International School of Brooklyn vs Kennedy International School - Upper School

	I International School of Brooklyn New York, United States	K Kennedy International School - Upper School New York, United States
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year $40,206 - 52,537	Fees / year $24,000 - 45,000
Age range	Age range 3 - 14 years	Age range 3 - 18 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (MYP), French Curriculum	Curriculum French Curriculum, Japanese Curriculum, American Curriculum, IB (DP)
Pupils	Pupils 386	Pupils 201
Typical class size	Typical class size —	Typical class size 7
Instruction language	Instruction language English, French, Spanish	Instruction language English, French, Japanese
Opened	Opened 2005	Opened 1964
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location ISB's main campus is at 477 Court Street, Brooklyn, NY 11231, with reception and mailing at 192 Luquer Street, Brooklyn, NY 11231. ISB is located in Carroll Gardens, a historic Brooklyn neighborhood with a small‑town feel; Court Street features cafés, parks, shops, and restaurants, including French- and Spanish-speaking businesses.	Location —
Stages	Stages Pre-K 3–8th Grade	Stages —
School type	School type Independent, non-profit day school	School type —
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix 44 nationalities represented; 23 languages spoken at home.	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support Learning Support; targeted language support for English, French, and Spanish; social‑emotional and behavioral support; counseling; School Nurse.	Additional learning support —
Country affiliation	Country affiliation France (affiliated with AEFE and Mission laïque française)	Country affiliation —
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation Secular	Religious affiliation —
School day structure	School day structure ISB is open from 8:00am to 6:00pm daily. Pre-K 3 and Pre-K 4: 9:00am–3:00pm. Kindergarten to 5th Grade: 8:30am–3:30pm. Middle School (6th–8th Grade): 8:45am–3:45pm (zero period 8:15am–8:45am). Early drop-off starts at 8:00am for Kindergarten–5th Grade and 8:20am for Pre-K 3–4; Campus opens to Middle School at 8:15am. After School programming until 6:00pm.	School day structure —
Bus service details	Bus service details Bus service within about four miles; stops include Bed‑Stuy, Boerum Hill, Brooklyn Heights, Clinton Hill, Cobble Hill, Crown Heights, Downtown Brooklyn, Gowanus, Kensington, Park Slope, Prospect Heights, Prospect Lefferts Gardens, Prospect Park South, South Slope, Windsor Terrace.	Bus service details —
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application fees - An application fee is required as part of the online admissions application. Application fee waivers are available for families for whom the fee presents a financial hardship, families who submitted an application last year, and families affiliated with the Early Steps and Prep for Prep programs. Annual tuition by year group (2026–2027 academic year) - Pre‑K 3: USD 40,206 per year. - Pre‑K 4: USD 42,125 per year. - Kindergarten through Grade 5: USD 47,626 per year. - Grades 6 through 8 (Middle School): USD 52,537 per year. Per‑term / payment‑plan breakdowns (same tuition amounts, different billing schedules) - One‑payment plan (full payment): - Full annual tuition payable in one payment by July 1. - Two‑payment plan (50% / 50%): - Two equal installments: 50% due July 1 and 50% due October 1. - One‑time administrative fee for this plan: USD 50. - Example installment amounts (50% of annual tuition): - Pre‑K 3: USD 20,103.00 per installment. - Pre‑K 4: USD 21,062.50 per installment. - K–5: USD 23,813.00 per installment. - Grades 6–8: USD 26,268.50 per installment. - Ten‑month plan (monthly payments): - Ten equal monthly payments, due each month from July 1 through April 1. - One‑time administrative fee for this plan: USD 110. - Example monthly amounts (annual tuition divided by 10): - Pre‑K 3: USD 4,020.60 per month. - Pre‑K 4: USD 4,212.50 per month. - K–5: USD 4,762.60 per month. - Grades 6–8: USD 5,253.70 per month. Deposit and confirmation payment - A USD 5,000 deposit is required with signed enrollment contracts to secure a student's place. The deposit is deducted from the tuition balance; the deposit amount is adjusted for families who receive tuition assistance. Billing schedule and payment terms - Families choose one of the three tuition payment plans; exact due dates are: - One‑payment: full amount due July 1. - Two‑payment: 50% due July 1 and 50% due October 1. - Ten‑month: payments due monthly from July 1 through April 1. - The chosen plan includes the one‑time administrative fee noted above where applicable. Tuition covers books, field trips (including overnight trips), classroom activities, and materials; some programs and fees are charged separately. Boarding fees - ISB is a day school (Pre‑K 3 through Grade 8); there are no boarding fees. Other costs and recurring fees - Parents' Association fee: USD 100 per year (not included in tuition). - Lunch program: available for an additional fee (Little Green Gourmets hot lunch program); lunch is not included in tuition. - After School & Enrichment program: offered on a trimester basis for an additional fee; After School Care fees are charged separately from tuition. - Athletics program: fees for athletics are charged separately from tuition. - Middle School laptop fee: Middle School technology/laptop fee is charged in addition to tuition. - Summer program: non‑refundable registration fee USD 30 per session; the summer program is charged separately. - School store / school‑branded gear and optional uniform items are available for purchase through The ISB Store. These purchases are additional to tuition and program fees. - Transportation: ISB partners with the NYC Department of Education to offer bus service free of charge to students in Kindergarten through Grade 5; morning bus service is available to 6th graders. Bus service and eligibility are subject to route availability. Refund information - The