What Brooklyn Heights Montessori School does

Brooklyn Heights Montessori School (BHMS) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit independent Montessori school founded in 1965 in Brooklyn, New York, serving students from age 2 through 8th grade across a continuous Montessori program organized into the Twos Program, Preschool (including Kindergarten), Lower Elementary (Grades 1-3), Upper Elementary (Grades 4-6), and Middle School (Grades 7-8). The school is the only preschool through 8th grade institution in New York City jointly accredited by the New York State Association of Independent Schools (NYSAIS) and the American Montessori Society (AMS) for all programs, and is a member of NAIS and ISAAGNY. Instruction is delivered via the Montessori Method using hands-on, self-correcting tactile materials, mixed-age classrooms, and three-year (or two-year for Middle School) learning cycles that allow students to progress from novice to leader within a stable cohort, taught by faculty of whom 74% hold an advanced degree and many trained at AMS-accredited centers. The school's technology stack is built on standard independent-school SaaS: Veracross for school management, parent portal, and online giving; Ravenna for admissions and event registration; Clarity for tuition assistance applications; Follett Destiny for the library; and CampBrain for summer camp enrollment.

BHMS generates revenue through a combination of tuition (published 2026-27 rates range from $19,200 for the Twos 2-day half-day option to $60,200 for Grades 4-8), fee-based auxiliary programs including the Montessori Afternoons Plus (MAP) afterschool program and the Montessori Summer Camp, and a robust fundraising operation comprising the Brooklyn Heights Montessori Fund annual fund (targeting 100% current-family participation, with gifts from $20 to $20,000) and the BHMS By Design 60th Anniversary Capital Campaign launched January 2025 with a $1 million goal. Tuition does not fully cover the cost of the educational program, and approximately 22% of students receive tuition assistance. The school distributes its services directly to families through a community-led admissions process anchored by campus tours, virtual information sessions, and online applications via Ravenna, and it serves primarily Brooklyn and Manhattan families at its main campus at 185 Court Street in Cobble Hill plus the Firehouse at 12 Dean Street for Middle School and VAPA programming.

Name

Brooklyn Heights Montessori School

Legal name

Brooklyn Heights Montessori School

Website

https://bhmsny.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Brooklyn Heights Montessori School is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit independent Montessori school in Brooklyn, NY, serving students from age 2 through 8th grade. It is the only NYC preschool-8th grade school jointly accredited by NYSAIS and AMS, funded through tuition, auxiliary programs, and community fundraising.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private K-8 Montessori Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Other Schools and Instruction (6116)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Montessori K–12 Schools (EDAJABAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Preschool Programs within Private K–12 Schools (EDACABAM), Montessori Early Learning Academies (EDACADAA)

Keywords

• Montessori education
• Independent private school
• Early childhood education
• K-8 education
• Preschool programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Brooklyn

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition — Academic Programs: Primary revenue stream from tuition fees for Twos, Preschool, Kindergarten, and Grades 1–8. BHMS is an independent private school; tuition does not fully cover the cost of the educational experience, with the funding gap bridged by donations.
2. Brooklyn Heights Montessori Fund (Annual Fund): Community annual fund with gifts ranging from $20 to $20,000. Aims for 100% participation from current families. Supports faculty/staff salaries, classroom materials, VAPA supplies, athletics, and tuition assistance.
3. BHMS By Design Capital Campaign: 60th Anniversary Capital Campaign with a $1 million goal; launched January 2025. Supports Lower Elementary suite renovation, rooftop play space, arts facilities, and sustainability upgrades. Gifts can be pledged over two to three years.
4. Montessori Afternoons Plus (MAP) — After School: Fee-based after school program available to full-day Preschool through Grade 6 students. Includes general care and enrichment classes (Capoeira, film-making, music, chess, arts and crafts).
5. Montessori Summer Camp: Summer day camp with half-day (Bridge Program) and full-day (Primary Program) options across three sessions. Includes optional Camper Care (before/after camp).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Brooklyn Heights Montessori School delivers a continuous Montessori educational program for children ages 2 through 14, structured across five sequential programs: Twos Program, Preschool (Threes, Fours, Kindergarten), Lower Elementary (Grades 1–3), Upper Elementary (Grades 4–6), and Middle School (Grades 7–8). The school sells tuition-based enrollment in these academic programs and supplementary fee-based services including afterschool care (MAP), summer camp, athletics, and Visual & Performing Arts, supplemented by charitable donations and an annual fund.

