Guide to Schools in Brooklyn Heights, NY for 2026

If you’re shopping for a home and weighing the pros and cons of living in Brooklyn Heights, NY, the schools question comes up fast – and for good reason. With median sale prices around $1,949,000 and homes moving in roughly 35 days, you’re making a serious financial commitment. Knowing exactly which schools are tied to a specific address before you make an offer matters.

The neighborhood draws buyers who want access to both strong public options and some of New York City’s best-known private institutions. But because Brooklyn Heights sits inside the New York City Department of Education (NYC DOE) system – the largest in the country – school assignments here work differently than they do in a typical suburban district. It takes a little more research than just looking at a map.

Brooklyn Heights School District Overview

Public schools in Brooklyn Heights fall under the New York City Department of Education, specifically NYC DOE Geographic District 13. That district covers a wide stretch of Brooklyn, including Brooklyn Heights, Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, and Bedford-Stuyvesant.

Because the NYC DOE operates at such scale, you won’t find a clean count of schools drawn exclusively around the Brooklyn Heights boundaries. The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) tracks data at the Kings County level rather than breaking it down neighborhood by neighborhood. The practical takeaway: focus on the attendance zone for each specific address you’re considering, not the neighborhood as a whole.

The Assigned School District

Geographic District 13 handles public school zoning for this part of Kings County. That said, “zoned school” isn’t the whole story in New York City – the NYC DOE also runs a range of choice programs and specialized schools that draw students from across the district and the entire city. So while your address determines your default zoned school, it doesn’t necessarily determine where your child ends up.

District Ratings and Test Scores

Third-party platforms like GreatSchools and NeighborhoodScout are the go-to starting points for most buyers evaluating District 13. Both aggregate standardized test scores, student progress, and equity data sourced from the New York State Education Department (NYSED). For the most accurate, current picture, review the underlying data directly on the NYSED website rather than relying on a single composite score.

Top-Rated Schools in the Neighborhood

A handful of schools serving Brooklyn Heights consistently earn strong marks from independent rating organizations. Homes.com, citing GreatSchools data, highlights several notable options within the neighborhood.

P.S. 8 The Emily Warren Roebling School – also known as Robert Fulton – is one of the area’s better-known public elementary schools. GreatSchools rates it a 9 out of 10, according to Homes.com data. On the private side, The Packer Collegiate Institute holds the same 9 out of 10 rating on GreatSchools.

Top-Scoring Public Options

Strong public school options here include both zoned neighborhood schools and citywide programs. The NYC DOE allows students to apply to top-rated schools outside their immediate geographic zone, provided they meet certain academic or lottery criteria. That flexibility is worth understanding early – your assigned school and your actual options aren’t necessarily the same list.

Evaluating Ratings and Methodology

One number doesn’t tell the whole story. GreatSchools and NeighborhoodScout use different methodologies, weighting state test scores, graduation rates, and college readiness in their own ways. Worth taking the time to look at what each rating measures before deciding how much weight to give it.

High School Options for Local Students

High school zoning in New York City doesn’t work the way most buyers expect. Brooklyn Heights doesn’t have a dedicated, zoned public high school within its own borders. Instead, students go through the citywide high school admissions process – eighth graders apply to programs across the city, and while geographic priorities sometimes factor in, the process is largely citywide.

Students in Brooklyn Heights have access to schools throughout District 13 and beyond.

Public High Schools Serving the Area

Brooklyn Technical High School, located at 29 Fort Greene Place, is the primary public high school associated with the neighborhood. Brooklyn Tech is one of the city’s specialized high schools and consistently ranks among the top-rated public high schools in the borough. Brooklyn Latin School is another top-rated public high school in the District 13 area that serves local students.

High School Athletics and Sports Programs

Because Brooklyn Heights students disperse to different high schools across the city, there’s no single neighborhood athletics conference or shared mascot. Sports and extracurriculars vary from school to school. If a particular program matters to your family, check the Public Schools Athletic League (PSAL) offerings for each individual high school directly.

Private and Alternative Education

A significant number of buyers moving to Brooklyn Heights, NY, factor private, parochial, and charter schools into their decision. The neighborhood has several well-known private institutions serving students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. These schools operate independently of the NYC DOE and run on their own admissions timelines – which means the sooner you start that process, the better.

Tuition at these schools reflects the programs they offer. Costs can rival university tuition, and they tend to increase as students advance through the grades.

Private Schools and Tuition Costs

St. Ann’s School, at 129 Pierrepont Street, serves roughly 1,085 students from pre-K through 12th grade. Reported yearly tuition is approximately $42,555. Brooklyn Heights Montessori School is another notable option – though tuition figures vary by source: Private School Review lists it around $42,500, U.S. News reports $45,900, and Niche puts costs as high as $55,300 for the upper grades.

Charter and Magnet Schools

Charter and magnet schools sit inside the public system but operate with more autonomy than traditional zoned schools. Admission typically runs through a lottery. Application deadlines vary by school, so check each school’s website directly rather than assuming a universal timeline.

Factoring Schools Into Your Home Purchase

Connecting a specific property to its assigned schools is a standard part of the buying process here – but it’s not as simple as looking up a boundary map. The NYC DOE doesn’t publish a static attendance-zone map for the Brooklyn Heights neighborhood, and feeder patterns from elementary to middle school aren’t rigidly documented for this specific area. A map you find online may be outdated before you know it.

Verify the exact school assignments for any address before you make an offer. Neighborhood reputation and old boundary lines have led more than a few buyers to enrollment surprises they didn’t see coming.

Confirming a Home’s Assigned School

The NYC DOE directs families to its official citywide “Find a School” zoned-school lookup tool. Enter the specific Brooklyn Heights address, and you’ll see exactly which elementary and middle schools that property is currently zoned for. That’s the step you don’t want to skip.

District Calendars and Contact Information

School calendars and weather-related closing policies are handled centrally by the NYC DOE, not at the neighborhood level. Bookmark the official NYC DOE website for current academic calendars. For district-level questions, you can contact the District 13 superintendent’s office – but get the direct contact information through the main NYC DOE portal, since numbers change.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best schools in Brooklyn Heights, NY?

P.S. 8 The Emily Warren Roebling School and The Packer Collegiate Institute are among the top-rated schools in the area. Both hold a 9 out of 10 rating on GreatSchools, according to Homes.com data.

What school district is Brooklyn Heights, NY in?

Brooklyn Heights is part of New York City Department of Education (NYC DOE) Geographic District 13. The district also covers Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, and Bedford-Stuyvesant.

What public high schools are students in Brooklyn Heights, NY zoned for?

There’s no dedicated, zoned public high school within the neighborhood’s immediate borders. Students typically attend schools in the broader District 13 area – such as Brooklyn Technical High School or Brooklyn Latin School – through the citywide admissions process.

How much is private school tuition in Brooklyn Heights?

It varies by school and grade level. St. Ann’s School reports yearly tuition of approximately $42,555. Brooklyn Heights Montessori School ranges from roughly $42,500 up to $55,300 for its highest grades.

How do I find which schools a home in Brooklyn Heights, NY is zoned for?

Use the official NYC DOE “Find a School” lookup tool. The district doesn’t provide a static boundary map for Brooklyn Heights, so entering the exact property address is the only reliable way to confirm assignments.

What is the school enrollment timeline for families relocating to Brooklyn Heights, NY?

Timelines follow the citywide NYC DOE schedule, which varies depending on grade level and whether you’re applying to specialized high schools or charter lotteries. Check the NYC DOE website directly for current registration deadlines.