2023 Best Private K-12 Schools in the New York City Area

• New York, NY•

• Private School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 3.93 out of 5  76 reviews

Junior: My overall school experience has been very positive! The teachers(with 1 or 2 exceptions) and academics have been outstanding so far, and it seems like I can do whatever I put my mind to here. There are plenty of options for clubs, and plenty of motivated students who participate in them. When I first entered the school, I thought a lot of the students would be aloof trust-fund kids. However, for the majority of students, that thankfully doesn't hold true. My only 2 complaints are: 1)the math curriculum, which for me is too repetitive and not challenging enough; and 2)the behavior of the administration(especially during covid), which can be paternalistic at times.... Read 76 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,001

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• Bronx, NY•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.34 out of 5  68 reviews

Parent: I am parent whose children attend Riverdale Country School. The River Campus is such a warm and welcoming space for the younger children. At the Lower School, they create an environment where children are encouraged to explore and experiment, appreciate nature, and develop a true love of learning. My children enjoy school and are excited to attend everyday - as a parent, that means the world to me. My eldest child is now on the Hill Campus. The Upper School, offers students a challenging academic environment and many opportunities to get involved in their school community. I have found the teachers to be supportive yet have high expectations and encourage the students to reach their full potential. Our entire family has found community at Riverdale, it is truly an incredible place.... Read 68 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,273

• Student-teacher ratio 4:1

• New York, NY•

• Private School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4.29 out of 5  78 reviews

Parent: My daughter has been at Brearley since kindergarten and we have had a wonderful experience throughout the years. She is now in high school and I can say that Brearley has really helped her develop academically as well as socially. The academics ramps up dramatically in upper school but the school generally prepares the students well in middle school to handle the increased workload. Because the classes are fairly small, the students develop a sense of agency about their own learning and by high school they are very adept at exploring their own interests and engaging with the teachers. Finally, I cannot say enough good things about how Brearley handled COVID. Brearley was one of the first private schools to return to in-person classes and they were incredible about following all available guidance. It made a world of difference this past year for my daughter to at least be able to go to class with other girls in her grade. We feel lucky to be a Brearley family!... Read 78 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 772

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• Bronx, NY•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.32 out of 5  148 reviews

Alum: The school is excellent in every regard except for the student culture. Everyone is extremely nice and there haven't been any problems with bullying, but it comes at the cost of near complete grade-centrism. Grades are so important that, in many cases, comprehension and enjoyment of the subject falls second. It creates tension and competition, and I'm pretty sure the stress took more than a few years off my life. Still, I've loved attending here and from my parent's perspective, the administration was unbelievably organized and generally very responsive to issues. Also, if you're interested in engineering like I was during high school, there were only two classes with engineering in the name. To make up I joined one of the (several) robotics teams and took all the math, physics and compsci classes I could, which were excellent, but it's a noticeable hole in the school's diverse curriculum.... Read 148 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,802

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• Basking Ridge, NJ•

• Private School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4.12 out of 5  122 reviews

Parent: The Pingry School is a special school that serves the students ranging all the way from K-12, with its magical way of learning at its lower school campus while raising confident, and inquisitive middle schoolers to raising engaging, empathetic, driven high schoolers who truly want to change the world they live in. Its honor code is the secret sauce that binds every fabric in Pingry and its community of students, faculty, staff and parents. A school that is diverse like no other - we often remark - Pingry is the best possible confluence of cultures, people, and POVs. The credit goes to its Board of Trustees, Head of School, DEI&B team, Health and Wellness department, inspiring faculty and staff, and its admissions team that so meticulously create the best mosaic of students and their families to come together in perfect harmony! We are grateful for Pingry for everything it has been, is and will be!... Read 122 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,197

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• New York, NY•

• Private School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4.23 out of 5  30 reviews

Alum: Coming in the eighth grade from public school in Greenwich Ct it was a bit of a shock. But the five years there were better experience than college. And it was a personal heaven for me in a big city. I don’t contribute to many requesters but there is always enough for Collegiate School. If I had son again and lived in NYC, that where he would go. As the song goes “…to Collegiate always be true.” Jack Anthony ‘64... Read 30 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 651

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• New York, NY•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.61 out of 5  94 reviews

