About ISB

Sobre nosotros À propos de nous


International School of Brooklyn (ISB) is an independent, non-profit school located in Carroll Gardens known for its innovative and robust Pre-K 3–8th Grade French and Spanish language immersion program and International Baccalaureate curriculum.

In an intimate school environment and small classroom setting, our dedicated teachers nurture the curiosity of each student, inspiring them to follow their passions and setting them on a path to endless discovery. Through guided inquiry, concept-based and project-based learning experiences, students discover themselves as learners and develop the skills they need to become confident lifelong learners.

International School of Brooklyn

The International Baccalaureate curriculum combined with language immersion encourages students to think critically in a global context. While the International Baccalaureate opens our students to increasingly complex ideas about the world and their place in it, our language immersion program opens doors to diverse experiences and cultures. As adventurers, advocates, changemakers, and leaders, our students live the mission of our school, learning to harness their voices to be forces for change in their school and local communities.  

ISB’s vibrant and engaged community is the cornerstone of our student experience. Our students are part of a vibrant locally-grounded, international community. ISB’s students and their families, as well as our devoted team of faculty and staff, come from New York City’s five boroughs and all over the world. Our culturally and socioeconomically diverse learning environment enriches each student’s experience and creates more opportunities to promote inclusion and awareness in our community.

The History of ISB

International School of Brooklyn (ISB) was founded in 2005 to create an intimate and multicultural setting with a balanced and challenging academic program.

ISB’s pilot language immersion playgroups in 2004

The story of ISB began in 2003, when a group of committed parents met and together set in motion the process of creating an independent language immersion school. In September 2004, ISB received its operational charter from the New York State Department of Education and spent the 2004-2005 school year piloting language immersion playgroups in Park Slope, Cobble Hill, and Brooklyn Heights, laying the foundation for the preschool opening.

In September 2005, ISB launched its preschool program in Park Slope with 16 students in its inaugural class. In less than two years, ISB had expanded to 65 students in Nursery through 1st Grade, necessitating a move to a larger facility in Prospect Heights.

ISB continued to grow through 3rd Grade at this location, and in September 2010, ISB moved into its current location in Carroll Gardens. There are 386 students currently enrolled in ISB’s Pre-K 3-8th Grade program.

Welcome.

Bienvenidos.

Bienvenue.

ISB opened its doors in 2005, shortly after recent studies had revealed that language learning physically alters the brain, increasing cognitive function and positively impacting individuals throughout their lives. Along with an innovative language immersion model, the founders sought to introduce an inquiry-based, globally-minded curriculum that would foster curiosity as well as a desire for lifelong learning as they implemented the International Baccalaureate (IB) program, known for both its forward-thinking philosophy and rigorous academics. 

Spring forward to the present, and we can clearly see that the founders’ vision of combining language immersion with an IB curriculum was inspired: ISB students are incredibly flexible learners who are strong communicators in multiple languages, and their academic experience prepares them for excellence in a vast range of academic and professional fields related to science, math, arts, letters, and beyond. From an early age, ISB students are encouraged to see beyond the day’s lessons and to inquire further, exploring their areas of interest with diligence and enthusiasm, whether in English, Spanish, or French!

The school has remained true to its founding principles while, at the same time, its mission has evolved to stay current with the values of our socially-conscious community. We endeavor to provide our students with the tools and inspiration they need to thrive as adventurers, advocates, changemakers, and leaders. As our alumni community continues to grow, we can already see how ISB’s effort to ensure a more just and equitable world has transcended the school’s walls.

Joe Santos

Head of School

An exceptional school is defined by an exceptional team of educators

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ISB Faculty Member Photo

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An international
community in the heart
of Carroll Gardens

ISB is located in historic and vibrant Carroll Gardens, a neighborhood with the warm feel of a small town right in New York City. Here on Court Street, we are situated on a storied and vibrant Brooklyn block with many cafés, parks, shops, and restaurants, as well as several French and Spanish-speaking businesses. Our school is truly an international community within an international community, where language immersion begins in our classrooms and continues out onto the street.

477 Court Street,
Brookyln, NY 11231
477 Court Street,
Brookyln, NY 11231

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