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2020 Best Public High Schools in New YorkAbout this List

The 2020 Best Public High Schools ranking is based on rigorous analysis of key statistics and millions of reviews from students and parents using data from the U.S. Department of Education. Ranking factors include state test scores, college readiness, graduation rates, SAT/ACT scores, teacher quality, and high school ratings. Read more on how this ranking was calculated.

1 – 25 of 1,394
Best Schools
1,394 results

  1. Stuyvesant High School

    • New York City Geographic District No. 2, NY
    • 9-12
    • 964 reviews
    #1 Best Public High Schools in New York

    Senior: I enjoy the environment that Stuyvesant promotes especially with the students that particularly create the experience. The student agency allows for an interwoven network of clubs that host movie nights, guest appearances, and musical performances.
     Moreover, I feel as if the Tribeca area adds a lot to the Stuyvesant experience. Being, in the heartland of Manhattan, local delis, as well as Battery Park and the harbor makes for unique experiences. Clubs such as the Environmentalist Club takes advantage of this by breeding oysters and releasing them out into the sea.
     Not only that, but teachers play well into the Stuyvesant culture. Many, while unorthodox relate to students through popular media, music, modern events, and even video games. The staff as well continually show support for students with free water bottles and even allowing the entire student body to vote for where $2000 funding could go towards waterbottle refilling, printing, or charging stations!
    Read 964 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 3,368 Students
    • 21:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  2. Staten Island Technical High School

    • New York City Geographic District No. 31, NY
    • 9-12
    • 627 reviews
    #2 Best Public High Schools in New York

    Freshman: Staten Island Technical High School provides students with many opportunities through rigorous courses and clubs celebrating diversity. Students take Russian for three years (four, if they choose to). This gives students something rare to put on their resumés. However, there aren’t as many sports for females as there are for males. This gives males more chances to succeed athletically. On the other hand, the school is full of encouraging staff members. The school even has a therapy dog for students who need to relieve stress! We are also taught about substance addiction prevention. The teacher helps us open up about problems and questions we have. The school enforces a strict policy against academic dishonesty, and always reminds students to be honest about their work. For instance, the guidance counselor advises students who do not have enough time for an assignment to ask the teacher for an extension instead of cheating.
    Read 627 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,313 Students
    • 23:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  3. Townsend Harris High School

    • New York City Geographic District No. 25, NY
    • 9-12
    • 577 reviews
    #3 Best Public High Schools in New York

    Freshman: The three months that I have attended this school for have caused me to have a positive impression on it. Freshman year of high school comprises a myriad of difficulties and with the assistance I am currently receiving from all the staff, I haven't experienced any of the hardships I expected yet. The school's welcoming nature allows students to adjust rapidly and call it their second home in no time. One of my favorite things about this school is how much they care for the students, for there is a testing schedule to prevent stress and to help us manage the rigorous course. Despite all the phenomenal aspects of this high school, much of the student body, including me, wish the physical education class wasn't this intense, as we are mandated to run unpleasant miles frequently. Aside from that, Townsend Harris High School is an overall outstanding school and I am looking forward to gaining an amazing high school experience throughout all the years to come!
    Read 577 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,109 Students
    • 20:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  4. Bronx High School of Science

    • New York City Geographic District No. 10, NY
    • 9-12
    • 849 reviews
    #4 Best Public High Schools in New York

    Senior: Bronx Science was a surprisingly great experience. I say surprising because I thought everything would have been way above my head, academically, but I was able to juggle my busy sports schedule (cross-country, track) and my homework. I think much of this was due to the excellent in-class teaching and the staff. Like at all schools, I had talented teachers, and not so brilliant teachers, but for the most part they were enthusiastic and knowledgeable.
    The student body is serious and diverse, both culturally and economically, which was a unique experience for me. My classmates were serious yet knew how to have a life outside of the rigors of Bronx Science. Overall 5 stars!
    Read 849 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 2,977 Students
    • 22:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  5. Jericho Senior High School

    • Jericho Union Free School District, NY
    • 9-12
    • 133 reviews
    #5 Best Public High Schools in New York

    Senior: As a student who has grown up in the Jericho School District, there are many things I can say regarding the high school. Jericho Senior High School has an abundance of extracurricular activities. The staff and administration really strive to help each and every student succeed in anything and everything the student wants to succeed in. Something I like about Jericho is that the district provides resources for students or teachers to discuss or deal with mental health, and strive to provide mental health education for students. As someone who has had to deal with many issues outside of school, I became very sad and stressed. I began talking to my guidance counselor, school social worker, and school psychologist to help deal with anything. I am glad that Jericho has many opportunities to help kids in every way possible, and I am proud to be a future graduate of Jericho Senior High School. If I were to have children in the future, I would want them attending this district.
    Read 133 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,088 Students
    • 10:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  6. Great Neck South High School