Junior: Girls at Sacred Heart are friendly and supportive. There are some cliques that form but the majority of people are welcoming. Sacred Heart has also worked to increase diversity over the past several years, so I have a great group of diverse friends. There are also a lot of clubs and athletics to join which makes it easy to make friends. Sacred Heart is a catholic school and they do emphasize service and the school goals, which focus on personal responsibility and having the self confidence to make good decisions. The academics are strong, so there is a lot of homework, which can be a challenge. If I were to change one thing it would be for the administration to be more receptive and responsive to the student government. But, my time at Sacred Heart has been incredible and I will miss it when I graduate!... Read 94 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 699

• Student-teacher ratio 5:1

• New York, NY•

• Private School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4.47 out of 5  30 reviews

Senior: I have gone to Spence my entire life and I am so grateful for that experience! I definitely enjoyed high school the most out of my 13 years there because of the opportunities, teachers, friends and unique learning experience. I feel close to all the staff and administration there and I truly believe that they want to help you succeed.... Read 30 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 751

• Student-teacher ratio 5:1

• Rye, NY•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.33 out of 5  99 reviews

Freshman: Rye Country Day School has helped me become a better person and has provided a great academical foundation for years to come. Though it can get stressful, with a lot of homework and extracurricular activities, RCDS is just awesome! The athletics are really good too and everyone is welcoming. There are many options for electives so you can pursue your interests. The food is pretty good too. It is a diverse community and a supportive environment!... Read 99 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 951

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• New York, NY•

• Private School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4.31 out of 5  51 reviews

Parent: The Nightingale-Bamford School was the BEST decision! Our daughter started Kindergarten two years ago during the middle of the pandemic and we felt SO blessed and grateful for the BEST decision. Nightingale's leadership, core values and strong community helped demonstrate some of the key strengths of the school. Our daughter loves her school, teachers and friends, loves to read and learn and demonstrates tremendous pride which is the greatest gift. We can understand why she loves going to school since the teachers are so committed and joyful. We also appreciate as parents the rich and thoughtful curriculum and how the teachers across the Lower School, Middle School and Upper School take the time to share their curriculum, their thinking, their collaboration across the faculty community with the entire parent community throughout the year. Our daughter loves science, "doing research", music, reading...all thanks to Nightingale!... Read 51 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 692

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• New York, NY•

• Private School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4.21 out of 5  82 reviews

Junior: I love my teachers and have great friends, so I'd say overall Dalton's been pretty good to me. If you take advantage of the lab structure it can really help you succeed and make you both a better student and a better learner. And there are a ton of clubs and extracurriculars that are usually well funded and allow any type of student to find a social group. As well, there's generally a friendly and open vibe in the hallways and classrooms. However, I would say that Dalton has many of the same issues you will find in New York private schools. It's a pressure cooker. Students take on far too much work. Mental health is a big problem even if the Health department tries to address it. The cliques are real and rampant, even if you don't notice at first. And the school often prioritizes certain types of academic success over others. But if you want to go to a school like Dalton, then from my perspective it's one of the best.... Read 82 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,322

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• New York, NY•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.58 out of 5  93 reviews

Parent: If you are looking for a school that will help form future leaders of the world, look no further. The school educates the kids to think openly and creatively and approach the world in a sensitive way. They come out speaking 2 languages fluently and many others comfortably. The school is a community for the families and everybody knows each other. You can sense the warmth and love between the members of the community that are diverse religiously and ethnically. It's a wonderful place!... Read 93 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,161

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• New York, NY•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.42 out of 5  111 reviews

Parent: I have an education and developmental psychology background and my husband and I are blown away with the school. Both of my boys are in the nursery program and their growth, development and the unique and brilliant teaching methods are astounding. They teachers are extremely hands on, resourceful, provide weekly updates and pictures and videos and provide a harmonious balance between play based learning and age-appropriate academic rigor. We are very impressed with what the children are actively doing in the classroom and all of the interesting ways they are learning. We are so grateful to be part of this school!... Read 111 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,686

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• Englewood, NJ•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.46 out of 5  63 reviews

Freshman: I've been here since the seventh grade. I'm gonna be totally honest, it's an incredibly expensive school and my family is a high donor. Unlike in my previous school, teachers are connected. It's not one of those seemingly universalized experiences where its 50/50 about teachers caring. More like 80/20, and that 20 still have their charms. Though the student body are what really pulls it together. The makeup of the school is split down the middle between preppy party kids (that have their qualities) and the other half of the nicest, most motivated kids you'll ever meet. Though its middle/high school. There's drama. Its not always fun. The administration has some fundamental flaws. In that it seems as though they care more about their endowment then their students. Facilities is slow to accommodate, still no NB bathrooms, nor gym accommodations, nor trans accessible binaried bathrooms. Anyhow I love my school 8.4/10!... Read 63 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 947

