Albee Square Montessori (P.S. 482), which is New York City’s first and only public Montessori school in Downtown Brooklyn is an un-zoned District 13 school offering Pre-K to 1st Grade in school year 25/26, growing one grade each year up to 5th Grade.
The school features mixed aged classrooms, Montessori trained teachers, a strong focus on the arts and “living friends” as well as Montessori materials in each classroom and project-based learning.
P.S. 482 comprises six floors of One Willoughby Square, a new high rise building in Downtown Brooklyn, adjacent to Abolitionist Place. Students use the new public park as well as a rooftop play space for outdoor time. There is also a gymnatorium where students go to for gross motor activities.
Kids have art 4 x and music 1 x per week. Pre-K and Kindergarten mixed classrooms have bathrooms adjacent to the classrooms, lunch takes place in the cafeteria. Pre-K students nap in the classroom.
School hours are 8:30 am to 2:50 pm (early drop-off starts at 8.15 am). The school has partnered with NIA to offer a fee-based after school program that goes until 5:15 pm every day for Kindergarten and up. There is currently no after school program for Pre-K and that will likely not change in the school year 25/26.
Albee Square Montessori is grounded in the Montessori model, with the belief that children learn naturally through hands-on experiences and intentionally designed environments that support exploration, innovation and discovery. Albee Square Montessori also focus on nature: bringing love, appreciation and care for living things, and highlighting the importance of sustainability and environmental responsibility. Students explore the world outside of the school community, with many field trip experiences and partnerships. Learn more about the school’s mission, leadership, enrollment, and more on their website.
How to apply to the school:
- The main entry point is Pre-K with 36 seats available total (two sections each with 18 students in mixed age classrooms). Siblings have priority, then students living in District 13. Apply online within the Department of Education application process for Pre-K.
- The school has 40 seats for Kindergarten (two sections each with 20 students in mixed age classroom). Students in their Pre-K program, siblings and students living in District 13 have priority, meaning only a handful of spots are available for new Kindergarten students NOT currently enrolled in their Pre-K program. Apply online within the Department of Education application process for Kindergarten.
- There is no 3K and there are no plans to add 3K
- They will have a handful of 1st Grade seats available, please contact the school directly if you want to move your child there for 1st Grade
Sign up for an upcoming Open House here.
Children who were born in 2020 can apply for Kindergarten:
- Tuesday, December 10, 2024: Kindergarten application opens
- Friday, January 24, 2025: Kindergarten application closes
- Wednesday, April 2, 2025: Kindergarten offer release
Children born in 2021 (Pre-K) and 2022 (3-K) will be eligible to apply for Pre-K and 3K:
- Wednesday, January 15, 2025: Pre-K application opens
- Friday, February 28, 2025: Pre-K application closes
- Tuesday, May 13, 2025: Pre-K offer release
- Tuesday, May 20, 2025: 3-K offer release
Recording of Pre-K and Kindergarten Info Session Nov ’24
In this info session for families considering elementary school in public and private schools as well as Charter schools we covered everything you need to know about local zoned schools, un-zoned schools, Charter and private school options, preschools offering Pre-K, free universal Pre-K options, application details and deadlines, waitlists, languages and more. This event was geared towards parents with children born in 2020 and younger considering a move to or living in BoCoCa, DUMBO, Brooklyn Heights, Red Hook, Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Gowanus and Downtown Brooklyn. All attendees receive a digital copy of the Brooklyn Bridge Parents Charter School and Private School Guides. Download the recording here.
Private and Charter & Unzoned School Guides
Download our time-saving and comprehensive school guides for private and Charter/Unzoned schools here.
