Frequently Asked Questions


When can my child start at Smith Street Maternelle?

For the 2027–28 school year, age cutoffs are:

  • Toute Petite Section (TPS / 2s): Born by Dec. 31, 2025

  • Petite Section (PS / 3s): Born by Dec. 31, 2024

  • Moyenne Section (MS / Pre-K): Born by Dec. 31, 2023

  • Grande Section (GS / Kindergarten): Born by Dec. 31, 2022

For TPS children who turn 2 after the beginning of the school year, their first day will be scheduled on or after their second birthday.

How many children are in each class?

Smith Street maintains a high level of individualized attention for each student in order to provide a nurturing academic environment. In preschool, there are 2 to 3 teachers per classroom for 12 to 16 students. Our student-to-teacher ratio is 1:6 in Toute Petite and Petite Section, and 1:8 in Moyenne and Grande Section.

What is the background of your teachers?

Lead Teachers are native French speakers and have Master’s Degrees or are in the process of pur­suing their advanced degrees. Assistant Teachers are native or fluent French speakers and have Bachelor’s Degrees. We have rotating French­ speaking Specialty Teachers in Art, Music, and Physical Education.

We are not a French-speaking family. Is my child eligible to attend Smith Street Maternelle?

Absolutely! While Smith Street Maternelle is a French immersion program, with the intention of building fluency in the most productive and crucial years of language development, we welcome and support non-French speaking students through Kindergarten.

How many incoming students are fluent/native French speakers?

About 50% of the students in each class speak French at home. 25% have had some exposure to the language, and the remaining 25% are English speakers with no French exposure yet.

How much of the instruction is in French?

100%. Teachers do speak some English at the beginning of the year to help non­native speak­ers adjust to full immersion, but after about 6 weeks, all language input is exclusively in French. Occasionally, however, if a child is in emotional distress or if there is a safety issue, the teacher will address them in their native language.

How long is the school day?

In our 2s and 3s (TPS/PS) classrooms, families may register for a Morning only schedule (9:00am–11:30am) or Full Day (9:00am–3:00pm). The day for Pre-K (MS) students is from 9:00am–3:00pm. Early Drop Off (8:30 am) and Extended Day (6:00pm) are available.

For Grande Section (K), the school day is from 8:30am–3:00pm. We offer after school care until 6:00pm.

Do the students play outside every day?

Outdoor time is an important part of our day. Students in our full and extended day programs take neighborhood walks or visit local parks within walking distance and/or spend time in our outdoor play area for at least 30 minutes a day, weather permitting. Even in colder weather, we do our best to get outside, even if just for a shorter period.

Are lunch and snack provided?

Students bring a snack and lunch from home and eat in the classrooms with their teachers. We also partner with a lunch provider, giving families the option to order freshly prepared lunches delivered to school each day.

What is your potty training policy?

Ideally children should be potty trained before beginning our program, but we understand that training may be in process for our youngest students. Our teachers work with families to support potty training.

Which speciality classes are offered?

Children enjoy a variety of activities throughout the week! In Atelier d’art, they explore art history and contemporary artists through creative, multi-session projects that encourage collaboration and self-expression. Movement is also an important part of our program, from games and physical play in TPS and PS to weekly sports activities, including soccer and our partnership with the YMCA, in MS and GS. In La classe de musique, children discover rhythm, and pulse through singing and playing instruments. And in Grande Section, children are introduced to science through our Ateliers de Sciences.

How many campuses does Smith Street have?

We have three campuses in Brooklyn:


Carroll Gardens:
607 Henry Street, Brooklyn, NY 11231

Gowanus:
388 Carroll Street, Brooklyn, NY 11231

Brooklyn Heights:
80 Clinton Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Are there opportunities for parents to become involved in Smith Street Maternelle?

Yes! You can get involved in the classroom in multiple ways. Our doors are always open for par­ents. Often, parents come in and share a tradition, skill, talent, a story, or a book with the group. There are also opportunities to help out with special projects, etc.

What is the school calendar?

We follow the 10-month NYC public school calendar, with a few exceptions: we close for two weeks over the winter holidays and finish the school year about one week earlier in June. 

We also offer camp during February and Spring Breaks at our Brooklyn Heights campus, as well as Summer Camp throughout most of July and August at all three campuses.

See our calendar page here.

Is Financial Assistance available?

Yes! Smith Street Maternelle offers financial aid to applicants for Moyenne Section (Pre-K) and Grande Section (K). We are committed to ensuring that high-quality education is financially accessible to any family who wishes to join our community, regardless of socio-economic backgrounds. The ability to pay tuition and fees is determined by an independent party (SSS) and the financial information provided to them.

To learn more, visit our Financial Aid page, and/or send us an email.

What medical/immunization records are required?

Please review the Health & Immunization Requirements before submitting an application.