• Student-teacher ratio 9:1

• New York, NY•

• Private School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4.44 out of 5  88 reviews

Parent: We love how nurturing Chapin has been for our daughter. She's finishing up third grade and absolutely adores the school, her teachers, and her classmates. She particularly appreciates library time and is eager to start using the middle school library next year. It's great having Carl Schurz park across the street, as the girls get many opportunities to play outside with their friends. The overall Chapin community is quite welcoming, and it's so nice to see how girls from all years know one another and say hi with a friendly smile when they see each other around the neighborhood. Chapin as a school has been very transparent, with regular detailed communications about whatever is going on. In particular, they've handled COVID with minimal disruption, with regular testing, tracing, and communications to the parent body. Suffice it to say, we love Chapin and are so pleased to have our daughter attending school there!... Read 88 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 814

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• New York, NY•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.68 out of 5  130 reviews

Parent: As a lifer at Marymount, I am very sad to see my daughter graduate! It has been a wonderful experience. Academically, my daughter received an excellent education allowing her to excel. She was admitted to many prestigious colleges with significant merit scholarships. But more importantly, Marymount played a large role in making my daughter the woman she is today. She is well rounded in academics, sports and cultural events, but she is also exceedingly polite, helpful and cooperative.... Read 130 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 768

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• Summit, NJ•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.11 out of 5  62 reviews

Alum: Academically excellent, great leadership opportunities, and supportive staff. The school should have much higher rankings given how well it prepares well rounded and intelligent future leaders. In 2007, The Wall Street Journal already listed Kent Place School as one of the world's top 50 schools for its success in preparing students to enter top American universities. The school has excellent academical cuticulum, strong STEM resources, and abundant student activities. At KPS learning with purpose, leading with ethics, thriving in community, and investing in one another are the priorities. These priorities are rooted in the school's core strengths, enriched by our long history of understanding how high-achieving girls learn best, and deepened by the story that every student brings to our community. KPS has a long history. Since 1894, KPS has dedicated to empowering girls. The results have been spectacular. KPS has sent students to many top institutions in the world.... Read 62 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 649

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• Locust Valley, NY•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.39 out of 5  92 reviews

Parent: We have a rising Kindergartener, who finished his first year at Friends in Pre-K. As a parent, and an educational professional, I personally could not have designed a better experience for my son, especially during the COVID-related shut down. We initially chose Friends for our son because we wanted more for him; we wanted him to learn through experience, to develop thoughts of his own and more importantly to be part of a community that subscribed to similar values as ours. Our son’s first year was FANTASTIC! Notably, while everyone was scrambling to figure things out when the State shut down, our son was being educated and supported in a way that was developmentally appropriate, fun and responsive. The transition to virtual school was so seamless, that it seemed like it was planned for (it might have been). More importantly, the teachers were open and responsive to feedback, and continued to tweak the new modality regularly. We are looking forward to many more years at Friends!... Read 92 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 706

• Student-teacher ratio 5:1

• New York, NY•

• Private School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4.62 out of 5  53 reviews

Parent: My son was accepted at all the top schools in the city, and he chose Browning hands down. A large part of his rationality is how rigorous the curriculum is, but the biggest influence is how much fun he had during his tour. My wife and I are happy with his choice, particularly after we spoke with current parents and after we attended the Speaker Series. We love how small school is with only 35 boys per grade! The after school programs are excellent. Our son is working towards becoming an Eagle Scout outside of school and he finds enough time to fit it all in. Browning is excellent in fostering independence and self-advocacy. In addition, developing their diversity and inclusion practices have been an impressive endeavor particularly after over 100 years of tradition. Browning is focused on school's mission of nurturing boys and their surrounding community so they thrive in whatever they choose to take on in the future.... Read 53 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 399

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• Tarrytown, NY•

• Private School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4.33 out of 5  75 reviews