Product overview

Brooklyn Heights Montessori School is a single unified Montessori educational institution offering a continuous program from age 2 through Grade 8. The core product is its Montessori curriculum structured across distinct developmental programs: the Twos Program (standalone early childhood entry), Montessori Preschool (three-year cycle for ages 3-6 including Kindergarten), Lower Elementary (Grades 1-3), Upper Elementary (Grades 4-6), and Middle School (Grades 7-8). Supporting the core academic programs are several add-on modules: Montessori Afternoons Plus (MAP) for afterschool care, Montessori Summer Camp with half-day and full-day options, Mustangs Athletics for Grades 5-8, Visual & Performing Arts (VAPA) with discipline rotations and middle school selectives, and the Martha Haakmat Library. The school also publishes the Montessori Unpacked Blog as an educational resource. All programs are built on Montessori philosophy with mixed-age classrooms and three-year learning cycles, delivering integrated curriculum in language arts, math, science, cultural studies, Spanish, and arts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Twos Program Standalone early childhood program for children age 2, offering a gentle introduction to group experience with carefully selected Montessori materials focused on pre-reading, pre-math, sensory experiences, and Grace and Courtesy. Available in 2-day half-day, 3-day half-day, 5-day half-day, and 5-day full-day schedules.
• Montessori Preschool Program Three-year cycle program for ages 3-6 (Threes, Fours, and Kindergarten) with mixed-age classrooms featuring Practical Life, Sensorial, Math, Language Arts, Science, and Geography curriculum areas. Includes half-day ($37,700 per year for 2026-27) and full-day ($56,700 per year for 2026-27) options, with Kindergarten at $57,100 per year for 2026-27.
• Lower Elementary Program Grades 1-3 program structured around the 'Age of Imagination,' featuring mixed-age learning environments, work plans, Montessori Great Lessons, and subjects including Culture Studies, Language Arts, Math, Science, and Spanish. Tuition is $58,700 per year for 2026-27.
• Upper Elementary Program Grades 4-6 program designed as a transition from concrete to abstract thinking, featuring subjects organized into Cultural Studies/Science, Reading/Writing, Math, and Spanish, with an advisor system, overnight trips, and capstone projects. Tuition combined with Middle School is $60,200 per year for 2026-27.
• Middle School Program Two-year program for Grades 7-8 featuring thematically linked Humanities, Erdkinder, Science, English, and Social Growth units, with overnight trips, Expert Project and Magnum Opus capstone projects, microeconomy, and individualized high school placement support. Tuition is $60,200 per year for 2026-27.
• Montessori Afternoons Plus (MAP) Fee-based afterschool program available to full-day Preschool students through Grade 6, offering general care with snacks, play, homework, and roof playground time, plus optional enrichment classes such as Capoeira, filmmaking, music, chess, and arts and crafts.
• Montessori Summer Camp Summer program for ages 3-6.5 featuring three two-week sessions with themed activities, half-day Bridge Program ($915 per session for Summer 2026) and full-day Primary Program ($1,750 per session for Summer 2026) options, and Camper Care add-ons before and after camp hours.
• Mustangs Interscholastic Athletics Program Interscholastic sports program starting in Grade 5, offering team sports including soccer, volleyball, basketball, and flag football through MSAL and CONSAT leagues, with emphasis on community, teamwork, skill development, and fair play.
• Visual & Performing Arts (VAPA) Comprehensive arts curriculum for Grades 1-8 including Dance, Drama, Music, Visual Arts, STEAM, and Culinary Arts. Middle school students choose VAPA selectives each trimester such as Ceramics, Photography, Percussion, and various dance styles.
• Martha Haakmat Library School library named after former Head of School Martha Haakmat (2013-2019), serving students from Twos through Eighth Grade with print and digital materials supporting the curriculum, a Professional Development collection for adults, and Follett Destiny online catalog access.

Quantifiable outcome

• BHMS graduates enroll in high schools where they thrive, attending top independent, public, boarding, and parochial schools including Stuyvesant, Bronx Science, Poly Prep, and many others.

