2024 Best Schools in the New York City Area

• Basking Ridge, NJ•

• Private School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4.31 out of 5  157 reviews

Parent: LOVE PINGRY! It is genuinely one of the best decisions I have ever made for my kids; they are thriving as athletes and in academics. The teachers are very caring and involved in students' lives, providing support outside of the classroom environment. I have one son who graduated a few years ago, and he was so ready for BU that it made me sad how little he needed me. Get ready for one of the best experiences your children will have; it's worth every penny.... Read 157 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,197

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• Bronx, NY•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.38 out of 5  81 reviews

Middle school student: Riverdale is really an incredible school. I have been here since K and the way the school both nurtures and challenges students is remarkable. For the most part, I have also found my classmates and their families to be incredibly kind and welcoming. And while I still have some time before college applications, it seems like the outcomes in that realm are consistently excellent. I highly recommend RCS.... Read 81 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,299

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• New York, NY•

• Private School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4.57 out of 5  120 reviews

Senior: Chapin is one-of-a-kind! The highlight of this school is the professional community. The relationships I've made, mentors I've found, and lessons I've learned transcend the classroom and are what I'll miss most next year. I couldn't feel more ready for college, although it will be hard to leave!... Read 120 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 814

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• Bronx, NY•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.32 out of 5  154 reviews

Parent: A current HM parent whose child joined 9G, I had big expectations that have been exceeded. I expected the school to nurture our child's intellectual potential, it is the manner in which this has been cultivated that is impressive -- the depth of critical discussions (feels like college-level engagement), feedback for growth, and a deeply personal and caring network of support from student advisers to social and academic issues is intentional, accessible and thoughtful. The school deserves its STEM reputation, not just due to faculty, facilities and rigor, but equally because of the curiosity-driven and creative space teachers bring to the experience. One thing for HM to change is to bring more prominence to more sports that student athletes do well in, from waterpolo to fencing and field hockey etc. Sports and teamwork are also part of the HM equation but are sometimes overlooked.... Read 154 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,793

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• New York, NY•

• Private School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4.44 out of 5  96 reviews

Sophomore: The community is extremely supportive and nurturing with teachers who truly want to see you succeed. I am continually astounded by the dedication and care almost all teachers put into their courses and the community over all. The academics are extremely rigorous and quite challenging but it pushes you to be the best version of yourself. I hope to maintain the friendships I have made throughout my whole life as my classmates and friends are truly wonderful people. Even beyond the unique facilities Brearley has to offer, I will always love 610 as it has felt like my second home for so many years. As a student of color, I feel supported and included by the school’s DEI measures and in my affinity group, especially after adjustments made in the past few years :). I have made so many wonderful memories during my time at the school through its numerous traditions and activities that I truly feel like I belong. I am so lucky to be a part of this community of truthful beavers toiling away!... Read 96 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 776

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• New York, NY•

• Private School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 3.96 out of 5  82 reviews

Alum: Trinity School was an amazing experience. The rigorous academics were definitely the highlight; my teachers at Trinity were passionate, kind, and and incredibly knowledgeable. Trinity teachers were so good that I ended up disappointed by all of my college professors in comparison. The new expansion of the buildings brought fantastic facilities, lots of great spaces with a lot of natural light.... Read 82 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,001

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• New York, NY•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.58 out of 5  101 reviews

Parent: Excellent institution with a great focus on building character and responsible citizens. Very rigorous curriculum that follows the French mandated coursework, but adapts the teaching and experience with a US perspective: more group work, more hands-on experiences, etc... Parents are very involved but not in an excessive and anxiety-burdened way (I hear stories from friends and parents at other schools and it sounds like things can get very intense sometimes). Lycee kids are well-rounded, well-adjusted kids with a balanced view of school and life.... Read 101 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,150

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• Livingston, NJ•

• Private School•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 4.27 out of 5  131 reviews

Senior: Overall, Newark Academy is great school. Not only do they have a lot of resources for students, but they prepare them very well for college level courses.... Read 131 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 667

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• New York, NY•

• Private School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4.42 out of 5  31 reviews

Senior: I have gone to Spence for 4 years for highschool and have enjoyed my experience a lot- it's a great school!!... Read 31 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 772

• Student-teacher ratio 5:1

• New York, NY•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.68 out of 5  115 reviews

Parent: Simply put, Sacred Heart offers it all. It is academically rigorous, whilst also being nurturing. It has a state-of-the-art STEAM center, a top-notch sports program, and a deeply passionate art faculty. Most importantly to us as parents, there is a strong sense of community and values. Sacred Heart girls are confident in who they are and have the courage of their convictions. Our daughter has been here for five years, and she (and we) could not imagine being anywhere else.... Read 115 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 741

