Lutheran Elementary School of Bay Ridge
Where Belongingness Unlocks Every Child’s Potential

Walking into Lutheran Elementary School (LES) of Bay Ridge feels like stepping into a big hug, a place where every child is seen, welcomed and encouraged to grow. Open to families of all faiths, LES is more than a school; it is a community that nurtures care, character and potential in every student.

Founded in 1957 by Bethlehem Lutheran Church, LES has carried forward a mission that is both timeless and practical, to teach as Jesus did. That mission translates into preparing children not only to excel academically but to gain acceptance into their chosen high schools and to carry with them a strong foundation for the future.

From the earliest days in nursery and pre-K, students enter classrooms designed to spark curiosity and confidence. In the elementary years, each lesson becomes a stepping stone toward independence, reinforced by encouragement and personal support. By fifth grade, LES students transition into junior high earlier than most peers in the community, balancing the freedom to test their independence with the steady guidance that has shaped them from the start.

“Students at LES are never just a face in the crowd,” says Michelle Miano, principal. “Every child and every parent is known by name, which builds trust, encourages open communication and helps us understand each student’s unique strengths and challenges.”

Small class sizes foster personal connection, typically capped at 16 to 18 students. The scale enables teachers to nurture each child closely, striking a balance between high expectations and the individual support required for them to flourish. It also creates space for families to be genuine partners in the learning journey. Parents join book fairs, chaperone pumpkin patch trips and share cultural traditions during celebrations such as Chinese New Year, moments that weave community, respect and diversity into the school’s fabric.

In this close-knit setting, students feel supported and challenged. They are encouraged to discover their strengths and passions early, which lays the groundwork for bigger goals, including high school choices that reflect their ambitions. The school achieves this through a distinctive balance of personal attention and academic rigor. Advanced coursework, such as Algebra One and the Regents exam offered in eighth grade, allows students to master challenging material ahead of schedule. This builds confidence and ensures they enter high school already a step ahead.

Approximately 95 percent of eighth graders are accepted into their top three high school choices, with many attending Catholic and specialized schools. Last year, two students who applied to Brooklyn Tech and Staten Island Tech were accepted. Additionally, the eighth-grade class received over $180,000 in scholarship awards. These outcomes reflect the high-quality education and dedication of LES’s faculty, ensuring students are well prepared for high school.

Some schools might view the absence of a gym, an auditorium or the latest equipment as shortcomings. LES has turned these into strengths. The campus opens onto an expansive backyard and playground, where younger students spend hours in unstructured play and older students participate in sports and group projects. The result is more than exercise. It is where students learn how to work together, rely on one another and build the kind of resilience that outlasts any season.

Alumna Michelle Miano embodies that same spirit of turning small beginnings into lasting strengths. As a middle schooler at LES, she experienced the patience, encouragement and love of her teachers and principal. Those experiences gave her the confidence to thrive, and today she returns as the school’s principal, leading the very community that once nurtured her.

Her story captures what makes LES distinctive. Tucked away on a quiet street and far from the main roads or flashy advertisements, LES surprises everyone who steps through its doors. Families quickly find themselves thinking, “This is Bay Ridge’s best-kept secret,” as they discover a school where potential is nurtured, talents are honed and every child is guided toward a brighter future. It is a place where children feel truly seen, supported and inspired to explore, learn and thrive.