Get to Know Prospect
Prospect Schools in Brooklyn is a K-12 college preparatory community where excellent teachers prepare a diverse student body to have a positive impact on society and a lifelong passion for learning. We believe families shouldn't have to choose between strong academics and a diverse community. Our schools are diverse by design, academically rigorous, and community-driven.
Prepared to Thrive
We know that to succeed in the 21st century, high school graduates must understand other cultures and viewpoints, and emerge from the K-12 experience as flexible, critical thinkers. The key tenets of our program are:
Diverse
by design
By thoughtfully serving students and families from all backgrounds — racial, cultural, linguistic, and socioeconomic — we create learning environments where students can gain a deep understanding of the ways in which alternative perspectives drive innovation and creativity. We are a proud founding member of the Diverse Charter Schools Coalition.
IB World
Schools
Prospect Schools models its curriculum on the renowned International Baccalaureate (IB) Program. This rigorous program raises the level of academic responsibility for our students and serves as an important indicator of their capacity for success in college and beyond.
Excellent
Teaching
Our teachers are highly skilled in their content areas and are constantly improving their craft. They are committed to the Prospect Schools mission and excel as enthusiastic collaborators and engaged community members.
Student
centered
Our inclusive approach means we meet students where they are in their education journey and create a personalized plan to help them thrive regardless of race, class or ability.
Vibrant Communities
At Prospect Schools, we take pride in being part of Brooklyn's vibrant and diverse communities. From kindergarten to high school graduation, we foster meaningful connections with our surrounding neighborhoods, inviting the world into our classrooms and embracing the rich cultural experiences that make Brooklyn unique. Our students benefit from this deep community engagement, developing a global perspective and a sense of belonging that helps them thrive both academically and personally. Through partnerships, local projects, and a commitment to inclusivity, we ensure that our schools are not just places of learning, but vital parts of the community fabric.
Committed to Student Achievement
We know that success if far more than test scores — but we are proud to share that on our latest New York State Test results, we achieved some of the highest overall English Language Arts and Math outcomes in our history.
2022-2023 New York State Test Results
Grades 3-8 English Language Arts
Proficiency 2022-23
Grades 3-8 Math
Proficiency 2022-23
15+ Years of Stories
We are proud of our 15+ year history in Brooklyn! Below are just a few of the many stories that highlight the wonderful things happening in our schools and communities.
Folake Akinola-Pinard
Principal, Downtown Elementary School
Folake Akinola-Pinard is principal of Downtown Elementary School, which celebrated 10 years in 2022-23 and where she started as a founding Kindergarten teacher. She insists that were she not pushed into leadership years ago, she would have “probably stayed a dean [a culture support role] forever.” Prospect Schools’ leaders saw something in Akinola-Pinard, who comes from a family of educators, and coached her into the powerhouse of a leader she is today. And she’s just getting started.
“There's just so much more that I have to learn, and this is definitely a learning environment,” she said of Prospect Schools. “That's where I want to be, period—at a place with people who really care about instruction and education and having high standards.”
"What Is Culture" Series
Our team recently sat down to answer the question, "What is Culture?" Here, get to know teammate Casey Neumann, Art Teacher at Sunset Yards Elementary School (SYES).