to help children with learning disabilities) and is now finishing up his first year at the high school (in the Achieve Program--mainstream classes with additional support as needed). The experience has been remarkable. He did not come from a problematic Lower School setting so it is not merely a matter of contrast. Our enthusiasm for the school is based on the exceptional commitment of the faculty and staff to do whatever it takes to make a child's learning (and social) experience successful. For example, when my son had gotten behind in a class (due as much to his own poor judgement as difficulty with the topic), the teacher was willing to meet with him for a half hour before school began three times a week for as loong as it took to succeed.
—Submitted by a parent

Bay Ridge Prep is a great school. I don't know what the previous poster is talking about when he/she describes the Bridge Program -- yes, some students in the program do attend classes with only other Bridge students, but everyone in the school has Art, music and other electives and all afterschool programs are open to all students. Overall, the Bay Ridge Prep makes school feel like a second home. I don't know where my child would be right now without the great care and support from the teachers and staff at Bay Ridge Prep.
—Submitted by a parent

I'm giving a review of the Bridge Program. It's for learning disabled and seems to be mostly kids with dyslexia. In this program, there is no music, art or electives. There are some afterschool programs. The kids are seperated from the mainstream and do not have as good a computer room or science lab instruction as the mainstream.
—Submitted by a parent

Great School. Small classes and a very friendly faculty and staff.
—Submitted by a former student

The academic programs offered challenge the students like no other school I've seen yet. The staffs knowledge of how to stimulate creativity and develope learning skills that will be building blocks for sucess is unmatched. The school offers many extracurricular activities, especially the music program, that are exceptional.
—Submitted by a parent

This is a high quality school with small classes and lots of teacher student interaction and communication. Good bang for the buck.
—Submitted by a parent