Brooklyn Early Childhood Center

A new chapter is beginning in Brooklyn. Discover how Stephen Gaynor School is bringing more than 60 years of expertise to a new Early Childhood Center opening Fall 2028.

BROOKLYN EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER

A Gaynor Education, Now Growing in Brooklyn.

Stephen Gaynor School is expanding to Brooklyn with a new Early Childhood Center for young learners with language-based learning differences, opening Fall 2028.
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A NEW CHAPTER

More Than 60 Years of Expertise.
A New Home in Brooklyn.

Since 1962, Stephen Gaynor School has helped students with language-based learning differences develop the skills, confidence, and independence to thrive. Now, we're bringing that experience to Brooklyn.

Opening in Fall 2028, the Brooklyn Early Childhood Center will expand access to Gaynor's individualized, evidence-based approach while creating a program specifically designed for the important foundational years of early childhood.

For years, we've heard from Brooklyn families interested in a Gaynor education for whom the daily commute to Manhattan—particularly with a young child—can be challenging. The Brooklyn ECC will allow us to reach more children earlier in their educational journeys and bring Gaynor's expertise closer to the communities we serve.

EARLY SUPPORT. LASTING IMPACT.

Built for the Early Years

The Brooklyn ECC will be a dedicated Early Childhood Center focused on young learners with language-based learning differences.

The program will build upon more than six decades of Gaynor expertise, with individualized, multisensory instruction and our deeply rooted Orton-Gillingham approach to literacy at its foundation.

Just as importantly, the Center will support the whole child—helping young learners develop academically, socially, and emotionally while building confidence and discovering how they learn best.

AT A GLANCE

OPENING

Fall 2028

PROGRAM

Early Childhood

LOCATION

Brooklyn, New York
(More details to come)

FOCUS

Young learners with language-based learning differences, ages 3.5-7
“Early intervention can change the trajectory of a child’s educational experience. We are excited to expand access to the kind of specialized support, literacy instruction, and individualized attention that helps students with language-based learning differences build confidence and thrive.”
—Dr. Scott Gaynor, Head of School

THE ROAD TO 2028

Follow Our Journey to Brooklyn

There's much more to come between now and opening day.

Over the next two years, we'll share updates about the program, our educational approach, the people behind the Brooklyn ECC, admissions, location, and the milestones along the way.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Gaynor opening an Early Childhood Center in Brooklyn?

The Brooklyn Early Childhood Center is an opportunity to extend Gaynor’s mission to more children and families at an earlier point in their educational journey.

We know that early intervention can make a profound difference for children with language-based learning differences, including dyslexia. We also know there is a growing demand from Brooklyn families for specialized, evidence-based early intervention and literacy instruction closer to home.

Our own enrollment experience and research have reinforced that location can be a significant consideration for families. Brooklyn currently represents 11% of Gaynor’s student body, and Brooklyn families account for 17% of declined admission offers. Focus-group research with Early Childhood families also identified location as an important factor in enrollment decisions.

When will the Brooklyn Early Childhood Center open?

The Brooklyn Early Childhood Center is scheduled to open in Fall 2028.

The two-year planning period gives Gaynor time to thoughtfully identify and prepare the appropriate space, recruit and train faculty and staff, conduct outreach to Brooklyn families and professionals, and ensure that the program reflects the quality and educational philosophy families expect from Gaynor.

Where in Brooklyn will the new campus be located?

A specific location has not yet been identified.

Gaynor is exploring areas that would provide strong accessibility for families across Brooklyn. More information about the location will be shared as plans are finalized.

Who will the Brooklyn Early Childhood Center serve?

The Brooklyn campus will be a standalone Early Childhood Center for young children, ages 3.5-7, with language-based learning differences, including those with dyslexia or at risk for a dyslexia diagnosis.

The student profile and admissions criteria will mirror Gaynor’s existing Early Childhood program on the Upper West Side.

The goal is to bring Gaynor’s individualized, evidence-based approach to children at the foundational stage of their education when targeted intervention can have a particularly significant impact.

Will the Brooklyn ECC campus offer the same Gaynor education as the Upper West Side?

Yes. The Brooklyn Early Childhood Center will be built around the same educational philosophy and core principles that define Stephen Gaynor School: individualized instruction, deeply trained educators, multisensory learning, evidence-based literacy instruction rooted in the Orton-Gillingham approach, and a commitment to understanding and supporting each child as an individual learner.

The 2027–28 school year will include dedicated staff training and preparation for the Brooklyn opening, including a particular focus on preparing the Early Childhood Center Director and faculty.

