Private Schools, Independent Schools, and International Schools in Manhattan

UPDATED August 2019: Whether you're looking for a more rigorous curriculum for your child or your child thrives in a smaller classroom setting, a private or independent school in Manhattan may be the right option for you. New York City boasts a wide variety of high-quality private and independent schools for kids in kindergarten through 12th grade, including international schools, bilingual schools, schools that foster creative thinking, schools that provide individualized curriculums, and schools that focus on preparing students for higher education. These private and independent schools are locate throughout Manhattan, including locations on the Upper East Side, Upper West Side, Lower East Side, Harlem, Midtown, Kips Bay, and Gramercy.

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At BASIS Independent Brooklyn, a pre-K–12th private school in Red Hook, students learn at the highest international levels in a world-acclaimed liberal arts and sciences curriculum. Subject expert teachers bring advanced material to life and prepare students with the knowledge, confidence, and independence to succeed.

BLUE SCHOOL
241 Water St., Manhattan
212-228-6341

Blue School is an independent school for ages 2 through eighth grade where the dynamic balance of academic mastery, creative thinking, self and social intelligence instills a lifelong passion for learning. Blue School values exploration, play, creativity, self-awareness, family and community connection. The curriculum emphasizes inquiry, observation, and reflection, encouraging children to become bold, creative, and compassionate innovators. The campus in lower Manhattan features thoughtfully designed classrooms, designated lab spaces for art, STEAM, science, music and drama, as well as a gymnasium, Wonder Room, Upcycling Center, Materials Library, and outdoor terraces.

BRITISH INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF NEW YORK (THE)
20 Waterside Plaza,
212-481-2700 x204
Email [email protected]

BIS-NY offers a global education through which children acquire key knowledge and skills. The school encourages critical thinking and problem solving. Students gain confidence to ask questions and take risks. Curriculum focuses both on embedding the fundamentals of literacy and numeracy early while also developing breadth as even our youngest enjoy French or Spanish, drama, music, swimming, and art. It’s a tested approach to learning and shared knowledge that promotes success, independence, and empathy, and prepares students to leave school prepared academically, socially, and emotionally, as well as happy and well-adjusted.

BUCKLEY COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL
2 I.U. Willets Road, Roslyn
516-627-1910

Buckley Country Day School is an independent, coeducational day school providing a superior elementary education to an intellectually capable and diverse student body. Buckley provides the foundation that enables our students to achieve their full potential and excel as educated, ethical, and self-confident individuals. Our graduates are well prepared for secondary schools and beyond.

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 School, preschool–12th, offers a hands-on “learning by doing” curriculum, embracing the individuality of our students while supporting intellectual, emotional, and social growth. At all ages, Calhoun students engage in challenging and exciting learning experiences. Whether building machines in kindergarten, researching race and identity in middle school, or creating an innovative project in Junior Workshop, students are encouraged to experiment, take risks, and pursue their passions. Calhoun graduates, supported by thoughtful college counseling, leave with both a strong academic foundation and the skills to thrive in college and beyond.

CATHEDRAL SCHOOL PRESCHOOL AND DAY SCHOOL (THE)
319 E. 74th St., New York
212-249-2840
Email [email protected]

The Cathedral School is a nursery through eighth grade, coeducational institution in Manhattan. We offer a challenging curriculum that encourages students to become independent and critical thinkers. Our small class size allows for individual attention that enables every student’s voice to be heard and allows children to comfortably take risks, make mistakes, and learn how to recover from them. Teachers engage students in lessons that foster open discussion and thoughtful analysis. Our goal is to develop what is best in each student so that they may thrive.

DWIGHT SCHOOL
291 Central Park West, New York
212-724-6360
Email [email protected]

Founded in 1872, Dwight is a leading nursery-12th grade private school dedicated to igniting the spark of genius in every child. Dwight has one of the lowest student-teacher ratios among NYC independent schools and was the first in the Americas to offer the comprehensive International Baccalaureate curriculum for ages 3-18.

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.

GATEWAY SCHOOL (THE)
211 W. 61st St., 6th floor, New York
212-777-5966
Email [email protected]

The Gateway School is an independent day school for children ages 5-14 with language-based learning disabilities or attention deficits. It was among the first schools to recognize that bright children who had difficulty learning simply had to be taught differently. At Gateway, students recognize their strengths and develop self-advocacy skills.

IDEAL SCHOOL OF MANHATTAN (THE)
Upper West Side , New York
212-769-1699
Email [email protected]

On any given day at The IDEAL School of Manhattan, students may present on a civil rights leader, participate in a dance workshop, showcase their writing, enjoy Riverside Park, build a robot, perform in a musical, or visit the Met. IDEAL is New York’s only kindergarten-12th independent inclusion school.

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.

KING SCHOOL
1450 Newfield Ave., Stamford
203-322-3496 x350

King School, a pre-K-12th grade school educating students from 30 towns, prepares students to thrive in a rapidly changing world. What sets King apart is academic challenge, kindness, and personal growth united within our unique community of engaged minds and meaningful connections.

LYCÉE FRANÇAIS DE NEW YORK
505 E. 75th St., New York
212-369-1400

Get an early start on your child's bilingual education at one of the most renowned bilingual schools in New York City. In fall 2019, the Lycée opens its new full-day bilingual Nursery-3s program. Non-French speakers are welcome in this authentic, immersive program that combines play with structured activities, using real-world projects to engage children in the community. Bilingual aftercare also offered. Register for the Lycée's fall preschool open houses for nursery, pre-K, and kindergarten and take the first steps to prepare your child for an extraordinarily international life.

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

In a lovingly, thoughtfully prepared environment, 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, and chess.

NORD ANGLIA INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL NEW YORK
44 E. 2nd St.,
212-600-2010
Email [email protected]

Nord Anglia International School New York is a truly international school with a highly personalized approach to learning, for ages 2-14. We recognize that all children are unique and as such, our classes are small enough to provide each child with a tailored and well-rounded academic and personal experience.

PORTFOLIO SCHOOL (THE)
27 North Moore St., New York
212-226-8252
Email [email protected]

Portfolio School is an independent school in Tribeca for grades kindergarten through sixth. Grounded in research, our integrated STEAM approach combines personalized learning and immersive projects. We provide an innovative education that celebrates your child’s curiosity, creativity, and love of learning. Applications for fall 2019 are open.

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. Our after-school programs and holiday camps welcome children from other schools and also offer activities for school-age children (ages 6-12). Pusteblume International Preschool is directed by Friends of the German International School of New York, Inc., a non-profit, 501(c)(3) corporation.

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.

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 co-education, infused with our three school values of respect, responsibility, and resilience.

YORK PREPARATORY SCHOOL
40 West 68th St.,
212-362-0400

York Preparatory School is a New York City independent school committed to guiding students in grades sixth through 12th to reach their maximum potential-intellectually, socially, and physically-and to prepare them for college and beyond. Compassionate educators creatively address the needs and interests of a diverse community, thereby appropriately supporting and challenging students as they progress through a traditional curriculum within a structured environment. York Prep encourages the development of lifelong learners who are responsible members of their community.