    • Great Neck Public Schools, NY
    • 9-12
    • 225 reviews
    #6 Best Public High Schools in New York

    Senior: I attended Great Neck South High for my Junior and Senior year, it was great! I love the atmosphere here, and I had a lot of fun! Of course high school is stressful, but I got a lot of help when I could not do well in my classes. There's a study center tutors are available to all students, and teachers of most subjects offer extra help. A lot of clubs and activities are going on every single day! I had a really nice experience with school musicals and operas, and my talented classmates and teachers did a musical Mama Mia! within 3 months! There are performances by students almost every month as well. GNSHS also offers A LOT OF AP courses like art history and music theory while other schools don't. 10-ish teachers are doctors of different fields and they guide students to science competitions and DECA. Teachers, counselors, and administration officers are so nice and friendly! My math teacher and I became lifelong friends, which I am so happy about. The school is overall great!
    Read 225 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,193 Students
    • 11:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  9. High School Math Science & Engineering at The City College of New York (CCNY)

    • New York City Geographic District No. 5, NY
    • 9-12
    • 165 reviews
    #7 Best Public High Schools in New York

    Junior: I like how HSMSE is a close-knit community of students and teachers, so generally, everyone knows each other. It makes it easier to make friends and form close bonds with teachers. I also like the events that are planned throughout the year, like Multicultural Night, where participants can donate food from their cultures. I would like to see more participation in our school's events. Our student-led Leadership team plans such fun events, but there isn't much enthusiasm, despite the posters. Another thing I would like to see is a cafeteria. Our school doesn’t have a cafeteria, but the CCNY college nearby allows students to use its facilities.
    Read 165 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 464 Students
    • 16:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  10. Scarsdale Senior High School

    • Scarsdale Union Free School District, NY
    • 9-12
    • 106 reviews
    #8 Best Public High Schools in New York

    Freshman: Very good quality of education. Teachers are very nice and helpful (for the most part). There are clubs and extracurricular activities for pretty much everyone's interests. There is a lot of Raiders pride (Go raiders!) and the teams are very good. The library is two floors (but is mostly computers...) the music department is one of the best they've ever seen, say many of the teachers. School is very diverse as well, with people from all over the country, and the world, coming here to be educated. There are many programs that help students get jobs and get ready for college. The school is run by a good administration and they run fire drills frequently to prepare the students for a fire (most likely in the chem labs). The food is okay...
    Read 106 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,517 Students
    • 12:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  11. Syosset Senior High School

    • Syosset Central School District, NY
    • 9-12
    • 320 reviews
    #9 Best Public High Schools in New York

    Senior: Syosset, for the most part, is a good school—it has all the clubs you could possibly imagine (over 100 I believe), & classes ranging from music theory to AP Physics C. It wasn't hard to distinguish the classes I liked & was willing to pursue, from the ones that I wasn't so keen on taking (sorry Ap Spanish!) For the purposes of a holistic review though, I have to take into consideration the things I didn't like about Syosset: the changes in the middle of the year & seemingly unnecessary renovations. Two years ago, the school implemented a new bell that came out of nowhere (along with a new security system & attendance policy); It took a while to get used to these new changes. This summer, the school took on some costly renovations: a new hallway at the front of the school & new weight room for gym classes. Besides construction taking over 5 months, I feel like the money could have gone into better things, such as air conditioning or heating. All in all, Syosset HS is a great school.
    Read 320 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 2,084 Students
    • 10:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  12. Manhasset Secondary School

    • Manhasset Union Free School District, NY
    • 9-12
    • 65 reviews
    #10 Best Public High Schools in New York

    Alum: The Manhasset school district will grant you a solid high school experience. The teachers are great and it's safe. Some of the sports teams are top in the state too. Manhasset is a very prestigious district with lots of academics being much harder than other schools. The school prioritizes on the students who do the best. More students in a graduating class will end up going to an Ivy rather than the local community college. That is because the district almost expects you to go to an Ivy league college. There will be no awareness in your entire experience of getting into a trade for a career, it almost creates a stigma that going into a trade career is looked down upon. Even the students who are very "average" for the district, usually aren't shown much support by the district, and it makes it harder for those students with the academics being so hard. This ends up leaving them very confused in the college process and onward in their lives.
    Read 65 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,157 Students
    • 12:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  13. Herricks High School

