What Brooklyn Friends School does

Brooklyn Friends School (BFS) is a private, nonprofit Quaker day school founded in 1867 and headquartered at 375 Pearl Street in Downtown Brooklyn, serving 687 students across a continuous PreK-12 program organized into four divisions: Early Childhood (ages 2-4), Lower School (K-4), Middle School (5-8), and Upper School (9-12). The school operates two physical campuses - the original Pearl Street building (45 classrooms, two libraries, five science labs, two dance studios, two gymnasiums, eight art studios, a cafeteria, a rooftop playground, and a 280-seat theater) and a newer 40,000 square foot Upper School facility at 116 Lawrence Street in the MetroTech area (40+ classrooms, four science labs, four art studios, three music rooms, a black box theater, dance studio, fitness center, and research library) - plus the Brooklyn Meeting House at 110 Schermerhorn Street used for Quaker Meeting for Worship. Academic programs are grounded in Quaker values (integrity, stewardship, diversity, equity, service) and culminate in the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme for grades 11-12.

The school's core product is a continuous college-preparatory curriculum, with IB coursework, college counseling, and an emphasis on small class sizes; this is supplemented by add-on offerings including the BFX Extended Day Xplorations after-school program (Monday-Friday, 3:00-5:30pm, for Early Childhood through 6th grade), Junior Panthers athletics (grades 5-6), full varsity/JV/Middle School athletics, performing and visual arts (eight professional studios spanning K-12), three school libraries with research databases, and summer camp programs operated under the campbrooklyn.nyc brand. The technology footprint is conventional: Google Chromebooks for Middle School, third-party coding platforms (Code.org, JavaScript, Tynker, Gamestar Mechanic, HTML, Tinkercad), and a proprietary student portal (myBFS). No public API, SDK, or AI/ML capability is offered.

The revenue model is tuition-driven subscription/recurring revenue from enrolled families, augmented by fees for extended day and ancillary programs; the school is governed by a volunteer Board of Trustees and does not have equity ownership or outside capital. Go-to-market is direct admissions via the Advancement Office, including inquiry forms, scheduled campus tours, parent/guardian Meeting for Worship sessions, legacy and Quaker family preferences, and biannual publication of The Light magazine alongside active social channels (Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn alumni group) and earned media placements. The school is led by Head of School Crissy Cáceres, with division heads for each grade band and an Interim Director of Advancement.

Name

Brooklyn Friends School

Legal name

Brooklyn Friends School

Website

https://brooklynfriends.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1867

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Brooklyn Friends School is a private, nonprofit Quaker day school in Downtown Brooklyn serving 687 students across a continuous PreK-12 program, including an IB Diploma track at 116 Lawrence Street and the main Pearl Street campus.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private K-12 Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Alternative/Pedagogical Model Private Schools (Project-Based, Democratic, etc.) (EDAJABAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Preschool Programs within Private K–12 Schools (EDACABAM), After-School Academic Support Programs (Centers & Clubs) (EDAJALAM)

Keywords

• Private K-12 education
• Quaker education
• College preparatory
• International baccalaureate
• Preschool through grade 12

Headquarters

HQ city

Brooklyn

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition Revenue: Brooklyn Friends School operates as a private educational institution generating revenue primarily through tuition payments from enrolled students. The school also offers extended day programs (BFX) with separate fees and likely generates additional revenue through summer programs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Brooklyn Friends School is a private Quaker PreK-12 day school serving 687 students in Downtown Brooklyn across four developmental divisions—Early Childhood (ages 2-4), Lower School (K-4), Middle School (5-8), and Upper School (9-12). The school delivers a values-based, college-preparatory education that culminates in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme for grades 11-12, complemented by visual and performing arts, athletics, college counseling, and an extended-day program (BFX) available for a separate fee.

