School History

More than 140 years ago, Berkeley Carroll began as a small neighborhood school with a big purpose: to educate, support, and uplift the children of our community.

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A School is Born: Finding Our Initial Identity

Officially chartered on April 12, 1886, as the Berkeley Institute, it was initially a school for young ladies.

Named for an early supporter of higher education in the American colonies, Bishop George Berkeley, the school had decided early on to admit boys into the kindergarten to fourth grades.

By 1920, the school's reputation was outstanding, offering graduates automatic entry into prestigious women’s colleges, including Vassar, Smith, Wellesley, and Radcliffe.

One of the oldest independent schools in New York City, the school's origins trace back to 1883 (the year that the Brooklyn Bridge was opened) with informal classes led by Rev. Alfred C. Roe in a "double villa" on Lincoln Place.

Homework, Hustle, and Happiness: The Original BC Balance

Even in the early days, we knew that education had to be about more than just textbooks and exams—it had to be fun, too!

Philosophically, the school followed the "Vassar" mode, girls attended academic classes from nine to noon, went home for lunch and returned at one o'clock for an afternoon of physical education and team sports.

The original curriculum and location on "the Prospect Heights" successfully promoted the school as a "healthy place," which was a major selling point in the days of frequent epidemics.

The girls played competitive basketball in the small gym (in dresses, of course!), and the school newspaper was active, telling stories of students raising money for global causes.

The Roaring 20s Hit a Wall: How We Pivoted

Like many institutions, we had to show incredible resolve and agency to survive the economic hardships of the 20th century.

A massive $300,000 building project was planned in 1929 to add a new gym, playground, and more classrooms, but it was ultimately canceled due to the Great Depression.

Despite this setback and a drop in enrollment, the school demonstrated resilience by settling for a more modest plan and starting construction on a new gymnasium in 1937.

During World War II, students showed their civic agency by working for the Red Cross and raising money for refugees in England and France.

Brooklyn Changes, So Do We: Hello, Coeducation & Montessori!

The mid-20th century brought huge shifts to Brooklyn and, consequently, a major evolution in the school's identity.

In 1966, the Montessori School of Brooklyn was established by parents and educators, bringing a new, structured, and child-centered pedagogical philosophy into the school’s future.

The Berkeley Institute made a monumental change in 1974 by becoming fully coeducational for all grades, graduating its first male senior.

In 1979, the growing Montessori school changed its name to The Carroll Street School to reflect its expansion through the sixth grade.

Better Together: The Union of Two Schools

The stage was set for two strong, distinct schools—one historic, one new—to form the comprehensive, diverse community we know today.

In 1982, the 96-year-old Berkeley Institute and the young Carroll Street School officially merged to create The Berkeley Carroll School—a PreK through 12th-grade college preparatory program.

The union immediately enriched the new institution, building a community that reflected the vitality and diversity of its Park Slope/Prospect Heights location.

The school started with an enrollment of 480 students; today, we proudly enroll more than 900!

The Berkeley Carroll School moves into the future!

Explore what learning at Berkeley Carroll looks like today

A School is Born: Finding Our Initial Identity

The Roaring 20s Hit a Wall: How We Pivoted

Brooklyn Changes, So Do We: Hello, Coeducation & Montessori!

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