    • Herricks Union Free School District, NY
    • 9-12
    • 153 reviews
    #11 Best Public High Schools in New York

    Alum: I graduated Herricks High School in 2016, after attending both their respective middle school and elementary school. Herricks High School felt more like a home to me than school. The teachers were extremely personal and aided individuals to do their best. The community embraced uniqueness and diversity in individuals rather than making people feel out of place for being different. There was a strong emphasis on growth in the school to the point where I did not have a difficult transition into college, whereas I know many students do. There was an ample amount of resources available through being a student there, such as access to databases and other important tools. Our music department excelled every single year, along with our improving sports program. The school allowed students to create their own clubs about almost everything that they wanted, giving students a chance to discover new interests.
    Read 153 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,294 Students
    • 12:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  14. Baccalaureate School for Global Education

    • New York City Geographic District No. 30, NY
    • 7-12
    • 182 reviews
    #12 Best Public High Schools in New York

    Senior: Amazing school with a great IB diploma program and rigorous academics. While the teachers are extremely passionate about their subjects (obviously with a few exceptions; not all teachers are perfect), choices of extracurricular programs and academic courses are quite limited due to small budget. Building is also somewhat small and lacks certain facilities, such as a gymnasium, but the benefit of this is that the school population is small and therefore students get individualized attention from teachers and from the amazing college counselor (who goes above and beyond in order to ensure the success of his students). Overall would highly recommend!
    Read 182 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 515 Students
    • 18:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  15. Great Neck North High School

    • Great Neck Public Schools, NY
    • 9-12
    • 105 reviews
    #13 Best Public High Schools in New York

    Senior: I have absolutely loved attending North! The teachers that work here are almost all above-par and excellent at not only teaching but being people who you can talk to about personal issues (the majority of them at least). The community here, while lacking in diversity, is open to those who personalize their experience and time at North. In addition, the clubs, activities, and sports offered are expansive and give everyone the opportunity to explore their true passions (if you don't find the club you want, make a new one). Personally, the grade culture was very united so that everyone, no matter if you were a nerd or a jock, communicated and interacted. But if you ever feel lost in your grade's culture, you can still find new homes in the clubs, activities, and sports you participate in. Finally, North supplies its students with SO many resources, from iPads to helpful guidance counselors. Created by the students, North is truly a special place- treasure the time you spend here.
    Read 105 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,098 Students
    • 11:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  16. Brighton High School

    • Brighton Central School District, NY
    • 9-12
    • 252 reviews
    #14 Best Public High Schools in New York

    Senior: I enjoyed the rigor of the courses and was especially excited to find my teachers as enthusiastic about their subjects as I was. Something I did not enjoy, however, was the fact that the four year mandatory English and Social Studies requirement was almost twice as long as the STEM credit requirements. In a world that is becoming more and more technologically structured, classes like Computer Science and higher level maths should be offered to students and ideally required to prepare them for the real world. Additionally, teachers of lower level classes, especially ones where every single student in the school must pass them to graduate, lacked passion in their work. You could only find extremely passionate and enthusiastic educators in the highest level classes, which means the majority of the students here never get to have the experience of having an extraordinarily passionate teacher, which likely is a reason why most people do no enjoy school.
    Read 252 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,139 Students
    • 11:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  17. High School of American Studies at Lehman College

    • New York City Geographic District No. 10, NY
    • 9-12
    • 112 reviews
    #15 Best Public High Schools in New York

    Parent: My son is finishing his senior year at HSAS, and we could not be happier with the education he has received. More importantly, perhaps, he has fostered good and lasting friendships, and HSAS deserves credit for creating an atmosphere in which strong social bonds thrive. Although this is a highly competitive school in terms of academics, students are not competitive with each other as might be expected. There is very little downside to this school, but the college counseling can be placed in that realm. I think most parents struck out on their own during that "all important" search. We were very careful in our search for an excellent school, particularly because our son had to commute a long way to come to HSAS, but we are very happy that he's had the high school experience that he has had here. Highly, highly recommend it!
    Read 112 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 377 Students
    • 16:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  18. Bard High School Early College Queens

    • New York City Geographic District No. 24, NY
    • 9-12
    • 335 reviews
    #16 Best Public High Schools in New York

