BFS
Our Strategic Vision
 

Educating Minds &
Hearts Since 1867

Our School's Mission

Guided by the Quaker belief that there is a Divine Light in everyone, Brooklyn Friends School cultivates an intellectually ambitious and diverse community that celebrates each individual’s gifts. We challenge our students to value and embrace difference as they develop critical thinking skills and apply their knowledge and intelligence both in and out of the classroom. In this rich learning environment, we inspire all members of our community to voice their convictions, to discover and pursue their passions, and to seek truth. Our graduates are compassionate, curious, and confident global citizens who let their lives speak in the spirit of leadership and service.

Quick Facts about Brooklyn Friends School

  • 700

    students from all 5 boroughs

  • 1 of 3

    independent NYC schools offering the IB Diploma Program

  • 100%

    of our graduates accepted at four year universities

  • 2-18

    is the age range of students we enroll

  • 7:1

    is our student-to-faculty ratio

  • 39%

    of our students are students of color

  • 30

    sports teams proudly represent our school

  • 1 of 4

    Brooklyn Friends families receive tuition assistance grants

Who We Are

Brooklyn Friends is an independent, college preparatory Quaker school where the majority of the faculty holds advanced degrees, and the Upper School offers the academically challenging and highly esteemed International Baccalaureate Diploma Program. Our school is proud of its active, supportive parent body, our enthusiastic teachers and dedicated staff, and our thoughtful and articulate students. Together, we form a community reflective of a unique combination of intellect, energy, and heart.

Our Core Values

Academic and Personal Excellence

Those who aspire to integrity, embrace challenges, and internalize the goal of being the best they can be, enable the full development of their minds, character, and spirit. They build a strong foundation not only for success in school, but for a rich and rewarding life as well.

Community

A community bound and dedicated to the School’s mission provides an environment of mutual care and teaches its members how to work together in the common pursuit of learning.

Diversity

A multicultural school community creates an enriched learning environment through the exploration, understanding, and appreciation of differences. It prepares students for living in an increasingly diverse and global society.

Respect

The dignity of all and a sense of inclusion are fostered by active listening to and active engagement with others. Respect is most powerful when it characterizes the relationships and interactions between and among all segments of the school community: parents, students, teachers, staff, and alumni/ae.

Service

Developing the practice of serving others benefits oneself, the school community, and the world beyond. Graduates with a lifetime commitment to making the world a better place fulfill a major aspect of the school’s mission.

Silence

Quaker Meeting and other dedicated periods of silence provide precious opportunities to be in more direct contact with the light within and among each of us. These are times to reflect on one’s values and aspirations, community concerns, and matters of deeper import that often are submerged in the noise of everyday life.