290 Smith St
Brooklyn, NY 11231

This school has proven to offer zero support and motivation to students to help strengthen their goals. The majority of staff aren't provided with tools which enable success. This seems directly related to the principal's hands off attitude. The lack of mentors & resources that should be offered are replaced with ethical dilemmas. Students aren't prepared for the next year's work or college! For Juniors, there is a bare minimum foundation to encourage students to attend college. Bare minimum information on different colleges, what they offer, and very little about fasfa help and possible internships. Students need to research and sort this out on their own or with their parents. As for the uniforms? It is NOT Enforced. As for safety, the "School Safety Officers" sit draped in the lobby chair and fail to ask for identification of anyone entering the building. They just ask to sign in any random names and they are allowed entry into the school building. Adding, during dismissal, they remain hovered in the school doorway due to the cold weather, instead of patrolling the designated areas (perimeters) of school buildings &surrounding areas during the morning and afternoon dismissal interacting with students to create a cordial space. Look at surrounding schools where the school safety agents' actually perform their duties as per their job descriptions and create a respectful space for students. The environment needs supervision.

My son has attended this school since pre-K. As a family that is neither white, wealthy, nor French, he has often felt like an outsider. Unfortunately, he's been subjected to frequent bullying, and the social environment has been deeply unwelcoming.While many of the teachers have shown kindness and have genuinely supported his academic growth, the overall culture among students is troubling. The atmosphere is dominated by privilege, and we’ve found that the most difficult dynamics often come from children of extremely wealthy or insular families.Parent culture here is cliquish and performative, often projecting unresolved personal issues onto their children’s school experiences. The administration, including the principal, has been largely ineffective at addressing bullying or creating meaningful change — and at times seems unwilling to engage with conflict directly.This school feels designed for a narrow, elite demographic, and many aspects — from the school "merch" in French to the unspoken social codes — reflect that exclusivity.We’ve made the difficult decision not to return next year. No family should feel invisible or unsafe in a place meant for learning and growth.

My kids enjoy the small school environment and the friendly neighborhood. They especially appreciate the strong focus on sports and theater. The IB program is another advantage, offering a more rigorous academic experience similar to AP courses and providing international recognition for students who may want to continue their education abroad.