USD 5,000 deposit is applied to the tuition balance at enrollment. Deposit adjustment for families receiving tuition assistance is applied at the time of contract. Specific refund terms for deposits or prepaid tuition beyond this deposit application are governed by the enrollment contract and school billing policies. Fee payment options and administrative handling - Tuition and fees are administered through ISB's enrollment and billing systems and by the school's Business/Finance Office; families select a payment plan on the enrollment contract and pay according to the contract schedule. The admissions and enrollment flow uses the Veracross/ISB parent portals for application and account access. For exact available payment methods (for example, check, ACH/wire transfer, or card options) and any card convenience fees or bank transfer instructions, payment details are provided in the enrollment contract and billing communications. Notes on coverage - Tuition figures and the deposit amount above are the published 2026–2027 school‑year rates and the stated deposit requirement. Tuition excludes the items specifically listed above (lunch, after‑school, athletics, Middle School laptop fee, Parents' Association fee). Administrative fees apply to the two‑payment and ten‑month payment plans as noted.	Fee details —
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements —	Boarding arrangements —
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement —	Uniform requirement —
Food options	Food options ISB partners with Little Green Gourmets for lunch. Hot meals are served daily on campus in the Cafeteria (1st–8th Grade) or in Preschool classrooms. Regular, vegetarian, and beef-free menus are offered, with monthly menus reflecting seasonal availability. Little Green Gourmets prepares meals in a peanut-, tree-nut-, sesame-, and shellfish-free environment. Other dietary accommodations include gluten-free, vegan, and dairy/egg-free options, available for an additional fee. For lunch-plan questions, contact hello@littlegreengourmets.com.	Food options —
House system	House system —	House system —
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership ISB is an independent, non-profit school. It is governed by a Board of Trustees comprising current parents, alumni parents, and community members. The Board oversees the financial management, long-range planning, and policies. Members serve three-year terms and may serve no more than two consecutive terms.	Governance and ownership —
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details ISB is an IB World School offering the Primary Years Programme (PYP) for Pre-K 3 through 5th grade and the Middle Years Programme (MYP) for 6th through 8th grade, with immersive language programs in French and Spanish. The Preschool–Lower School are accredited by the French Ministry of Education, while the full program is accredited by the Spanish Ministry of Education, and the curriculum incorporates New York State standards within an IB framework. The IB emphasises inquiry-based learning and multilingualism, helping students develop global understanding. Language learning occurs in authentic cultural contexts with instruction by native speakers.	Curriculum details —
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio —
Exam results	Exam results —	Exam results —
Higher education progression	Higher education progression —	Higher education progression —
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented Enrichment class offerings are available for PK3–5th grade.	Gifted and talented —
Academic calendar	Academic calendar —	Academic calendar —
Wellbeing & support	Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning	Social & emotional learning The school provides social-emotional and behavioral support. The Counseling Team collaborates with teachers and parents to design strategies, which may include behavior plans, brief counseling sessions, or connections to outside resources such as formal evaluations or therapeutic support. Affinity and alliance groups are offered across the school to support identity development, strengthen self-esteem, and foster affirmation, confidence, and resilience.	Social & emotional learning —
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) A Collaborative Student Support Team partners with classroom teachers to identify strengths and needs and to design strategies that promote growth across academic, social, and emotional areas. The school works with a School Consulting Psychologist and a network of outside providers, including SETSS, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, and clinical psychologists, to provide comprehensive support for each student.	Special educational needs (SEN) —
English as an additional language	English as an additional language Targeted language support offers extra help for students acquiring a new language, whether English, French, or Spanish. This support typically takes place throughout the Lower School and focuses on developing the language skills needed to engage fully in ISB's bilingual learning environment. French- or Spanish-speaking students who are new to English can be accommodated in Pre-K 3 to 5th Grade.	English as an additional language —
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing Mental wellbeing is addressed through social-emotional and behavioral supports; the Counseling Team collaborates with teachers and families to develop strategies, and may include brief counseling, behavior plans, or connections to outside resources as needed.	Mental wellbeing —
Safeguarding	Safeguarding Gender policy and hate speech policy codify safety, affirmation, and support for all members of the ISB community, with an accountability model for incidents.	Safeguarding —
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview ISB's campus features a private, sunny courtyard for recess and community events. Light-filled classrooms with high ceilings foster daily learning. A learning garden sits in the side yard for hands-on science and nature exploration. A full-size gymnasium is used for athletics and other community events. Dedicated art and music studios support creative classes across the program.	Facilities overview —