Will students at the Brooklyn ECC campus automatically move to the Upper West Side campus after Early Childhood?

No. The Brooklyn campus is being intentionally designed as a standalone Early Childhood center, not as an automatic entry point to Gaynor’s Upper West Side program.

When students complete the Brooklyn ECC program, families who are interested in continuing at Gaynor will need to apply to the Upper West Side campus. Because only a limited number of spaces are expected to be available, admission to the UWS program cannot be guaranteed.

Gaynor plans to provide dedicated placement support to Brooklyn families and help each child find an appropriate next school, whether that is Gaynor UWS, another independent school, or a public-school setting.

Will opening in Brooklyn change or take resources away from the Upper West Side campus?

The Brooklyn expansion is being planned specifically to enable Gaynor to extend its mission without compromising the strength of the existing UWS program.

An Early Childhood Center Director will provide consistent leadership on the Brooklyn campus, with members of Gaynor’s leadership team maintaining an ongoing presence and connection between campuses. Most administrative resources will be shared across the school, while Brooklyn will have dedicated faculty and academic staff essential to the operation of the Early Childhood Center. 

The long planning runway is also intended to allow Gaynor to build staffing and infrastructure thoughtfully and minimize strain on current leadership.

How big will the Brooklyn Early Childhood Center be?

The program is expected to open intentionally small and grow gradually.

Current planning calls for beginning with two classes of approximately nine students and building enrollment over three years toward an eventual capacity of five classes totaling approximately 54 students. Class sizes will remain small, consistent with Gaynor’s individualized approach; current projections anticipate three Purple Cluster and two Pink Cluster classrooms once the ECC is at capacity.

This phased approach will allow Gaynor to build the program thoughtfully while maintaining the quality and individualized attention central to the school’s model.

How will admissions work for the Brooklyn ECC campus?

Current planning anticipates a coordinated admissions process across Gaynor’s Early Childhood programs. Families applying to Early Childhood will be able to indicate whether they are interested in Brooklyn or the Upper West Side, while the student profile and admissions criteria will remain consistent across campuses.

More details about application timing and procedures will be shared next year.

Why create only an Early Childhood Center rather than a full second Gaynor campus?

The purpose of the Brooklyn expansion is specifically to increase access to Gaynor’s expertise during the foundational early years, when intervention can have an especially meaningful impact on literacy development, confidence, and a child's relationship with learning.

A standalone Early Childhood Center also gives families flexibility. Some Brooklyn families may want specialized early intervention while ultimately choosing to continue their child's education at a school closer to home.

What happens when students graduate from the Brooklyn ECC?

Placement will be an important part of the Brooklyn ECC from the beginning.

Gaynor plans to have admissions and placement support dedicated to Brooklyn ECC families. Potential next-school options could include Gaynor's Upper West Side campus, other specialized schools, mainstream independent schools, and public schools in Brooklyn or Lower Manhattan, depending upon the needs of each student.

Just as Gaynor does now, the goal will be to help families identify the educational environment in which their child can continue to thrive.

Will Brooklyn ECC students receive preference for admission to Gaynor's Upper West Side campus?

No. Brooklyn ECC students interested in continuing at Gaynor will need to apply to the Upper West Side campus, and admission cannot be guaranteed.

Gaynor expects only a limited number of UWS spaces to be available for students completing the Brooklyn ECC program. Maintaining existing entry points into the Red and Orange Clusters remains important to Gaynor's broader mission and enrollment model.

Who will lead the Brooklyn campus?

Gaynor plans to have a dedicated Early Childhood Director who will serve as the consistent leadership presence at the Brooklyn ECC campus.

Members of Gaynor's broader leadership team will also spend time at the Brooklyn ECC campus throughout the week, helping ensure strong alignment and connection between Brooklyn and the Upper West Side.

Specific leadership and staffing announcements will be made closer to opening.

How will Gaynor make sure the Brooklyn ECC faculty have the same level of expertise and training?

Maintaining Gaynor's educational quality is central to the planning process.

The 2027-2028 school year will include dedicated staff preparation and training, with particular attention to orienting and preparing the Brooklyn Early Childhood Center Director. Staff shadowing within Gaynor's existing UWS Early Childhood program is also part of the planning process.

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At Stephen Gaynor School, students with learning differences develop essential academic and critical thinking skills through individualized and evidence-based approaches, empowering them to reach their full potential. Students learn to advocate for themselves and others while actively building an inclusive community, a sense of belonging, and a belief in their own possibilities.
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