Product overview

Brooklyn Friends School is a private Quaker school serving 687 students in PreK-12, located in Downtown Brooklyn. The school offers a single unified educational program structured across four developmental divisions: Early Childhood (ages 2-4), Lower School (K-4), Middle School (5-8), and Upper School (9-12). The core academic program is enhanced by integrated modules including the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme for grades 11-12, BFX Extended Day Xplorations after-school program, athletics (Junior Panthers for grades 5-6 plus varsity/JV/MS sports), Performing Arts (dance, drama, music, theater), Visual Arts, College Counseling, and Library services. The school operates two campuses: 375 Pearl Street for Early Childhood through Middle School, and 116 Lawrence Street for Upper School.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Early Childhood Program A play-based educational program for children ages 2-4 that nurtures each child's individual gifts through a rich, child-centered curriculum including emerging literacy, mathematics through manipulatives, hands-on science exploration, visual arts, music, and dramatic play.
• Lower School (Grades K-4) Comprehensive elementary education for kindergarten through 4th grade that builds foundational academic skills (balanced literacy, mathematics, science, social studies) alongside social-emotional development and enrichment in visual arts, music, dance, and physical education.
• Middle School (Grades 5-8) Middle school program serving grades 5-8 that builds on Lower School foundations while preparing students for Upper School through an integrated humanities, mathematics, science, foreign languages (Spanish, French, Mandarin), visual and performing arts, physical education, health/life skills, and advisory curriculum grounded in Quaker values, including overnight trips for community building.
• Upper School (Grades 9-12) College preparatory curriculum for grades 9-12 delivered at the 116 Lawrence Street campus, featuring small class sizes, college counseling, varsity/junior varsity sports, visual arts, theatre, student government, publications, and clubs, and culminating in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme for juniors and seniors.
• International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme An academically rigorous and globally recognized two-year IB Diploma Programme for grades 11-12 offering courses in English, Language, History, Sciences, Mathematics, and Arts, along with the Extended Essay, Theory of Knowledge, and CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service) requirements.
• BFX: Extended Day Xplorations An extended day program running Monday-Friday from 3:00-5:30pm for students from Early Childhood through 6th grade, offered for a separate fee, with Xplorations in movement, art, science, sports, chess, drama, and more, including snack, homework help, and daily activities.
• Summer Programs (Camp Brooklyn) Summer camp programs operated by Brooklyn Friends School under the Camp Brooklyn brand, including Extended Day Xplorations programming during summer months for Early Childhood through 6th grade students.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves2 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Friends Seminary: A K-12 Quaker school in Manhattan serving ~800 students; the closest same-pedagogical (Quaker) competitor to BFS in NYC, sharing values-based admissions, Meeting for Worship, and a college-prep mission.
• Poly Prep Country Day School: A prominent PreK-12 independent school located in Brooklyn (Dyker Heights), directly competing with BFS for Brooklyn families seeking a private, values-driven K-12 education with extensive athletics and arts.
• Packer Collegiate Institute: A historic PreK-12 independent school in Brooklyn Heights with a comparable downtown-Brooklyn catchment, competing for the same family demographic and offering a similar breadth of arts, athletics, and college-prep programming.
• Saint Ann's School: A highly selective, arts-emphasized independent K-12 school in Brooklyn Heights known for progressive pedagogy; competes with BFS for academically ambitious Brooklyn families prioritizing creative and intellectual development.
• Berkeley Carroll School: A PreK-12 independent school in Park Slope, Brooklyn offering a college-prep curriculum with strong arts and athletics; directly comparable in scale, mission, and Brooklyn catchment to BFS.
• Grace Church School: A PreK-12 Episcopal independent school in Manhattan with a progressive, values-based pedagogy and a similar enrollment scale; competes with BFS for NYC families seeking a private, mission-driven K-12 education.
• Columbia Grammar and Preparatory School: A PreK-12 independent school on the Upper West Side of Manhattan with extensive athletics and a long-established reputation; a broader NYC private school competitor with comparable programming breadth and college-prep focus.

Broad incumbents

• Spence School: A prestigious K-12 independent girls' school on the Upper East Side with a much larger endowment and stronger brand among elite NYC families; serves as an aspirational peer and a competitive threat for top-quartile Brooklyn families willing to commute.
• Sidwell Friends School: The flagship U.S. Quaker K-12 school (Washington, D.C.), with the strongest Quaker brand nationally and significantly greater resources; serves as both a benchmark for Quaker pedagogy and an aspirational comp for the broader Friends school network.
• Avenues: The World School: A large, well-capitalized PreK-12 private school in Chelsea (Manhattan) offering an IB-aligned, globally focused curriculum; competes for the same NYC progressive-family segment with a much broader programmatic footprint and stronger recent brand momentum.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/bklynfriends
• Facebookfacebook.com/bfs1867
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/brooklyn-friends-school
• Instagraminstagram.com/brooklynfriends1867

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Brooklyn Friends School