FAQs

Pre-K 4 is the biggest point of entry to Lower School. We will build three classes, add two classes on to the grade level, and typically have somewhere between 35 and 40 spaces. Kindergarten is the next largest point of entry, and we usually have somewhere between 12 and 15 spaces.

Children entering Pre-K 3 must be 3.0 years of age by September 1.
Children entering Pre-K 4 must be 4.0 years of age by September 1.
Children entering Kindergarten must be 5.0 years of age by September 1.
Children entering 1st grade must be 6.0 years of age by September 1.

Berkeley Carroll attracts families from many neighborhoods in Brooklyn as well as families from downtown Manhattan. While many of the students in the Lower School live within walking distance of Berkeley Carroll, more than half of our students also arrive each day by carpool, school bus, and public transportation.

Berkeley Carroll works with a bus company to provide transportation to families in all school divisions based on the distance they live from the school. Bus routes are determined each year and families are notified before the start of school of pick-up and drop-off times. Teachers at the Lower School take children off their bus each morning and bring them to their bus in the afternoon.

Upon arrival, children are greeted by dedicated staff at the front door to the building and will be escorted to their classrooms. In the same way, at dismissal, our designated staff members will pick children up at their classrooms in rotation and escort them out of the building to the bus or parents/caregivers. Parents/Caregivers must remain outside.

Berkeley Carroll offers healthy lunch to children in the Lower School. The Lower School is a peanut-, tree nut- and sesame-aware school.

Second, third and fourth graders receive a packet of homework weekly, given out the Friday before it is due. All Lower School students are asked to participate in some reading activity each school night (independent reading, reading out loud to someone, or being read to) for thirty minutes. Outside of long-term projects in the older grades, homework is not assigned over the weekend. Teachers offer guidance in the beginning of each school year to help parents understand the homework their children will receive and how they can best assist in making homework a successful experience for their child.

Parents or Guardians at Berkeley Carroll can communicate with a child's teacher by phone, email, note, or appointment. Parents or Guardians are encouraged to share information about a child with teachers and teachers send regular communications home to parents/guardians in order to keep them informed of classroom activities. Progress reports are emailed home at the end of each semester.

The Lower School will offer after school programs and Early Bird service for our students.

Berkeley Carroll encourages parents to become involved in their child's school life. Opportunities for parent involvement are created through the Parent Association, community service activities, field trips, and other events.