    Senior: I honestly owe everything to Bard. I'm a current senior here, and I'm graduating in ~ three weeks. This place is truly somewhere to flourish academically and socially. The friendships and teacher relationships that I've made were all meaningful, as the Bard community has a special essence and the professors are all absolutely amazing! The professors care tremendously about their own work and their student's work. The small school atmosphere has especially added to my experience!
    Read 335 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 598 Students
    • 18:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  19. Roslyn High School

    • Roslyn Union Free School District, NY
    • 9-12
    • 119 reviews
    #17 Best Public High Schools in New York

    Senior: Roslyn High School is a school with strong academics and an encouraging staff. I liked the self-selection option with choosing our courses and the various clubs and activities offered. This gave the students the opportunity to dabble in classes they were passionate about. Furthermore, the many courses offered at Roslyn High School reflect the abundant resources that can be utilized by its students. The teachers and the administration in general communicated frequently and well with their students and were very approachable. While I enjoyed my overall experience here, one place this school is lacking in is in the diversity of its students. There is an overwhelming amount of Caucasians, and a much smaller percentage of other ethnicities. Overall, however, this school is certainly a good one.
    Read 119 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,053 Students
    • 12:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  22. Brooklyn Technical High School

    • New York City Geographic District No. 13, NY
    • 9-12
    • 1,862 reviews
    #18 Best Public High Schools in New York

    Senior: Big, big school. Enough to hold almost 6,000 students, not even counting the number of teachers, staff, faculty, and alumni! With such a large population of students, there are no questions for its diversity and culture. I am impressed by the students, my colleagues, I meet here. Everyone I meet has their own stories and backgrounds needed to be shared, and we share that through clubs, sports, music, arts and most importantly our amazing STEM education. Brooklyn Tech is one of the most top-rated public high schools that we could ever have.
    Read 1,862 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 5,664 Students
    • 24:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  23. Horace Greeley High School

    • Chappaqua Central School District, NY
    • 9-12
    • 110 reviews
    #19 Best Public High Schools in New York

    Alum: Class of 2019 Review:
    Pros:
    Academics - has a very academically stimulating environment - teachers push students to pursue their curiosities, particularly through the school's science research and independent study programs.
    Clubs - there are a wide variety of clubs and extracurriculars supported by the school.
    Reputation - the school is very well recognized for its academic rigor by top universities.

    Cons:
    Competitive atmosphere - the competitiveness of the school's students can be stifling at times, as it seems people care more about getting into college than the students around them.
    Stress - a natural product of the school's atmosphere and academic rigor - it can be a very stressful environment at times.

    I overall did enjoy my four years at Greeley - best of luck to all incoming students!
    Read 110 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,308 Students
    • 12:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  24. Pittsford-Mendon High School

    • Pittsford Central School District, NY
    • 9-12
    • 159 reviews
    #20 Best Public High Schools in New York

    Sophomore: Pittsford Mendon High School is a unique educational and social institution. What makes Mendon awesome is that we are Viking STRONG. Our motto represents our values. The “S” stands for spirited. Whether it be sporting events, pep rallies or spirit days, we take pride seriously. Everyone does their best to get involved! The “T” means together. We work together to be accepting. We also collaborate on school and extracurricular activities. “R” means respect. We believe that everyone deserves respect because we are all humans. “O” means original. Everyone is encouraged to come up with ideas and try new approaches, but most importantly be themselves! Along with that the “N” stands for nurturing. We nurture classmates and support each other to ensure positive learning experiences. Lastly, “G” means genuine. At Mendon we put our hearts into everything. We persevere to have a genuine attitude. Mendon students are STRONG, and I believe it is a wonderful school.
    Read 159 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 984 Students
    • 13:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  25. Paul D. Schreiber Senior High School

    • Port Washington Union Free School District, NY
    • 9-12
    • 217 reviews
    #21 Best Public High Schools in New York

    Alum: Throughout High School, I was highly challenged by the classes I took which included some honors and some AP classes. I think this is beneficial because once I reached college, I realized not everyone had been challenged as I was. In addition, it made the courses I was taking somewhat easier. However, I believe if there are different teachers for different courses, the course should be relatively similar. For example, I took Regents Physics and one of my friends did as well, but she had a different teacher. When we compared our tests, we noticed they both required different skills in physics, one was harder than the other. Teachers throughout the school are very helpful and flexible with their availability.
    Read 217 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,626 Students
    • 14:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  26. Bronxville High School

    • Bronxville Union Free School District, NY
    • 9-12
    • 73 reviews
    #22 Best Public High Schools in New York

