At Bay Ridge Prep, we care deeply about every single one of our students, taking time to learn about their individual personalities, and what makes them thrive as learners.
We offer a holistic style of education that emphasizes academic aptitude, creative development, and emotional and physical well-being - and we are growing because of our unwavering commitment to putting students first.
Founded in 1998, Bay Ridge Prep began as a one room schoolhouse.
Today, we serve 400 students in Grades K-12 from all areas of New York City.
Lower & Middle School location: 8101 Ridge Boulevard, Brooklyn NY 11209
Upper School location:
7509 Shore Road, Brooklyn NY 11209
We have recently expanded our school with a brand new, state-of-the-art Upper School Building that features more classroom spaces, science labs, a student lounge, new art spaces, a music and dance room, a fitness area, and an open roof deck with waterfront views.
Class Size: Our average class size is 15, leading to stronger connections between teachers and students.
Our Faculty: Our teaching faculty hold advanced degrees from top institutions and are passionate about sharing their expertise to further our school’s mission
Accreditation: We are a non-sectarian school accredited by the New York State Association of Independent Schools (NYSAIS). We are also a member of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) and are chartered by the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York.
“Schools have an amazing opportunity to affect the trajectory of students’ lives. A school’s approach can have a significant impact on students’ motivation, their self-esteem, and their attitude toward school. At Bay Ridge Prep, we have created a school culture where children are excited to come to school and are deeply engaged in learning. We believe a strong partnership with families is key to student success.”
- Dr. Charles Fasano, Founder & Head of School
Static curriculum dictated by school boards and educational publishers
Teaching is primarily lecture based
Learning is linear and dependent on rote memorization
Success is measured by correct answers on tests
Dynamic curriculum inspired by teacher expertise and student interests
Teaching is based on multiple modalities
Learning is thematic, engaging, and dependent on curiosity
Success is measured by a variety of modes for assessment
Responding to children’s mistakes punitively
A curriculum that teaches to the average of the class
Seeing children’s mistakes as an opportunity to learn
A flexible curriculum based on individual strengths and challenges
Most are familiar with the term IQ, or Intelligence Quotient, a test that researchers have heavily relied on to measure what people know and how quickly they can solve problems through logic and reasoning. IQ tests aren’t enough to gauge the full range of a student’s abilities, nor can they accurately predict success in school or at work.
Emphasizing Emotional Intelligence, or EQ, can help paint a more complete picture, which is why Bay Ridge Prep has partnered with the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence since 2011 to implement their integrated social /emotional intelligence approach.
EQ recognizes an individual’s ability to identify and regulate their own emotions, empathize with others, resolve conflict, and communicate more effectively. Studies show that children with greater emotional awareness have more satisfying relationships, better focus, healthier habits, increased creativity, and better academic performance.
By using various classroom tools such as “mood meter” and “conflict blueprint” in younger years, teachers help children to navigate and use their complex emotions to their advantage so that they can become more compassionate and confident citizens as they mature into young adults.
Of our faculty have advanced degrees in fields of study that equip them to enhance student life on a daily basis
Over 40 student-led clubs and extracurricular activities contribute to the growth of our students
Of our students were accepted to their top choice college
Our average class size consists of only 15 students
The Lower School at Bay Ridge Prep spans Grades K-5 and immerses children in a developmentally responsive curriculum that addresses the intellectual, social, and emotional needs of each student. Teaching and learning is organized around topics and activities that are meaningful, interesting, and relevant to children at each stage of their development.
Through weekly classroom meetings, Lower School students are encouraged to see themselves as important members of the school community and society as a whole. Integrated school-wide projects promote cooperation and problem solving skills and give older students leadership opportunities by mentoring our younger students.
This month-long project teaches our youngest students some important lessons: entrepreneurial skills, financial literacy, business marketing, culinary arts, and teamwork, to name a few
At, Bay Ridge Prep we engage our students with hands-on experiential learning
Not only does the bakery project foster creativity, but it also teaches children efficacy, agency, planning, adaptability, and time management. The recipes take some trial and error, and students must consider everything from the tastiness of the treat to including allergy-safe options on their menu
Most importantly they love it!
The project culminates in a bake sale, during which fellow classmates, teachers, and faculty members purchase their creations - with the option of also taking home a recipe book And, of course, the class repays Dr. Fasano for his loan!
Bay Ridge Prep kindergarten students start their business by asking for a loan from Head of School Dr Fasano Then they begin planning the ingredients needed for their menu After that, they create marketing materials to spread the word about the grand opening of the bakery They even translate their English bakery menu into Spanish.