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Boundless AdventuresminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBHMS partners with Boundless Adventures, an outdoor adventure park in New York, for third grade experiential learning trips. The program incorporates CASEL Social and Emotional Learning Framework, supporting resilience, executive functioning, and collaborative problem-solving.
• The Yard on Governors IslandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThird graders travel to The Yard on Governors Island at the end of the school year for experiential learning focused on physical exploration, teamwork, and navigating challenges outside the classroom context.
• National Geographic / Education WeekminorOthersBHMS blog references National Geographic and Education Week research on fine motor skill decline among young children to contextualize the value of Montessori materials in early childhood development.
• CASEL (Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBHMS partners with Boundless Adventures which roots its programming in the CASEL Social and Emotional Learning Framework, ensuring SEL best practices are integrated into third grade adventure experiences.
• Montessori Model UNminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSixth graders participate in Montessori Model UN, joining thousands of students nationwide representing nations at the annual Montessori Model UN Conference as part of their capstone project.
• Billion Oyster ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSixth grade students conduct environmental research on issues affecting New York Harbor through the Billion Oyster Project and present at the Student Symposium on Governors Island. Last year, three students received an Exemplary Project Award.
• Math LeagueminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBHMS students in grades 5–6 practice and attend regional and state Math League competitions. Two students represented BHMS at the Math League National Finals in Houston, Texas.
• Ravenna (Admissions Portal)coreTechnology or IntegrationBHMS uses Ravenna Hub as its primary admissions and event registration platform. Families use Ravenna to register for tours, info sessions, open houses, and submit applications.
• Veracross (School Management Platform)coreTechnology or IntegrationBHMS uses Veracross for parent portals, alumni tracking, and fundraising/donation management (Brooklyn Heights Montessori Fund and capital campaign).
• Learning for Justice (Social Justice Standards)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBHMS uses the Teaching Tolerance Social Justice Standards (Learning for Justice) to inform its anti-bias, multicultural, and social justice education, aligned with its commitment to diversity and inclusivity.
• Dewar (Tuition Refund Plan)minorOthersBHMS offers tuition insurance through the Dewar Tuition Refund Plan to enrolled families, protecting against partial tuition refunds in cases of withdrawal.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• The Berkeley Carroll School: Independent PS-12 school in Brooklyn's Park Slope serving families with similar tuition expectations. Comparable as a competing independent school in the same Brooklyn family market.
• Grace Church School: Independent PS-8 school in Manhattan with progressive pedagogy and comparable tuition. Competes for the same NYC family demographic seeking non-traditional K-8 education, though Episcopal-affiliated rather than Montessori.
• Poly Prep Country Day School: Independent PS-12 school in Brooklyn with a comparable tuition band and family demographic. Competes for Brooklyn families seeking private K-12 education and is a documented high-school destination for BHMS graduates.
• Saint Ann's School: Highly selective independent K-12 school in Brooklyn Heights. Comparable in price band and Brooklyn family demographic, and frequently named as a destination for BHMS graduates moving into high school.
• Brooklyn Friends School: Independent Quaker PS-12 school in Brooklyn Heights serving a similar Brooklyn family demographic. Comparable as a private independent alternative within the same neighborhood, though not Montessori-aligned.
• Corlears School: Independent PS-5 progressive school in Manhattan with a similar tuition band and continuous-age structure. Comparable as a competing non-traditional independent school targeting similar NYC families.

Direct peers

• City and Country School: Manhattan-based independent school rooted in progressive pedagogy with a continuous program through Grade 8. Highly comparable to BHMS in philosophy, age range, tuition band, and family demographic seeking alternative K-8 education in NYC.
• West Side Montessori School: Upper West Side Manhattan Montessori school serving toddler through elementary with an AMS-affiliated program. Comparable in pedagogical framework, tuition positioning, and continuous age-band structure.
• The Montessori School of New York: NYC-based Montessori school serving toddler through upper elementary programs. Direct competitor in the same metro Montessori market with comparable tuition and AMS-aligned pedagogy.
• The Park Slope Montessori School: Brooklyn-based Montessori school serving toddler through elementary-age children. Closest direct competitor in geography and pedagogical approach, drawing from a similar Cobble Hill / Park Slope family base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/bhmsny
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/brooklyn-heights-montessori-school
• Instagraminstagram.com/bhmsny
• Xx.com/bhms

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Heights Montessori School