Sports facilities	Sports facilities ISB features a full-size gymnasium on campus. The gym is used for athletics and other community events. ISB's athletics program includes soccer, basketball, and track, with competition within the Middle School Athletic League (MSAL). Athletics are organized in three seasons: Fall soccer, volleyball, and cheer; Winter basketball; Spring track.	Sports facilities —
Academic facilities	Academic facilities ISB has a multilingual library that supports Pre-K 3 through 8th grade with resources in French, Spanish, and English. The library provides access to a Destiny print catalog and Sora for eBooks. The collection contains approximately 14,000 volumes and emphasizes multilingual reading and research. Librarians host author visits and library programming to support literacy. The library is open to families before school and after school, and follows the American Association of School Librarians' standards to guide its program.	Academic facilities —
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities ISB offers After School Care from dismissal to 6:00pm on full school days, with activities in arts, crafts, movement, teamwork, problem solving, imagination, and storytelling. Enrichment Classes provide after-school experiences in the creative and performing arts, STEM, athletics, and more; enrollment is trimester-based with no drop-ins for specialty classes. A sample of enrichment offerings includes Quick Start Tennis, Coding with Empathy, Culinary Explorers, Girls on the Run, Dance Mix, Capoeira, Debate, Fencing, Graffiti & Street Art, Timbalooloo Music, and Math Games. Classes run five days a week, with registration on a first-come, first-served basis.	Extra curricular facilities —
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History The school is an independent, non-profit school located in Carroll Gardens. International School of Brooklyn (ISB) was founded in 2005 to create an intimate and multicultural setting with a balanced and challenging academic program. The story began in 2003 when a group of committed parents led by Rebecca Skinner, the founder and founding head of school, met to create an independent language immersion school. In September 2004, ISB received its operational charter from the New York State Department of Education and piloted language immersion playgroups in Park Slope, Cobble Hill, and Brooklyn Heights during the 2004–2005 school year. In September 2005, ISB launched its preschool program in Park Slope with 16 students; by 2010, ISB moved to its current location in Carroll Gardens, and there are 386 students currently enrolled in the Pre-K 3–8th Grade program.	History —
Community	Community The school has a vibrant and engaged community that is the cornerstone of the student experience. The school's students and their families, along with the faculty and staff, come from New York City's five boroughs and all over the world. The learning environment is culturally and socioeconomically diverse and promotes inclusion and awareness in the community.	Community —
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association The ISB Parents Association is an important component in the life of the school. Led by elected co-chairs, the PA is committed to supporting the school and its students and to increasing parent awareness about the school programs and activities. All ISB parents are members of the PA and are encouraged to attend PA meetings and events throughout the school year. The PA hosts a variety of events, including signature events such as the International Feast and End of Year Picnic, as well as informative workshops, discussion groups, film screenings, and more. The PA has five working committees to support ISB's mission: Library, Staff Appreciation, Community Service, Diversity, and Green Dragons. Signature Community Events Hosted by the Parents Association include the International Feast, Ice Skating Party, and End of Year Picnic.	Parent teacher association —
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual ISB is an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School authorized for the Primary Years Programme (PYP) and Middle Years Programme (MYP). It combines language immersion in French and Spanish with inquiry-based learning from Preschool through 8th Grade, aligning with New York State standards within the IB framework. The Preschool and Lower School are accredited by the French Ministry of Education, and the full program is accredited by the Spanish Ministry of Education. The IB framework promotes open-mindedness, global perspectives, and rigorous academic inquiry.	Academic & intellectual —
Arts & creative	Arts & creative Arts are integrated across ISB programs. The Lower School includes visual arts and a music program rooted in the IB framework, and the Preschool offers arts experiences as part of early learning. After School Enrichment Classes provide opportunities in creative and performing arts five days a week, complementing classroom experiences. The arts are woven into inquiry-based projects and aligned with IB standards.	Arts & creative —
Cultural & language	Cultural & language Language immersion in French and Spanish runs Pre-K 3 through 8th Grade. Native-speaking teachers support language development in both target languages alongside English, helping students reach bilingual fluency. The program connects language learning to cultural and historical contexts within the IB framework and global perspectives. ISB's international community includes families from many nationalities and languages.	Cultural & language —