Spanish at Bay Ridge Prep is taught 3 times a week to grades K-8 Our younger students learn the language through singing songs and playing games, such as “Simon Says” and scavenger hunts, during which they are tasked with identifying various words and objects in Spanish. This multisensory approach makes learning a new language fun and flexible, so students gain confidence As students advance, Spanish lessons include reading and writing and later evolves into hands-on projects such as creative writing and conversational performances, to prepare students with a strong foundation for more immersive Spanish classes that await them in Middle School
Bay Ridge Prep uses The Suzuki Violin Method based on the premise that every child is capable of learning the language of music if they are consistently exposed to it from a young age Each child is assigned his or her own violin, sized to fit them, and is immersed in an inspiring musical environment, in which they learn to play by ear rather than sight By listening intuitively and replaying what they have heard, instead of just reading music, children develop a positive relationship with what can be perceived as a challenging instrument. Our program emphasizes collaborative concerts over evaluative auditions, with the goal of making music fun and engaging
At Bay Ridge Prep, formal chess instruction begins in kindergarten. Learning to play chess helps children think rationally, develop patience, improve focus, concentration, and problem solving skills It has also been shown to improve cognitive function, creativity, and memory Since chess is a solo game, our young students learn how to take calculated risks and to become responsible for the outcome of the game, which in turn builds confidence Once children become competent chess players they participate in tournaments where they can apply the various strategies they have learned.
“Middle School is one of the greatest transitional times in a student’s life. The best Middle School educators balance education and inspiration with redirection and a good sense of humor. No two days are the same, and we are nimble on our feet!”
- Julie Mayring, Ph.D., Middle School Director
To see a detailed view of courses, visit
Literature themes range from “Growing Up in a Diverse World” (Grade 6), “Identity” (Grade7), and “Leadership” (Grade 8). Assignments include essays, creative writing, book reports, and literary analysis.
6th Graders study cultures within Latin America, Africa, Oceania, Asia, and Europe while 7th Graders focus on early U.S. history, and 8th Graders study modern U.S. history. Students participate in field trips, collaborative workshops, debate different perspectives in history, and complete independent research projects
Our theater performances are an exciting part of Middle School, w ith two full productions each year. Material is carefully selected to showcase the specific and unique talents and strengths of each production’s performing cast.
Students learn to apply math skills to real life; they design a budget in Excel, conduct surveys, run sample businesses, paint and furnish a house, draw scaled models, design public playgrounds, and learn about investing in the stock market.
Each grade learns about the life sciences, physical sciences, and earth sciences. They observe scientific phenomena and design investigations to solve problems. Examples include building cargo and speed boats, designing cars for speed and distance, dissecting sheep brains, and analyzing meteorlogical data.
The 6th, 7th, and 8th Grade Spanish curriculum ranges from basic conversational skills to more complex verb conjugation. Through our partnership with Constellation Learning, students have the option to study other world languages such as American Sign Language, French, and Mandarin
Middle School students use various art mediums including drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, and ceramics Students begin to experience constructive feedback on their work and complete a portfolio by the end of the semester.
The Middle School music program develops young singers and instrumentalists in ensemble performance practices and teaches the foundations of sight singing and music theory. Individualized weekly small group instruction in addition to music classes accommodate both beginners and advanced students
Physical education classes are held in our gyms 2-3 times per week. We also utilize nearby parks for outdoor recreation Activities include sports and fitness, Tae Kwon Do, yoga, and dance with a focus to encourage physical and emotional well being.
Middle School is all about making choices: from a variety of clubs and sports to various electives in the Arts, Technology, and World Languages, students begin to make their own decisions regarding their schedule.
Middle School is a transitional time for our preteen students. Academics become more challenging and their social lives become more complex At Bay Ridge Prep, we make sure they are prepared! To help our students navigate adolescence, we directly address topics relevant to their lives, such as smartphones, social media, friend groups, and social conflicts We are a phone-free school that leverages Advisory time for this important work, supplemented with lessons from The Social Institute to protect students in a fast changing digital world. We also have an active parent body and offer parent meetings, such as our parent discussion on the community read "The Anxious Generation" by NYU Professor Jonathan Haidt.
Once a week, we teach our students various ways use their phones and social media responsibly, based on the Seven Standards of The Social Institute Digital technology is a powerful tool that can either be used positively or negatively, and we encourage open discussions on how we can leverage these tools to enhance our lives and develop ourselves as leaders. We dive into real world topics such as “What would you do if....,”
“How would you handle this situation?” and “How might this be perceived by others online?” We learn about the importance of inclusivity, sensitivity, and empathy and we prioritize making safe choices when it comes to using social media, posting pictures, or sharing videos online. These lessons provide students with a toolkit and various strategies to handle potentially tricky situations as they continue to grow into young adults It also helps serve as a guide for them on their paths to self discovery.