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• New York, NY•

• Private School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4.38 out of 5  60 reviews

Parent: Exceptional, phenomenal, and superb! Those are just a few words to describe our experience at The Nightingale-Bamford School. This school has delivered everything it promised during the application process, and much more. The strong, close community is a stand-out at Nightingale. We felt welcome and a sense of belonging right from the start, and this has truly allowed our daughter to thrive. The teachers are exceptional, they make strong efforts to know our daughter and challenge her in appropriate, thoughtful ways. As a result of their approach, she has gained incredible skills across the board including reading, writing, and math, and grown exponentially. At Nightingale, she has developed confidence, a strong voice, independence, and public speaking skills starting at a young age thanks to the wonderful instruction here.  She looks forward to going to school everyday - where Nightingale educates her heart and mind.  We know that she is reaching her full potential here.... Read 60 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 710

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• New York, NY•

• Private School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4.23 out of 5  88 reviews

Alum: Dalton is overall an excellent experience that prepared me very well for college. The food was amazing and the classes were very rigorous. The school is lacking in diversity, but over my time there (k-12) it improved. My favorite part of attending the school was the connections I made and the leg up it gave me when applying for college.... Read 88 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,331

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• New York, NY•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.45 out of 5  152 reviews

Senior: My experience at Regis High School has been an incredible journey where I have had amazing exposure to subjects that will ready me for college. Regis has the best variety with its subjects allowing for a student to find exactly what path or career they want to pursue in college along with amazing teachers to guide them. My personal experience sits with that of Regis’ physics, chemistry, and math classes which really sparked my interest in mechanical and aeronautical engineering. I feel honored to have had the experience I did with the teachers who taught me and inspired me to strive in my interests.... Read 152 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 527

• Student-teacher ratio 9:1

• New York, NY•

• Private School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4.23 out of 5  30 reviews

Alum: My 6 years at Collegiate were incredible and I could not have asked for more. I found myself extremely prepared for college work in both STEM and humanities subjects and graduated from an Ivy Magna Cum Laude. Honestly, I am more proud of my high school diploma than my college diploma as I had to work way harder to get good grades at Collegiate. I am confident that the skills I learned here will continue to help me in the future. Eendracht Maakt Macht.... Read 30 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 656

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• Rye, NY•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.4 out of 5  122 reviews

Parent: My son started as freshman at RCDS. We moved across the country but he fit right in. Very inclusive culture and the administration really worked with us to make the tranistion happen smoothly. So far, all the teachers have been exceptional and are generous with their time. There are ample extracurricular opportunities and many student run clubs. So far it has been an excellent fit and we hope it will remain so.... Read 122 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 957

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• New York, NY•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.41 out of 5  129 reviews

Parent: I cannot speak highly enough of our daughter and families experience at Avenues. We started when she was 2 during the pandemic and was overwhelmed by the effectiveness of their actions during covid that we were "sold" about continuing our daughter's education at Avenues. Now in kindergarten, I am so proud of the learning she is experiencing around diversity, culture and of course academics. Something I'm so impressed by is the teacher and school's focus on celebrating everyone's cultures - from the very beginning our daughter had an understanding that everyone celebrates different traditions and cultures and it's something to respect and appreciate not only for what our family does but also what her classmates and teachers do. It's such a refreshing way of uplifting everyone and sharing experiences.... Read 129 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,958

• Student-teacher ratio 5:1

• Brooklyn, NY•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.33 out of 5  51 reviews

Other: Since 2016, I've had the privilege of being both a parent and a teacher at BASIS Independent Brooklyn. My journey has been transformative, from a concerned parent seeking a better education for my children to a passionate teacher nurturing young minds in a curious and critical environment. The transition to BIB posed challenges, as the academic rigor was higher than what we were used to. But my children adapted and embraced the rigorous environment, benefiting from the experience. I felt inspired to become a teacher at BIB, attracted by the freedom to present the curriculum in unique ways and tap into various learning styles. As a parent, I trust my children's teachers and the school's commitment to excellence. As a teacher, I guide students toward critical thinking and find joy in learning. In both roles, I strive to bring joy to learning and support students through difficulties, while supporting them to persevere through their challenges and become responsible for their learning.... Read 51 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 729

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• New York, NY•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.7 out of 5  139 reviews

