2023 Best Schools in New York

• 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 4.36 out of 5  70 reviews

Senior: I have had a great RCS experience. I’ve been at Riverdale since 7th grade and truly met my favorite people, both students and teachers! I will miss the community so much, but am looking forward to the college experience, which Riverdale prepared me for so well.... Read 70 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

• New York, NY•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.43 out of 5  147 reviews

Freshman: As a current frosh at Regis High School, it is extraordinary. Regis is a Catholic high school for young men with a reputation for being one of the best education environments in the country while having a substantial history of placing many of its students into highly competitive colleges. The admissions process is challenging due to Regis's adroitness and demands its best from its students. The curriculum requires students' concentration and management of themselves and their time to thrive while promoting independence. The jump from middle school to high school was an impactful transition that left me in a shell-shocked state for some time as I was out of my comfort zone. However, the helpfulness and accessibility of the faculty and the kindness of the student body allowed that panicking moment of change to become a beautiful moment of growth. Not even a year has elapsed, yet I am thankful for my acceptance and decision to attend this school.... Read 147 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 532

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• 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

• 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 4.64 out of 5  104 reviews

Other: A warm and welcoming community where each student is valued and given tools to excel! Beautiful and well maintained new athletics center. The historic mansions, which host the academic classrooms, maintain both the history of the neighborhood while still leaving room for technological and practical advancements to engage students in learning!... Read 104 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 4.34 out of 5  100 reviews

Parent: All around great experience. Very flexible curriculum that allows you to do as much as you want, teachers were fantastic and encouraged seeking help as well as enthusiastically supported independent studies. Supportive peers even when there could have been competition - we did not have any issues where kids were being privileged brats - but our child was academically focused and had a close knit group of 25+ students who studied, played sports, pursued other interests and didn’t really party heavily. Has increasingly become more diverse and celebrates diversity in a genuine manner and our child felt empowered to represent our culture and heritage. College counseling was above and beyond any expectations we had - the level of effort and support was incredible and overall outcomes also seem to be pretty strong.... Read 100 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 710

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• New York, NY•

• Private School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4.21 out of 5  82 reviews

Parent: My kids have both been at Dalton since kindergarten, and it has been a great experience. They have had some incredible teachers, who care about their students and know them well. The Lab system (which allows students to meet with their teachers one-on-one during free periods) is really impactful on many levels. The social studies/history and chess curriculum seem especially strong starting in the lower grades, and as kids get older the engineering/STEM fields (and arts) seem to really strengthen and be favored by the kids. But there are really so many opportunities at Dalton -- there is so much for the students to explore, and they can really pursue many different interests quite deeply.... Read 82 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,314

• Student-teacher ratio 5:1

• New York City Geographic District No. 10, NY•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.88 out of 5  1,030 reviews

Parent: Excellent academics, almost every AP possible offered, lots of students taking post AP classes. Large school (~2800 kids), but brilliant student body with a wide range of interests and passions. This is the school where one can find high performing athletes with interests in performing arts and computers science or biology or math or physics or engineering. As one of the Specialized high school of the city, students come from all boroughs, making a 2-4 hours daily commute a regular part their 4-year high school journey. Very large number of clubs, sports, student activities. Teachers and administrators are top notch and dedicated. Perfect? Of course not, as it is after all a public school, but the Alumni foundation and the Parent Association are extremely active and generous both with time and resources to make up for what the Dept of Education budget does not cover. Go Wolverines!... Read 1,030 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 2,937

• Student-teacher ratio 21:1

• New York City Geographic District No. 2, NY•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.1 out of 5  1,126 reviews

Junior: Stuyvesant High School is extremely rigorous, and the experience is super different from any other school in New York City, even other specialized high schools. However, the Stuy community is also unlike any other, and despite the difficult and college-level classes, the school provides a large array of materials and resources to ensure that students can preform to their best ability. Not everyone is going to be happy at Stuy, and I think a genuine love for learning and education is really important so as not to get overwhelmed here. However, if you want to challenge yourself, I think Stuyvesant is the best school in the city. If I would change one thing about Stuyvesant it would definitely be the diversity. The school is over seventy percent Asian, and a lot of other ethnic groups don't get an equal opportunity at getting in. However, a great many diverse groups are represented in the school's clubs and organizations, and the school is making an active effort to be more inclusive.... Read 1,126 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 3,357

• Student-teacher ratio 22:1

• 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  115 reviews

Freshman: Overall, Avenues is a good school that has amazing teachers. Our teachers are always here for us, both academically and socially, and our deans are supportive. Overall, the academic experience leans more towards ELA than STEM; however, both are very strong, and there are many electives that can provide further academic fulfillment. Students are encouraged to pursue their own passions, and they have the full support of their academic advisors. Further, the Mastery Learning System (MLS) at Avenues provides self-driven, motivated students an opportunity to create their own projects that address the core curriculum one would learn in their academic year.... Read 115 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,686

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• New York, NY•

• Private School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4.52 out of 5  103 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 103 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 814

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• New York City Geographic District No. 31, NY•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.35 out of 5  771 reviews

Junior: You will be exposed to a multitude of resources during your time here and welcomed into a great community! While this school may not be for those unwilling to take on a rigorous academic experience, you will certainly be given the choices to take easier classes. The courseload can demanding at times, but most teachers are reasonable as long as you communicate with them. Ultimately, Tech will offer you many things to enhance and enrich your high school experience, but it is up to YOU to take advantage, whether that be through an internship, mentorship, sport, club, SING, etc.... Read 771 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,336

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• West Palm Beach, FL•

• Online School•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 4.89 out of 5  155 reviews

Parent: Dwight Global Online School exceeded my expectations in every aspect. The teachers are truly exceptional, inspiring, and motivating students with their passion for teaching. The flexible scheduling allows students to learn at their own pace and explore their interests beyond academics. The personalized achievement plans, provided by dedicated counselors, ensure that each student receives individual attention and guidance to reach their specific goals. The administration at Dwight Global Online School is considerate and supportive, accommodating families and understanding their unique situations. The diverse student body creates a rich cultural experience, fostering an appreciation for different perspectives and preparing students for a global society. With a strong academic program that challenges and equips students with the necessary skills, DGOS sets students on a path to achieving their desired goals. Overall, I highly recommend DGOS for its exceptional education!... Read 155 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 307

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• New York, NY•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.69 out of 5  131 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 131 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 768

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• New York City Geographic District No. 25, NY•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.2 out of 5  680 reviews

Junior: Great school, there are lots of opportunities but it isn’t so balanced for boys as there are more opportunities for girls than boys. There is also a lack of funding and business/finance related programs and mainly only engineering and humanities.... Read 680 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,270

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Locust Valley, NY•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.4 out of 5  93 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 93 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 706

• Student-teacher ratio 5:1

• New York, NY•

• Private School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4.63 out of 5  54 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 54 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 399

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• Tarrytown, NY•

• Private School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4.34 out of 5  76 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 76 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