Amber Staff transparency
Rivendell is notably open about the things schools most often hide — it publishes its full tuition schedule, its mission and governance (an executive director and a Board of Trustees), and its financial-aid process in detail. What we didn't find is a public roster of individual classroom teachers with their Montessori credential levels, so ask on a tour who would teach your child. Why this matters →
Snapshot
See the school
Park Slope
Park Slope is one of Brooklyn's most family-oriented neighborhoods — brownstone blocks sloping down to the Gowanus edge where Rivendell sits, with Prospect Park, the Grand Army Plaza greenmarket and a dense network of parent groups nearby. It's well served by the R at Union Street and the F/G at Fourth Avenue–Ninth Street.
Overview
Founded in 1995, Rivendell is a non-profit early-childhood school with a distinctive dual mission: a Montessori preschool for children roughly 2 to 6, combined with special-education and early-intervention services. The same organization runs Montessori classrooms and provides evaluations, Special Education Itinerant Teacher (SEIT) support, and its inclusion-focused CORE program — a genuinely unusual pairing that can suit families seeking Montessori in a setting experienced with a range of learning needs.
Programs & ages
Children are grouped in four mixed-age Montessori classes (Class 1 for the youngest "twos," Classes 2–4 through the preschool and kindergarten years), with schedules ranging from mornings-only to five extended (full) days. Beyond the classroom, Rivendell operates a Consultation and Training Center and provides early-intervention and special-education services — so support can be integrated for children who need it rather than sourced separately.
Tuition 2026–27
Rivendell publishes its full tuition schedule — a welcome rarity. The comparable figure most families compare is the full-day, five-day Primary year at $40,895; the youngest full-time "twos" run higher and part-time schedules run well below. A one-time $500 materials fee applies to new students, and need-based financial aid is offered through SSS. Full matrix:
| Primary — Classes 2–4 (≈3–6) | Annual |
|---|---|
| 5 extended (full) days | $40,895 |
| 4 extended days + 1 morning | $38,845 |
| 3 extended days + 2 mornings | $37,375 |
| 2 extended days + 3 mornings | $35,175 |
| 5 mornings only | $30,345 |
| Class 1 — Twos | Full days | Mornings |
|---|---|---|
| 5 days | $45,775 | $30,345 |
| 4 days | $36,645 | $24,355 |
| 3 days | $27,615 | $18,265 |
| 2 days | $18,375 | $12,175 |
See how the full-day Primary figure compares citywide on our tuition page.
Leadership & staff
Rivendell is a non-profit governed by a Board of Trustees and led by an executive director, with a controller and admissions coordinator named among its financial-aid committee. Its special-education arm means clinical and teaching staff work alongside Montessori guides. As with most schools in our guide, we didn't find a public roster of individual classroom teachers with credential levels — worth confirming on a tour.
Accreditation & authenticity
Rivendell is an AMS member and appears in the American Montessori Society's directory (re-checked July 2026). Note the school describes its offering as Montessori and progressive early intervention — a deliberate blend rather than a purist single-method program; that breadth is the point for the families it serves. Membership is not the same as accreditation — see our accreditation check and authenticity guide.
What parents say
Public reviews are limited and spread across general directories (PrivateSchoolReview, care.com), with families often highlighting the school's warmth and its experience supporting children with a range of needs. We found little organized forum discussion, so treat the sample as small. First-hand accounts welcome.
Heard around town
Signals from public parent forums and listservs (Park Slope Parents, UrbanBaby, Reddit) and our own parent & alumni interviews. Forum chatter is opinion — often anonymous and sometimes years old — so take it with a grain of salt.
Admissions
Admissions run on inquiry, tour and application, with financial aid handled through the standardized SSS process (Rivendell's SSS code is 2386). For the age-3 Primary cohort the citywide calendar matters — plan with our admissions timeline and planner.