Private Day Schools in New York City

15th St Friends Meeting House, New York City
Momos/Wikimedia Commons

There are more than 2,000 private schools in New York state, with approximately 200 of those private schools in New York City. Check out this sampling of day schools offerings grades 9-12 with low student to faculty ratios, challenging curricula and excellent reputations for college prep. The schools are coed unless otherwise noted. Many offer early grades as well. 

This list is presented in alphabetical order by location.

Downtown

Friends Seminary

  • Address: 222 E 16th Street, New York, NY, 10003
  • Religious Affiliation: Friends (Quaker)
  • Teachers to Students Ratio: 1:6
  • Tuition: $41,750

Comments: This fine old Quaker school has been around since 1786. In the 2015-2016 academic year, over $4.8 million in financial aid was awarded to approximately 22% of the student body at this selective school.

Grace Church School

  • Address: 46 Cooper Square, New York, NY
  • Religious Affiliation: Episcopal
  • Teachers to Students Ratio: 1:5
  • Tuition: $44,000

East Side

The Beekman School

  • Address: 220 East 50th Street, New York, NY, 10022
  • Religious Affiliation: Nonsectarian
  • Teachers to Students Ratio: 1:4
  • Tuition: $38,000

Comments: If your child is an actor and needs a special school schedule to accommodate his schedule, The Tutoring School section of The Beekman School might be the answer.

Birch Wathen Lenox School

  • Address: 210 E 77th Street, New York, NY, 10021
  • Religious Affiliation: Nonsectarian
  • Teachers to Students Ratio: 1:7
  • Tuition: $43,479

Comments: BWL is the outcome of The Birch Wathen School combining with The Lenox School in 1991. The school now offers a science initiative, including seminars for Women in Science Education and college-level research opportunities.

The Brearley School (All girls)

  • Address: 610 East 83rd Street, New York, NY, 10028
  • Religious Affiliation: Nonsectarian
  • Teachers to Students Ratio: 1:7
  • Tuition: $43,680

Comments: The Brearley School was founded in 1884. This prestigious girls school offers serious college preparatory studies as well as a host of extracurricular activities and sports. A highly selective school.

Convent of The Sacred Heart (All girls)

  • Address: 1 East 91st Street, New York, NY, 10128
  • Religious Affiliation: Roman Catholic
  • Teachers to Students Ratio: 1:8
  • Tuition: Varies by Grade, Highest is $44,735

Comments: Take a look at the top colleges CSH's grads go to. Then you will understand why this is a serious college prep institution. Solid academics. Conservative Catholic values. Selective admissions.

Dalton School

  • Address: 108 E 89th Street, New York, NY, 10128
  • Religious Affiliation: Nonsectarian
  • Teachers to Students Ratio: 1:5
  • Tuition: $38,710

Comments: This is one of the original progressive schools. Founded by Helen Parkhurst, Dalton remains true to her missions and philosophy. This is a very selective school. Only 14% of applicants were accepted in 2008.

Loyola School

  • Address: 980 Park Avenue, New York, NY, 10028
  • Religious Affiliation: Roman Catholic
  • Teachers to Students Ratio: 1:8
  • Tuition: $35,800

Comments: Rigorous Jesuit education for young men and women. Upper East Side location.

Lycee Francais De New York

  • Address: 505 East 75th Street, New York, NY, 10021
  • Religious Affiliation: Nonsectarian
  • Teachers to Students Ratio: 1:10
  • Tuition: $32,950

Comments: Lycee has been offering a French education since 1935. It prides itself on producing citizens of the world.

Nightingale-Bamford School

  • Address: 20 East 92nd Street, New York, NY, 10128
  • Religious Affiliation: Nonsectarian
  • Teachers to Students Ratio: 1:6
  • Tuition: $44,400

Comments: Ignore the caricature of the school as seen on Gossip Girls and focus on the reality that this is a highly successful, very selective girls' school. One of Manhattan's top private schools.

Rudolf Steiner School

  • Address: 15 East 79th Street, New York, NY, 10021
  • Religious Affiliation: Nonsectarian
  • Teachers to Students Ratio: 1:8
  • Tuition: Varies by grade, Highest Tuition is $44,500

Comments: The Steiner School is the first Waldorf school in North America. The school has two buildings in Manhattan to house the lower and upper schools.

The Spence School (All girls)

  • Address: 22 E 91st Street, New York, NY, 10128-0101
  • Religious Affiliation: Non-sectarian
  • Teachers to Students Ratio: 1:7
  • Tuition: $43,000

Comments: Rigorous academics at this top Manhattan girls' school. Graduates go on to the top tier colleges everywhere. A selective school.

United Nations International School

  • Address: 2450 FDR Drive, New York, NY, 10010
  • Religious Affiliation: Nonsectarian
  • Teachers to Students Ratio: 1:7
  • Tuition: Varies by grade, Max tuition is $38,500

UNIS is a large school serving the diplomatic and expat community in Manhattan. UNIS also is an IB school.

West Side

Collegiate School (All boys)

  • Address: 260 West 78th Street, New York, NY, 10024
  • Religious Affiliation: Nonsectarian
  • Teachers to Students Ratio: 1:5
  • Tuition: $41,370

Comments: America's oldest independent school was founded in 1628. If you are considering a Manhattan boys' school, Collegiate is one of the best schools in the country.

Columbia Grammar and Preparatory School

  • Address: 5 W 93rd Street, New York, NY, 10025
  • Religious Affiliation: Nonsectarian
  • Teachers to Students Ratio: 1:6
  • Tuition: $38,340

One of the oldest private schools in New York the school has one of the finest academic and college prep programs available. This is a selective school.

The Dwight School

  • Address: 291 Central Park West, New York, NY, 10024
  • Religious Affiliation: Nonsectarian
  • Teachers to Students Ratio: 1:5
  • Tuition: $39,650

Comments: Dwight offers an unusual amalgam of internationalism and civic awareness. The school is the only New York City school to offer the International Baccalaureate at all three levels.

Professional Children's School

  • Address: 132 West 60th Street, New York, NY, 10024
  • Religious Affiliation: Nonsectarian
  • Teachers to Students Ratio: 1:8
  • Tuition: $38,300

Comments: PCS offers flexible, concentrated schedules so its students can pursue their professional careers and/or training.

Trinity School

  • Address: 139 West 91st Street, New York, NY, 10024-0100
  • Religious Affiliation: Episcopal
  • Teachers to Students Ratio: 1:7
  • Tuition: $41,370

Comments: Trinity was founded in 1709. The school has nearly 1,000 students and is a highly selective school. They are known for offering educational programs for both body and mind.

Other Locations

The Masters School (approx. 12 miles from Manhattan)

  • Address: 49 Clinton Avenue, Dobbs Ferry, NY
  • Religious Affiliation: None
  • Teachers to Students Ratio: 1:12
  • Tuition: $41,00-$59,500

Comments: Masters is 35 minutes from Manhattan and offers private busing from the East and West side of Manhattan. 

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Kennedy, Robert. "Private Day Schools in New York City." ThoughtCo, Aug. 26, 2020, thoughtco.com/private-day-schools-new-york-city-2774523. Kennedy, Robert. (2020, August 26). Private Day Schools in New York City. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/private-day-schools-new-york-city-2774523 Kennedy, Robert. "Private Day Schools in New York City." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/private-day-schools-new-york-city-2774523 (accessed March 28, 2024).