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies ISB offers after-school care and enrichment for Preschool and Lower School with themes in arts, crafts, movement, and games; After School runs until 6:00pm on full school days. Enrichment classes cover arts, STEM, athletics, and more, offered five days a week. Middle School Athletics provides soccer, basketball, and track, with competition in the Middle School Athletic League (MSAL); teams compete in Fall, Winter, and Spring seasons. ISB's after-school and enrichment activities foster teamwork, creativity, and athletic development.	Social & hobbies —
Community & service	Community & service Our Community page describes getting involved through classroom participation and school-wide events, including guest lectures and community exchanges such as Pecha Kucha evenings. The Parents Association coordinates events and activities that support the school's mission and foster parent involvement.	Community & service —
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional ISB emphasizes student leadership through language-rich inquiry and student agency in the Lower School, with leadership and project-based initiatives embedded in the curriculum. The Parents Association also provides parent leadership within the school community.	Leadership & professional —
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing The Athletics program serves Middle School students with three seasons (Fall, Winter, Spring) and competitive play in events organized by the MSAL, promoting teamwork and sportsmanship. Preschool and Early Years programming includes social-emotional learning and mindfulness components, supported by programs like Second Step, alongside physical education and well-being activities.	Lifestyle & wellbeing —
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision French and Spanish are taught as the target languages, with English instruction increasing across grades. A Language Coordinators team supports Spanish, French, and English, and there is a multilingual library with over 14,000 books. Preschool and Lower School are accredited by the French Ministry of Education, while the full program is accredited by the Spanish Ministry of Education.	Language provision —
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching ISB uses a graduated language immersion model with Spanish or French as the target languages and English as the second language. Preschool has 100% instruction in the target language; Kindergarten is 90% target language with 10% English; 1st–3rd Grade is 75% target language and 25% English; 4th–5th Grade is 50% target language and 50% English. In 6th–8th Grade, students follow either a Multilingual Program (43% course content in the target languages and 57% in English) or a Bilingual Program (15% course content in the target language and 85% in English). All teachers are native speakers of the target language; Preschool–Lower School curricula are accredited by the French Ministry of Education, and the full program is accredited by the Spanish Ministry of Education.	Bilingual teaching —
Immersion programs	Immersion programs French and Spanish are the official languages of ISB's immersion program, implemented from Pre-K 3 through 8th grade and aligned with the International Baccalaureate curriculum. ISB employs a graduated immersion model with native-speaking teachers and a Language Coordinators team; a multilingual library supports literacy in the target languages with over 14,000 books. In Preschool, instruction is fully in the target language, and English instruction increases in later grades to support literacy and academic content.	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards null	Awards —
Accreditations	Accreditations null	Accreditations —
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions Welcome to International School of Brooklyn. 1. Schedule a tour of the school. Parents and guardians meet ISB's administration, learn about the bilingual program, and have the opportunity to ask questions. Tours are for parents/guardians only; children do not attend. 2. Submit the online application for the 2026-2027 school year. Applications open September 2, 2025, and the deadline to submit is December 8, 2025. Supplemental materials, such as teacher reports and transcripts, are due by January 8, 2026. 3. Language considerations. For Pre-K 3 to Kindergarten, applicants from all language backgrounds are welcome; for 1st to 5th Grade, applicants should speak, read, and write in French or Spanish at grade level, with a language assessment part of the application. Middle School offers options for students starting or continuing French or Spanish, and all students must be fluent in English to enter Middle School. 4. Admissions visits. Parent interviews are typically conducted for Pre-K4 to 5th Grade; student visits occur for 1st to 8th Grade, during which language assessments and/or writing exercises may be completed; a weekend playgroup is offered for Pre-K 3 to 5. 5. Recommendations. The current teacher should submit the teacher recommendation form, ideally after November 1, for the 2026-27 cycle; the form is due by January 8, 2026. 6. Fees, entry points, and waivers. Fee waivers are available for families facing financial hardship, for those who applied last year, or for families affiliated with Early Steps and Prep for Prep programs. Entry points include Preschool (Pre-K3, Pre-K4, Kindergarten) and 6th Grade, with occasional admission to other grades; siblings are given special consideration but not guaranteed. 7. Notification and next steps. ISB follows ISAAGNY notification dates; Pre-K3 and Pre-K4 notifications occur February 26, 2026; Kindergarten on February 5, 2026; 1st–8th Grade on February 11, 2026. After notification, families proceed with enrollment, transportation, and other arrangements.	Admissions —
Scholarships	Scholarships ISB offers a tuition assistance program to support enrollment across income levels. In 2023-2024 ISB granted more than $2.9 million in tuition assistance. In 2024-2025, over $3 million in tuition assistance was awarded, reaching about 30% of ISB's student body. Families applying to all grades may submit a separate application for tuition assistance through Clarity.	Scholarships —
Waitlist	Waitlist —	Waitlist —
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