    Junior: I have been going to Bronxville for 12 years and although it is an extremely competitive environment, teachers are so helpful and it is all super manageable. The social life in Bronxville is super fun and seeing all the comments about drinking and drugs makes me sad because that is not necessarily true and honestly most high schools have more drinking and drugs than we do. Bronxville is so unique and it's such a great school! There's something there for everyone whether it is sports or the arts (which have become much more prominent in student life).
    Read 73 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 487 Students
    • 15:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  27. Eleanor Roosevelt High School

    • New York City Geographic District No. 2, NY
    • 9-12
    • 129 reviews
    #23 Best Public High Schools in New York

    Senior: Eleanor Roosevelt is a very rigorous and well-rounded school. There are many really amazing teachers, but teaching style varies drastically from class to class. Some teachers are very easygoing and understanding, whereas others are extremely strict. There is a definite lack of school spirit and unity, but I do feel that the school has prepared me well for college and provided me with a traditional and thorough education.
    Read 129 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 544 Students
    • 16:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  28. Rye High School

    • Rye City School District, NY
    • 9-12
    • 72 reviews
    #24 Best Public High Schools in New York

    Senior: I've had an enjoyable time at Rye although I lament it's lack of diversity and wish I'd been more exposed to different perspectives. Despite the lack of diversity, however, students at RHS are on the whole very open-minded and accepting of others. I've had a pleasant experience as an openly out LGBT person without being the victim of or witnessing bullying of any sort.

    Most of my teachers have been well-qualified and good at their jobs. A small few have been sub-par or just awful at teaching. The science department in particular I feel is lacking in strong teachers. Rye does have a strong and well-resourced art department for a public school, and breeds many creative students by offering an array of opportunities and encouraging artistic accomplishment. The school does a good job of preparing students for the rigor of college, yet the atmosphere is quite competitive and can be challenging to deal with at times, especially for the majority of students with such busy schedules.
    Read 72 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,008 Students
    • 15:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  29. Mamaroneck High School

    • Mamaroneck Union Free School District, NY
    • 9-12
    • 136 reviews
    #25 Best Public High Schools in New York

    Senior: Students are very friendly and welcoming. Since the school is open campus, you have the freedom to leave campus during free periods or during lunch to get food at nearby restaurants or cafes. The school also offers a wide range and variety of clubs that are very fun!
    Read 136 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,543 Students
    • 14:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  30. Sponsored

    Academy of St. Joseph

    • Private School
    • New York, NY
    • PK, K-8
    • 12 reviews

    Parent: My son has been going to Academy of St. Joseph since Pre-K 3 and is now a 1st grader. We relocated from Los Angeles and had a hard time finding the right school for our son. We wanted a close knit community, a catholic education, small class size, and high academic standards all at a reasonable price. It felt like finding a needle in a haystack but The Academy of St. Joseph checked all the boxes we were looking for. It's an independent catholic school, which allows them to develop the highest quality curriculum but still infuse religious values. It is a diverse community of families that is welcoming of all religions. It was the perfect mix of everything we were looking for!
    Read 12 Reviews

    • 75 Students
    • 6:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  35. Sponsored

    Lycée Français de New York

    • Private School
    • New York, NY
    • PK, K-12
    • 64 reviews

    Parent: I ❤️ the LFNY! I’m an Argentinian mother of two beautiful girls (13 and 8 years old) who where born and raised in Rome, Italy. We arrived to NYC almost four years ago and fortunately they had this amazing opportunity of perusing their studies at the LFNY. I think the school combines the best of the French and American education, the best of both worlds! As a parent, I couldn’t ask for more! This school is the best gift I could ever give to them!
    Read 64 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,370 Students
    • 9:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  36. Sponsored

    International School of Brooklyn

    • Private School
    • Brooklyn, NY
    • PK, K-8
    • 15 reviews

    Parent: Moving from London to NYC - an international school with a diverse population was essential. We found that school in ISB!

    ISB has proven to grow our children to think globally and take risks! The IB curriculum joined with a truly immersive language experience has exceeded our expectations. They way our kids think and ask questions is exactly what we want for our children to be successful as adults.

    ISB has a wonderful community. Any day you visit the school, you'll see Middle School students interacting with Pre-School students. You'll hear more languages than the French, Spanish & English being taught and you'll feel welcome by the teachers, administrators & parents.

    ISB has the winning formula for our children!
    Read 15 Reviews

    • B+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 370 Students
    • 4:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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