From regular field trips to after school programs, we utilize neighborhood resources and students' ideas to increase bonding and enhance the learning experience.
Lower School students visit the Brooklyn Museum, experiment in local STEM labs, and participate in a range of after school activities from yoga and soccer clinics to karate and chess.
Middle School student clubs range from the performing arts and stage design to bracelet making and ping pong.
Overnight trip highlights include the Ashokan Center Retreat, river rafting in the Poconos, Washington D.C., and Philadelphia.
“There are meaningful and regular opportunities for Upper School students to bring what they’ve learned in the classroom into the community via senior projects, community engagement, and intersession workshops.”
- Chris Nuesell, Ph.D. & John Kugler, Ph.D., Upper School Directors
To see a detailed view of courses, visit BayRidgePrep org ALGEBRAI
ENGLISHI:JOURNEYS,HISTORIES, ANDIDENTITIES
LITERATUREANDOURWORLD
AMERICANLITERATURE
DRAMATICLITERATURE:
ELIZABETHANTOCONTEMPORARY
APENGLISHLITERATURE& COMPOSITION
FRENCH ITALIAN SPANISH
Throughourpartnership withConstellationLearning, studentshaveaccessto:
AMERICANSIGN
LANGUAGE
HEBREW
MANDARIN
COMPUTER PROGRAMMING
GAME DESIGN & CODING AP COMPUTER SCIENCE
ANCIENTWORLDHISTORY
MEDIEVALGLOBALHISTORY
AMERICANHISTORY
MODERNWORLDHISTORY
APEUROPEANHISTORY
APUNITEDSTATESHISTORY
APMACROECONOMICS
MUSICAPPRECIATION
MUSICPERFORMANCE
DANCEINTRO
DANCEI,II,III
DANCE-INDEPENDENTSTUDY
FILM
DIGITALARTSI-IV STUDIOARTI-IV APDRAWING
AP3DART&DESIGN
AP3DART&DESIGN
CALCULUS
FINANCE
PRECALCULUS
STATISTICS
ANATOMYANDPHYSIOLOGY
ANIMALBEHAVIOR
CURRENTTOPICSINSCIENCE
SCIENCE,TECHNOLOGY& SOCIETYSTUDIES
CLASSICMOVIEAPPRECIATION
NEUROPSYCHOLOGY
PSYCHOLOGY
SOCIOPATHS,PSYCHOPATHS& CULTS
THEARTOFWRITING
CREATIVEWRITING
ISSUESOFTHE US SUPREMECOURT
THEATERI THEATERII THEATERIII THEATERPORTFOLIO* *basedonachosentrack
SPORTS & FITNESS
KARATE
YOGA
T U D E N T L I F E
Starting in 9th Grade, we offer workshops for students and families on what to expect and how to best utilize the next four years to prepare for college.
Students select an interest to pursue in a professional setting: Career Track: Shadowing a professional or an internship Service Track: Community service project Research Track: Executing and presenting an original research study
Each year, Juniors travel as a class on an overnight college visit. Students bond more as a class, strengthen existing relationships, and form new friendships while visiting a variety of universities and learning more about the college process.
Starting in 10th Grade, students can enroll in a variety of honors, elective, and Advanced Placement (AP) courses.
Students with interest in the arts start to build their portfolios and audition books.
S U P P O R T
P R O G R A M S
Bay Ridge Prep is proud to offer supportive programs that directly address a student’s diagnosed learning disability or a student’s academic challenges in a particular area.
These support programs are built right into the typical day, which sets us apart from other schools, and are designed to help students who previously struggled in school reach their highest potential. Since our founding, our supportive programs have made the seemingly impossible possible, the overwhelming manageable, and what was once boring engaging. Our approach leads to success because it is individualized, focused, flexible, and compassionate.
We see each child as a unique student and are committed to supporting their needs while bolstering their strengths
See below for the various challenges Bay Ridge Prep best supports.
