Packer Admissions Viewbook: Early Learning Center and Lower School

EARLY LEARNING CENTER & LOWER SCHOOL

“Our child is thriving at Packer. They have adjusted quickly and made good friends. The teachers are all fantastic. They set an environment that is conducive to learning— peaceful, warm, fun, yet organized and structured. We would choose Packer for our child over and over.”

-Kindergarten Parent

Why Packer?

Packer provides a challenging and supportive learning environment that prepares students to become knowledgeable, empathetic, and engaged global citizens. Our dedicated faculty and commitment to both intellectual and social-emotional growth create a community where students thrive. We offer:

A rigorous, inquiry-based curriculum that prepares students for success in a dynamic world A focus on developing endurable, transferable skills like critical thinking, collaboration, and communication A supportive and nurturing community where relationships and belonging flourish

We are committed to providing a challenging and supportive learning environment. At Packer, we balance the head and the heart.

Our youngest students learn in purpose-built facilities on a historic campus in downtown Brooklyn. Key program elements include:

Three-teacher model in PK3 and PK4; two-teacher model in Kindergarten-4th Grade

Focus on inquiry-based learning and developing a growth mindset

Designated literacy and math specialists

Small class sizes to ensure individualized attention

Emphasis on school-family partnership

Daily outdoor time

SPECIALIST CLASSES ENHANCE THE CURRICULUM

EARLY LEARNING CENTER

LOWER SCHOOL

DANCE

DANCE

HEALTH EDUCATION (K)

HEALTH EDUCATION

LIBRARY

LIBRARY

MUSIC

MUSIC

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

SCIENCE

SCIENCE LAB

STUDIO ART

STUDIO ART COMPUTING AND DESIGN

EARLY LEARNING CENTER (AGE 3 - K)

A Joyful Foundation for Educational Excellence At Packer, our early childhood program fosters a love of learning through a student-centered, evidence-based approach. We believe in the power of joyful play to spark curiosity, generate questions, and build lines of inquiry. Our teachers act as partners in emergent learning, guiding children as they explore their interests and develop essential foundational skills.

Throughout these early years, students continue to learn through play while gradually being introduced to academic routines in literacy, math, science, and social studies. We nurture social-emotional growth, celebrate community and belonging, and introduce age-appropriate concepts of equity, inclusion, and sustainability.

Our custom-designed Early Learning Center provides a rich environment for exploration, featuring daily outdoor time, engaging specialist classes in science, art, music, and more, and a focus on inquiry as a pathway to deep, meaningful learning.

BUILDING A STRONG ACADEMIC FOUNDATION Our literacy program builds strong foundations in phonics, reading comprehension, and writing, while also encouraging students to express themselves creatively. The math curriculum fosters conceptual understanding, problem-solving skills, and a growth mindset.

LOWER SCHOOL (GRADES 1 - 4)

Developing Deep Thinkers and Engaged Learners Packer’s Lower School program (Grades 1–4) builds on the strong foundation established in the Early Learning Center, offering a rigorous and engaging curriculum that prepares students for continued success in later grades.

We emphasize deep conceptual understanding in math, a robust phonics-based approach to literacy, inquiry-driven science, and a social studies curriculum that fosters critical thinking, social justice, and global awareness. Across all subjects, students learn to collaborate, communicate, and persist through challenges, developing the skills and confidence to thrive in a dynamic world.

Learning comes to life through hands-on activities, field trips, and opportunities for students to share their work and celebrate their growth. The Garden House— a purpose-built, state-of-the-art facility that opened in 2025—serves as the home base for the Lower School. Children enjoy daily outdoor time in the expansive, newly renovated Packer Garden, which features innovative play equipment and plenty of space to explore and connect.

SOCIAL - EMOTIONAL LEARNING IN A RELATIONSHIP - CENTRIC ENVIRONMENT We believe relationships and belonging are essential to academic success.

Social-emotional learning helps children understand themselves and others, and value different perspectives as their sense of the world expands.

It’s older than the Brooklyn Bridge!

Founded in 1845 Packer is the oldest independent school in Brooklyn

$12 million+

Awarded in financial aid annually > More than 25% of students receive financial aid

A DIVERSE COMMUNITY OF LEARNERS

1,080 students

110 Early Learning Center students

5 boroughs represented

48% students of color

(plus NJ & LI)

270 LS students

300 MS students

400 US students

STATE - OF - THE - ART FACILITIES

The Early Learning Center was built in 2018.

The new Garden House, home of the Lower School, opened in 2025.

Both are purposebuilt for early childhood education.

OUR VALUES

Scholarship

Promoting rigorous inquiry leading to deep understanding

Equity

Embracing diversity, expanding access, and nurturing belonging

Creativity

Fostering discovery, imagination, and innovation

Integrity

Cultivating decency, honesty, grace, and personal responsibility

Joy

Creating a community of positive energy and lively engagement

Respect

Caring for oneself, for one another, and for the world around us

DAILY SCHEDULE Pre-K Threes: 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. (classroom opens 8:45a.m., no early drop off; optional extended day until 2:55 p.m.)

Pre-K Fours: 9 a.m. to 2:55 p.m. (early drop off free of charge begins at 8 a.m.; classroom opens 8:45 a.m.)

Kindergarten: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (classroom opens 8:45 a.m.; free early drop off begins at 8 a.m.)

Lower School: 1st and 2nd Grade: 8:45 a.m. to 3:10 p.m.; 3rd and 4th Grade: 8:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.; free early drop off begins at 8 a.m.

AFTER SCHOOL + ALL - DAY CARE Beginning in Kindergarten, a wide range of after school programs are available until 6 p.m., including our Pick-N-Play extended day program and/or Enrichment Courses like chess, robotics, and photography. We also offer all-day auxiliary programming on conference and professional days when the PS/LS is not in session.

FINANCIAL AID We’re committed to ensuring that a Packer education is accessible to students from a wide range of socioeconomic backgrounds. Families may apply for tuition assistance beginning in Kindergarten. Admissions decisions are made independent of financial aid awards. So that every student can benefit from all that Packer has to offer, non-tuition financial aid is available for after school programs and other auxiliary expenses.

ENTRY POINTS Most new students enter Packer in the Pre-K Threes, Kindergarten, or Ninth Grade. Families are welcome to apply for any grade except Twelfth, but should understand that space may be extremely limited in other grades. Age cutoffs: Pre-K Threes: 3 years old by June 30 of entry year Pre-K Fours: 4 years old by August 31 of entry year Kindergarten: 5 years old by August 31 of entry year TRANSPORTATION The Borough Hall subway station (2, 3, 4, 5 and R trains) is at the end of our block, on Joralemon and Court Streets. Several MTA city buses stop at Borough Hall as well. Jay Street Metrotech (A, C, and F trains) is a short walk away. Packer does not offer bus service.

admissions@packer.edu (718) 250-0200 www.packer.edu/admissions @packercollegiate PACKER COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE 170 Joralemon Street, Brooklyn, New York