Preschools, Nursery Schools, and Pre-K Programs in Manhattan

UPDATED September 2019: Ensuring your child has a good early childhood education sets the tone for the rest of their educational careers. And deciding between traditional, Montessori, Catholic, parochial, private, independent, public, or charter is a huge decision. We know the preschool application process can be brutal, so we're here to help with a roundup of the best preschool options in Manhattan. These preschools, nursery schools, and pre-K programs set the foundation your child needs to progress to kindergarten. You'll find preschools on the Upper West Side, Upper East Side, Chelsea, Tribeca, Gramercy, Harlem, Battery Park City, Lower Manhattan, the Financial District, Midtown, and Chinatown.

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BIS-NY offers a global education which encourages critical thinking and problem solving through which children gain confidence to ask questions, and to take risks in a nurturing environment where they are both stretched and supported. With a focus on encouraging early literacy and numeracy, even our youngest also enjoy French or Spanish, drama, music, swimming, and art every week. It’s a tested approach to learning that promotes success and independence, preparing all our children academically, socially, and emotionally-ready for the wonder of the world that lies ahead.

CALHOUN SCHOOL (THE)
433 West End Ave., Manhattan
Main Building
third-12th grades
433 West End Ave.
212-497-6500

Robert L. Beir Lower School Building
2.8 years-second grade
160 West 74th St.
212-497-6550

Calhoun’s preschool is a place where children take their first steps to becoming lifelong learners. Preschoolers at Calhoun learn to build, create, communicate, and collaborate as community members. Within the safety and structure of their school day, our youngest scholars receive a strong foundation for their future academic pursuits.

CREATIVE STEPS EARLY CARE & EDUCATION CENTER
4 Washington Square Village , New York
212-982-2273
Email [email protected]

Creative Steps, a program of University Settlement, offers a nurturing and culturally diverse community for children and families. Our child-centered, play-based program provides hands-on experiences and an opportunity for children ages 12 months-4 years to initiate and direct their own learning. Early drop-off, after-school, and summer programs available.

ÉCOLE (THE)
111 E. 22nd St., New York
646-410-2238
Email [email protected]

The École, formerly École Internationale de New York, is an intimate and independent French-American school that cultivates an internationally-minded community of students. From Maternelle to middle school, we blend the best of the French and American educational systems, gifting our students with deep academic bi-literacy and an optimistic, multi-cultural perspective.

EPIPHANY COMMUNITY NURSERY SCHOOL
510 E. 74th St., New York
212-737-2977

Since 1975, the core philosophy of ECNS centers on positive self-image, curiosity, strong educational curriculum, creativity, and independence. Bright, spacious classrooms are filled with books, toys, and manipulatives, to facilitate cognitive growth. With a private rooftop playground, large indoor playroom, and fully equipped gym, there is plenty of room to play.

EPIPHANY SCHOOL (THE)
Gramercy, Murray Hill,
Early Childhood Center:
152 E. 29th St.
212-725-7220
Lower School:
234 E. 22nd St.
212-473-4128
Upper School:
141 E. 28th St.
212-725-7220

Email [email protected]

Early Childhood classes at The Epiphany School utilize art, music, movement, learning centers, and socialization activities to support the growth of each child's cognitive, linguistic, physical, and social emotional skills. Low teacher-student ratios, bright, colorful classrooms, and outdoor play space provide students an inviting, comfortable environment to begin their educational journey.

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH NURSERY SCHOOL
12 W. 12th St., New York
212-691-3432

First Presbyterian Church Nursery School was founded in 1952 in Greenwich Village. Our school offers a non-sectarian program, welcoming children and families of all configurations, religions, races, cultures, and economic backgrounds. FPCNS is dedicated to the development of the whole child in a warm and nurturing environment.

GILLEN BREWER SCHOOL
410 E. 92nd St., New York
212-831-3667
Email [email protected]

Gillen Brewer School is a family-oriented, 12-month, early childhood and elementary program for children ages 2.8-10 years with language-based and non-verbal learning disabilities. We provide an integrated, developmentally-appropriate, academic-therapeutic program that includes speech-language therapy, occupational therapy, and counseling. Our curriculum is enriched with arts, music, science, and physical fitness programs.

GREEN VALE SCHOOL (THE)
250 Valentine's Lane, Old Brookville
516-621-2420

Green Vale is Long Island’s premier and largest coed, independent elementary school for pre-nursery through eighth grade. A program of exceptional academics and small class sizes is combined with emphasis on athletics, visual and performing arts, and character education at every grade level.

