KIDS & EDUCATION
BEST PRE SCHOOL
STEPPING STONES – THE NEXT STEP
9321 Ridge Boulevard (718) 630-1001
Stepping Stones – a long-standing Bay Ridge
institution with deep roots in its community
– also takes the cake for best pre-school in the
borough. The praiseworthy pre-school – located
just blocks away from its nursery school of the
same name – boasts a feeling of “family,” as well
as excellence in early education. Each teacher
meets the requirements of the New York City
Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and
– far beyond that – they are kind, nurturing,
loving and (as they boast) “family” to their
school’s children and their families. Equipped
with age-appropriate activities and a playroom
that fosters growth and positivity, Stepping
Stones: The Next Step is a local pre-school that
comes with great (and understandable) praise.
BEST SUMMER PROGRAM
MILL BASIN DAY CAMP
5945 Strickland Avenue (718) 251-6200
Mill Basin Day Camp has been a Brooklyn
staple for close to two decades. Founded in
1998, the day camp has been consistently
dedicated to providing children and their
families with a fun, safe and caring summer
camp experience. Today, they serve more than
1,500 boys and girls each summer. Its children
range from ages three to 14 and, with a range
that wide (and an enrollment to match),
it’s no wonder why the southern Brooklyn
day camp takes the cake for best summer
program in the borough. Through innovative
programming and careful staff selection, its
campers spend their summers making friends,
sharing experiences and creating memories its
curators hope will last a lifetime.
BEST TRADE SCHOOL
BROOKLYN TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL
29 Fort Greene Place (718) 804-6400
Brooklyn Technical High School, most
commonly referred to as Brooklyn Tech, is
the cream of the crop when it comes to trade
schools in the borough. The New York City
public high school was established close to a
century ago in 1922. Since then, it has gone on
to become of the most prestigious and selective
high schools in all of the United States. One
of just three original specialized high schools
operated by the New York City Department of
Education, Brooklyn Tech counts top scientists,
inventors, innovators, CEOs and founders of
Fortune 500 companies and more among its
alumni. Each November, about 30,000 eighth
and ninth graders take the school’s threehouse
admittance test, of which only 1,900 to
1,950 make the cut each year. The school is
an impressive 12 stories high and covers over
half of a city block. Couple its size, boisterous
facility, dedicated staff – and even its view of
Fort Greene Park – with its stellar academics
and it’s easy to see why Brooklyn Tech was
named the best trade school in the borough.
BEST TUTORING
KUMON MATH AND READING CENTER
OF BROOKLYN – BAY RIDGE
8508 4th Avenue (718) 759-1840
Kumon Math and Reading Center is the
world’s largest after-school math and
reading enrichment program created in the
1950’s by a father who wanted the best for
his son. Since then, the center has grown
to serve four million students enrolled in
26,000 learning centers across 49 countries
and regions. Locally, the Kumon Math and
Reading Center of Brooklyn’s Bay Ridge
iteration has been in operation since 2010,
racking up good reviews and positive
feedback from students and parents alike.
Lauded for its academic excellence, fostering
facility and understanding tutors, the Bay
Ridge center is a go-to for parents in the
borough.
WINNER PROFILE
Kumon Math and Reading Center of Brooklyn - Bay Ridge
BEST TUTORING
For more than 50 years, Kumon’s after-school academic enrichment
program has helped children achieve success worldwide. We strive to
instill in children the desire to achieve and the motivation to learn on
their own. Whether your child is seeking enrichment, needs help
catching up or is just beginning his or her academic career, Kumon is
designed to help him or her develop a love of learning. Students
advance through the program at their own pace. Our emphasis on
individualized learning helps your child become focused, motivated and
self-reliant. We monitor each child’s progress to ensure comprehension
before moving on to a new concept. With a strong academic foundation,
critical thinking and problem solving abilities, your child has the
potential to achieve whatever he or she desires.
20 BEST OF BROOKLYN 2018 • WINNERS GUIDE • BESTOFBK.COM