Two of Brooklyn’s most established independent schools occupy neighboring blocks, yet their educational approaches differ substantially. Brooklyn Friends School and Packer Collegiate Institute both offer rigorous college preparatory education, but families weighing these options should understand how philosophical foundations shape daily student experiences.
Packer Collegiate Institute opened in 1845 as the Brooklyn Female Academy, later becoming coeducational while maintaining its reputation for academic rigor. Brooklyn Friends School, founded in 1867 by the Religious Society of Friends, operates from explicit Quaker principles summarized by SPICES: Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community, Equality, and Stewardship. The school separated from direct Quaker meeting governance in 2010, though these values remain central to educational practice.
Leadership Approaches
Brooklyn Friends School’s Head of School Crissy Cáceres, who joined in 2019, describes her approach as a “leadership walk” rather than a fixed philosophy. “I am somebody who is malleable to the human energy that’s in front of me,” she explains, emphasizing responsiveness to community needs.
This fluid approach has guided Brooklyn Friends School through substantial changes while maintaining focus on three institutional pillars: Diversity, Equity, and Belonging; Global Social Impact; and Wholeness and Well-being.
Academic Programming Distinctions
Brooklyn Friends School offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme for juniors and seniors, distinguishing it as one of only two Brooklyn schools with this globally recognized curriculum. The IB program requires students to complete Theory of Knowledge coursework, write an Extended Essay, and engage in Creativity-Activity-Service projects.
Packer Collegiate provides Advanced Placement courses across multiple disciplines, preparing students for college-level work through the College Board’s established framework. Both programs offer rigor, but the IB’s international focus and required service component align naturally with Brooklyn Friends School’s Quaker emphasis on global citizenship.
Both schools maintain small class sizes and low student-to-faculty ratios. Brooklyn Friends School reports a 7:1 ratio, enabling personalized attention throughout students’ educational journeys.
Behavioral Philosophy and Student Support
The schools diverge most significantly in their approaches to student conduct. Brooklyn Friends School frames behavioral challenges as “mistake making” rather than occasions for punishment or exclusion.
Head of School Crissy Cáceres challenges the term “bullying” based on developmental psychology: “In order for bullying to occur, there had to be active intent, there had to be a connection to what you thought you gained from the bullying, there had to be a measure of trying to hide or omit yourself from the impact of that. And their frontal lobes have not fully developed enough for all of those three things to be true. So that is not bullying, that’s mistake making.”
This reframing leads to restorative practices across all divisions. During Cáceres’ tenure, zero students have been counseled out for behavioral reasons.
Community Composition and Access
Brooklyn Friends School serves approximately 725 students from all five boroughs, with 39% identifying as students of color. One in four families receives tuition assistance, demonstrating commitment to economic diversity.
Both schools send graduates to selective colleges and universities. Brooklyn Friends School reports 100% of graduates attend four-year universities. The IB Diploma carries particular weight with college admissions officers, who recognize the program’s rigor and international standards.
Families choosing between these schools should consider whether they prioritize explicit values integration or traditional academic excellence as the primary framework. Brooklyn Friends School provides a distinctive combination: the globally recognized IB program, restorative practices grounded in developmental understanding, and a coherent Quaker values framework that informs daily decisions.
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