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION SCHOOL
419 E. 13th St.,
212-475-2590
Email [email protected]

Immaculate Conception School is dedicated to achieving excellence in learning. From pre-K3 and UPK, through eighth grade, we provide a caring, well-run, high-performance foundation for children of all faiths and cultures. Well-equipped classrooms offer technological innovations in learning and committed educators create a safe and inspiring environment in which to grow.

INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY OF NEW YORK
4 E. 90th St. , New York
212-641-0260
Email [email protected]

The International Academy of New York is multi-cultural and diverse, developing culturally astute, confident, and empathetic students with fluency in Mandarin or Spanish, while excelling in literacy, math, and the arts. Pre-nursery (2s)-eighth grade, but accepting applications through fourth grade for 2019-20.

JCC OF MID-WESTCHESTER
999 Wilmot Road, Scarsdale
914-472-3300
Caryn Symons, director of camping
[email protected]

The JCC of Mid-Westchester offers classes in its nursery school for children ages 2-5. Ages 3-5 enjoy swimming in our indoor heated pool, working off energy in our gymnasium, climbing in our playground, and performing skits in our Bendheim Theatre. We offer a variety of sports, dance, and academic enrichment programs.

LYCEUM KENNEDY FRENCH AMERICAN SCHOOL
Manhattan 225 Campus (Lower School)
225 E. 43rd St.
212-681-1877

Ardsley Campus (Lower School)
1 Cross Road, Ardsley
914-479-0722

Manhattan 815 Campus (Middle and Upper School)
815 Second Ave.
New York, NY 10017
212-661-1916

Lyceum Kennedys preschool program provides children with a unique bilingual experience. Our curriculum follows the complete program from the French Ministry of Education and the New York State Education Department. Through activities that challenge and captivate young minds, we instill a lifelong desire to learn.

MARYEL SCHOOL OF NEW YORK
28 E. 35th St., New York
212-213-2097

Maryel School of New York is an independent, bilingual English/Spanish school, educating children from nursery-fifth grade. Maryel is a harmonious combination of the educational system of the United States and Europe. With a rigorous, challenging education, Maryel incorporates all forms of critical thinking and inspires a lifelong love of learning.

MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL (THE)
347 E. 55th St., Sutton Place , Manhattan
212-223-4630

Children explore academic dimensions at their own pace and interest level. Classes are equipped with didactic Montessori materials that encourage absorption of concepts through play, leading children to become well-rounded and confident. Program includes science, music, foreign language, musical theatre, swimming, dance, yoga, chess, cultural events, and robotics.

PUSTEBLUME INTERNATIONAL PRESCHOOL AND AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS
244 W. 14th St., New York
212-206-1137
Email [email protected]

Pusteblume International Preschool provides children with a fun and community-oriented multicultural environment. Our preschool program welcomes families with children from ages 2-5 of all international backgrounds who are interested in having their child learn German, Spanish, or both, in a language immersion classroom.

SARA CURRY DAY SCHOOL
93 St. Marks Place ,
212-777-9774
Email [email protected]

Children in The Sara Curry Day School are focused, relaxed, communicative, and engaged. This is done through emotional education, and self-directed learning. They learn to reflect on their feelings before they act, and to understand the feelings of others. Conflict is an opportunity to discuss feelings, recognize patterns, and find communal solutions. In self-directed learning children learn what motivates and excites them. Projects do not come from the top down, but from children’s ideas. Children grow to be fulfilled as individuals and as unique and important members of the group.

SMARTER TODDLER NURSERY & PRESCHOOL
101 John St., Manhattan
212-766-3222

Smarter Toddler is a warm, community-oriented learning environment with curriculum geared toward the growth of the "whole child." Smarter Toddler's uniqueness lies in their mission, which is an enhanced-quality childcare program through cultural experiences and the arts.

TRIBECA COMMUNITY SCHOOL
22 Ericsson Place,
212-226-9070
Email [email protected]

TriBeCa Community School is a preschool for ages 2-5 inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach. We are located in Tribeca and offer half- and extended-day programs. We believe that children are born with a natural curiosity about the world, and that cultivating this curiosity is the key to successful lifelong learning.

WETHERBY–PEMBRIDGE SCHOOL
7 E. 96th St.,
646-213-3400
Ages:3-14

Email [email protected]

A British independent school for ages 3-14, our school vision is to awaken curiosity, cultivate high standards, and celebrate successes. Our curriculum is based on the rigorous English National Curriculum and combines the merits of single-sex and coeducation, infused with our school values of respect, responsibility, and resilience.