Alum: I began attending Hackley in the sixth grade and remained there through the end of my high school career. With such great academic resources at your disposal, it's hard to not garner great college readiness. That being said, near-college level stress on children definitely creates a stress-inducing atmosphere. While this may be perceived as preparing kids for the real world, providing few mental health resources and being in the predominantly white, affluent bubble of Hackley does anything but that. Very grateful for the great opportunities the school afforded me both in and out of the classroom, particularly through travel, which was covered by my hefty financial aid. I would make sure families considering Hackley (particularly families of color or little financial means) know that the adjustment may take a toll on your student.... Read 75 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 855

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• Brooklyn, NY•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.26 out of 5  38 reviews

Senior: More than just a school: above all, a home. Fourteen floors of chaotically creative people, students, teachers and faculty alike. From the age of six I was taught to constantly question and challenge everything, that play rehearsals were more important than that physics test. I have learned to self motivate without competing with classmates and to treat every essay I write with the respect and eloquence of a novel. I have made puppets, written a twenty-page paper on the history of martial arts, and hypothesized whether sweet flavors are more commonly synesthetically assigned to major chords. Keep in mind that this environment in addition to being incredibly fruitful both creatively and academically, it can be perceived as a rose-colored, six-foot thick bubble, protecting its students from harsh realities beyond its walls. In my last year, I have come to see Saint Ann's for all of its flaws and strengths. Thank you!... Read 38 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,085

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• Brooklyn, NY•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.26 out of 5  42 reviews

Parent: I can’t say enough good things about BASIS Independent Brooklyn! Our 4 year old is in the PK-1 program at their new school location (405 Gold Street) and he’s blossoming! Caring and awesome teachers. Very thorough communication from the admin. A rock solid parent community! A great curriculum that offers a diversity of skills-building challenges (literacy, math, yoga, movement, theater, science, social emotional learning, Mandarin, just to name a few!) A plethora of after-school activities. Great location (next to a Target & Trader Joe’s). Same rigorous education but $20K cheaper than Poly Prep/Saint Ann’s etc. We met some amazing friends through this school and our son is so happy to go to school every day! In Pre-K 1 (3’s program), our son is already doing sight words and he’s staring to read simple words. The school really fosters a curiosity for learning, civic duty awareness, kindness development and a community of like-minded parent community! I can’t be happier!... Read 42 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 869

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• Somerset, NJ•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.58 out of 5  107 reviews

Parent: Rutgers Prep is a hidden gem. This fall my daughter entered the 6th grade from our local public school and we couldn't be happier with our choice. We have discovered an incredibly kind and diverse student body, a mix of teachers/administrators/staff that love the school which is evidenced by the low turnover, and a challenging academic curriculum. There are so many opportunities for students to learn, grow and develop not only from their teachers, but from their incredibly diverse classmates, across divisions (my daughter is currently in the Robotics Club which is taught by high schoolers) and in activities outside of the classroom. We are so thankful that we found Rutgers Prep for our daughter and that we're all a part of the Prep community!... Read 107 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 640

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• Montclair, NJ•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 3.82 out of 5  119 reviews

Junior: MKA's innovative teaching approach provides many different ways for students to understand content. They use advanced SmartBoard technologies, utilize group-led discussions, and emphasize community learning. MKA's fabulous teachers and small class sizes make each student feel like they belong. While the environment can oftentimes be competitive, the two on-campus guidance counselors and students' advisors are always there to help. The school is home to over 30 student run competitive, social action, affinity group, general interest, and service work organizations. There are countless pathways for students to get involved and find their passions. The brilliant teachers, organizations, and emphasis on learning cultivate an amazing learning environment where each student can discover their interests.... Read 119 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,052

• Student-teacher ratio 4:1

• Brooklyn, NY•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.17 out of 5  101 reviews

Freshman: Overall, going to Poly Prep Country Day School has been an interesting experience. The teachers are very kind and passionate about teaching students, always willing to go the extra mile to help teach students. They also are very responsive to special requests to attend to whatever a student needs. The school has many good programs, such as the Debate/Speech team and athletics department. The school is also very resourceful and very willing to adapt to people's needs, especially in the times of Corvid-19. The school has testing every week, allowed the option for kids to go either in school/fully virtual, and was very proactive in everything it did. Of course, it's not the perfect school. For example, the general STEM academics are not particularly amazing. Furthermore, there are kids that come in and care very little for the academics and have a generally poor effect on the school environment. Nonetheless, Poly Prep is an outstanding school with minor drawbacks.... Read 101 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,156

• Student-teacher ratio 5:1