Parent: Having raised two daughters from nursery through to senior and freshman years at Marymount School of NY, I can confidently attest to its ability to inspire greatness and foster passion. It's perplexing why Marymount isn't ranked alongside Riverdale, as its forward-thinking approach, evidenced by the new environmentally-conscious high-rise for upper schoolers, aligns perfectly with its mission: “to educate young women who continue to question, risk, and grow—young women who care, serve, and lead—young women prepared to challenge, shape, and change the world.” The academic rigor at Marymount is unmistakable and the students strike me as incredibly purpose-driven and brave.... Read 139 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 768

• Student-teacher ratio 5:1

• Morristown, NJ•

• Private School•

• 7-12

• •
  Rating 4.6 out of 5  130 reviews

Alum: Delbarton is brotherhood. The concept of brotherhood is emphasized so much, throughout the entire time at the school, and you will truly feel like every one of the people in your graduating class are your brothers when you graduate. This connection continues after graduation, with alumni always selflessly helping and mentoring you, and you will definitely be mentoring younger students, not out of obligation, but because your Delbarton experience has genuinely made you want to help younger Delbarton students and alums.... Read 130 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 648

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• New York City Geographic District #31, NY•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.35 out of 5  793 reviews

Freshman: I'm currently a freshman at SITHS, and it's been great! I've never felt more involved in a school community than now! The teachers are incredibly supportive and will be there for you no matter what. It's a tight school community, so we all get along well. The heavy workload is demanding, as it is a specialized high school, but becomes easier to manage as you go on. There are a lot of clubs and sports to participate in, and the school is full of fun spirit activities during the year. The school is extremely dedicated to college readiness as you are forced into at least 3 AP Classes and College Now courses during your 4 years at Tech. There are multiple electives and classes you can choose to take from, and there are a lot of great opportunities to participate in during your 4 years. Not only is the school dedicated to academics but we have a lot of great events such as Homecoming, Prom, Spirit Week, etc. Overall, the school is great, and I couldn't imagine being anywhere else!... Read 793 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,355

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• Brooklyn, NY•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.26 out of 5  123 reviews

Senior: Packer Collegiate Institute, a quaint school in Brooklyn Heights, will undoubtedly prepare prospective students to take on the world and the challenges that may come. Students learn more about themselves, each other and the world in which they live. There are numerous opportunities to expand your thinking both in school and abroad which makes it great for the meek and the adventurous. There is something for everyone here regardless of your extracirricular preferences or academic strong suits.... Read 123 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 996

• Student-teacher ratio 5:1

• New York City Geographic District #10, NY•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.89 out of 5  1,073 reviews

Senior: Going to a prestigious school comes with benefits and flaws. For starters, students have access to colleges, research, and tours. This enables students to fully consider and choose their top college based on their intended majors, hence why and how I decided in the University of Michigan. However, with such vast access to colleges, comes the need to compete with students within our grade. Fat after day, without rest, the question “what college did you get into?” is passed around in the hallways. If students dare say they did not get into a prestigious college, they are frowned upon by peers. The constant competitiveness is tense, especially during college acceptances, with students wanting to prove their worth to others. That is one thing I’d like to change about my school.... Read 1,073 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 2,985

• Student-teacher ratio 21:1

• New York City Geographic District #25, NY•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.22 out of 5  704 reviews

Senior: Deciding to attend Townsend Harris was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. For starters, the community here is very welcoming, whether it be teachers, students, or admin. Spend a day here and you will see a multitude of friendly interactions between students and teachers in the halls (dapping teachers up, to yelling each others’ names and saying hi in the halls) Another aspect I appreciate is this school’s active student body. There are several major student-led events that occur throughout the year, and virtually all students participate it in. FON and S!NG are the major events, and during these times, almost the entirety of the student population comes together to put together the productions. The school is always bustling after school, and most people stay late to participate in clubs, attend FON or S!NG rehearsals, or simply hang out in the halls. I love this community and I would recommend this school to anyone who can handle high academic stress!... Read 704 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,347

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Somerset, NJ•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.59 out of 5  112 reviews

Parent: Rutgers Prep is truly an exceptional school. The feeling you get from interacting from everyone on campus from administrators, faculty, coaches and students help showcase what a special place Rutgers Prep is. We have 3 children that have attended Rutgers Prep from the middle school and we couldn’t be more thrilled with the tools that Prep is giving them to succeed in college and the years beyond. Rutgers Prep has succeeded in not only teaching them about excellence in academics but also excellence in humanity.... Read 112 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 709

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• Morris County Vocational School District, NJ•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.29 out of 5  41 reviews

Senior: With a $1 million engineering lab, senior internships/capstones, and constant support from teachers/peers, this school really has unparalleled opportunities.... Read 41 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 180

• Student-teacher ratio —