A T H L E T I C S
Competitive sports for 7th & 8th Graders include baseball, soccer, volleyball, basketball, flag football, cross country, outdoor track, and swimming
Seasonal sports clinics for Grades K-6, which include basketball, track, softball, soccer, and volleyball, help develop fundamental skills so our youngest student-athletes can join our competitive Tigers athletic teams in the future Dance, creative movement, karate, and yoga are offered in our After School Program
Upper School competitive teams include soccer, volleyball, basketball, baseball, softball, bowling, golf, tennis, swimming, cross country, indoor track, and outdoor track. We compete in the Independent School Athletic League (ISAL)
Boys Varsity Soccer ISAL Champions & NYSAIS tournament bid 2023
Boys Varsity Tennis ISAL Champions 2024
Varsity Softball ISAL Champions 2022, 2023, 2024
Varsity & Middle School Track: Our athletes consistently compete at the highest levels each year, winning multiple medals and qualifying for both ISAL & state championships
Middle School Girls Basketball First Place Champions 2019, 2020
V I S U A L &
P E R F O R M I N G A R T S
Led by experienced arts educators with advanced degrees in visual art, dance, music, and theatre, the arts program at Bay Ridge Prep recognizes that creative expression is an integral part of a student’s development From color theory to paper mache techniques, script analysis to stagecraft, to ballet, jazz and modern dance techniques, students become well versed in the arts. In music, students learn to compose everything from cinematic scores in Star Wars to Backstreet Boys pop songs to classical Beethoven
Because learning is both a physical as well as an intellectual experience, our studio environments ensure that students are given the tools to explore, discover and create through an embodied teaching approach that is non-competitive and responsive to each person ’ s unique talents It is common to see students staying after school to continue working on a large scale sculpture, composing music with their friends during their lunch break, and teaching their friends a new dance move.
Whether the final product is an individual piece of sculpture, a chamber music performance or an ensemble theatre production, the process and journey of realizing that final product are the focus of the arts program It is incredible to watch our students develop their skills over the years.!
Each year, Bay Ridge Prep plans immersive, project-based, three-day experiences for all students as a break from daily classes. These workshops and excursions are facilitated by faculty members, outside professionals, and even other students. Students learn about video game design, cook different meals, and try rock climbing for the first time.
Each year, Bay Ridge Prep plans immersive, project-based, three-day experiences for all students as a break from daily classes. These workshops and excursions are facilitated by faculty members, outside professionals, and even other students. Students learn about video game design, cook different meals, and try rock climbing for the first time.
Lower & Middle School themes have ranged from “Exploring Ocean Life” to “Early Space Pioneers and Earth’s Neighboring Planets,” and Upper School themes have ranged from activism and life skills to sustainability and ancient art...and more!
Lower & Middle School themes have ranged from “Exploring Ocean Life” to “Early Space Pioneers and Earth’s Neighboring Planets,” and Upper School themes have ranged from activism and life skills to sustainability and ancient art...and more!
O U R B A Y R I D G E
N E I G H B O R H O O D
Located west of the New York Harbor, Bay Ridge originated as a Norwegian community until the early 1970's, but now consists of a large Greek, Irish, Italian, and Middle Eastern population. Our beautiful residential community features popular shops and restaurants on 3rd Avenue and green public parks and fields that span along Shore Road...which our students love!
Starting in Lower School, students visit Mike’s Donuts to learn about how to run a business and the FDNY Engine 249 Firehouse to learn about fire safety. Middle Schoolers love meeting after school at Ben’s Pizza. Upper School students can be found up and down 3rd and 5th avenues frequenting restaurants, cafes, and sandwich shops.
Bay Ridge Prep uses Campus Cuisine, which allows students to select their lunch from a variety of delicious restaurants ranging from Mancini’s Pizzeria to Kathy’s Dumplings. Orders can be made weekly, monthly, or by semester so that lunches are individually packaged, labeled and delivered to your child daily. This service allows each family to accommodate their dietary needs.
Bay Ridge Prep recently transformed a 27,500 square foot, waterfront property into a state of the art facility, which officially opened in September 2024
Located at 7509 Shore Road in Brooklyn, alongside sprawling fields and running paths, the brand new property features a large multipurpose room, dedicated art and music spaces, a student lounge, an open roof deck, on-site outdoor space, and a neighboring park that our students can enjoy throughout the school year A new gymnasium is currently being constructed next door and is set to open in Spring 2026.
This exciting step forward has allowed Bay Ridge Prep to expand our incredible community and curriculum with more space, modern technology, and resources.
Nestled in the heart of Bay Ridge, our 81st Street location is home to our younger students You can spot our students scootering to school, blowing bubbles on the front lawn, or hanging out with their friends on the front steps. Morning drop off is joyful, and students, families, and staff all feel the warmth of the school as they enter the building.
Bay Ridge Prep’s Lower & Middle School facility is equipped with a central multipurpose room in which students gather before class and during lunch, a large gymnasium for basketball games, Tae Kwon Do, and wiffleball tournaments, and dedicated space for art, theatre, and music Every day, students take a school bus to a beautiful stretch of parkland on Shore Road where they enjoy outdoor time at the playground before returning to school This location is also home to a vibrant after school program that offers activities ranging from Yoga to Karate to Arts and Crafts for students in grades K-8 from 2:40 pm until 5 pm.
