Best private schools in NYC?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There used to be a board called UrbanBaby where there was a pretty well-known ranking based on scores, college exmissions, reputation, etc. There were "top-tier" schools (TT), 2T, 3T, etc. The pretty much agreed upon ranking (in order) is:

All Girls:
TT = Brearley, Spence, Chapin
2T = Convent of the Sacred Heart, Nightingale-Bamford, Marymount
3T = Hewitt

All Boys:
They don't have the same "TT" ranking because most boys schools are K-8/9. The only TT boys school is Collegiate. Browning is the only other K-12 boys school and it's probably 2T or 3T depending on who you ask.
But the rest are ranked as follows: St. Bernard's, St. David's, Buckley, Allen-Stevenson.

Co-Ed:
TT = Horace Mann, Trinity, Dalton
2T = Riverdale, ECFC
3T = Columbia Grammar Prep (sometimes considered 2T),
4T = Dwight

The Brooklyn schools were not usually included in the rankings but they are: Saint Ann's (probably would fit in the TT category), Packer Collegiate, Poly Prep, Berkeley Carroll, Brooklyn Friends.

There are a ton of other great schools in NYC but this is a very traditional ranking system that focuses on the uptown/"hill" schools.

This is right.
Signed,
Dalton Alum

I second that.
Signed,
NBS k-8
Trinity 9-12

I third that. Another NBS k-8 and Trinity 9-12!
I will say that if I had a son, I would aim for St Bernard’s. It’s very old boyish/British but I think it provides a truly great education.

Could you speak more about St Bernard's? I am starting to consider it for DS.

[Anonymous]

We are there and absolutely love St.B. Never wanted all boys or k-8, but we were sold immediately. It is very academic with a dose of humor. They understand boys, what motivates them and what works. My son loves school and his friends -- these boys will be friends for life. Community is warm and unpretentious. It has a different vibe from the other all boys and co-ed schools we looked at. That said, it's not everyone's cup of tea.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are there and absolutely love St.B. Never wanted all boys or k-8, but we were sold immediately. It is very academic with a dose of humor. They understand boys, what motivates them and what works. My son loves school and his friends -- these boys will be friends for life. Community is warm and unpretentious. It has a different vibe from the other all boys and co-ed schools we looked at. That said, it's not everyone's cup of tea.

That is so good to hear. What other schools did you look at? We want all boys, but Collegiate seems imposssible to get into (and a little bit of a cold vibe?) and I haven't heard people really rave about Browning or St David's....

[Anonymous]

Dalton

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There used to be a board called UrbanBaby where there was a pretty well-known ranking based on scores, college exmissions, reputation, etc. There were "top-tier" schools (TT), 2T, 3T, etc. The pretty much agreed upon ranking (in order) is:

All Girls:
TT = Brearley, Spence, Chapin
2T = Convent of the Sacred Heart, Nightingale-Bamford, Marymount
3T = Hewitt

All Boys:
They don't have the same "TT" ranking because most boys schools are K-8/9. The only TT boys school is Collegiate. Browning is the only other K-12 boys school and it's probably 2T or 3T depending on who you ask.
But the rest are ranked as follows: St. Bernard's, St. David's, Buckley, Allen-Stevenson.

Co-Ed:
TT = Horace Mann, Trinity, Dalton
2T = Riverdale, ECFC
3T = Columbia Grammar Prep (sometimes considered 2T),
4T = Dwight

The Brooklyn schools were not usually included in the rankings but they are: Saint Ann's (probably would fit in the TT category), Packer Collegiate, Poly Prep, Berkeley Carroll, Brooklyn Friends.

There are a ton of other great schools in NYC but this is a very traditional ranking system that focuses on the uptown/"hill" schools.

This is right.
Signed,
Dalton Alum

I second that.
Signed,
NBS k-8
Trinity 9-12

I third that. Another NBS k-8 and Trinity 9-12!
I will say that if I had a son, I would aim for St Bernard’s. It’s very old boyish/British but I think it provides a truly great education.

why do so many girls leave NBS after 8th grade?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There used to be a board called UrbanBaby where there was a pretty well-known ranking based on scores, college exmissions, reputation, etc. There were "top-tier" schools (TT), 2T, 3T, etc. The pretty much agreed upon ranking (in order) is:

All Girls:
TT = Brearley, Spence, Chapin
2T = Convent of the Sacred Heart, Nightingale-Bamford, Marymount
3T = Hewitt

All Boys:
They don't have the same "TT" ranking because most boys schools are K-8/9. The only TT boys school is Collegiate. Browning is the only other K-12 boys school and it's probably 2T or 3T depending on who you ask.
But the rest are ranked as follows: St. Bernard's, St. David's, Buckley, Allen-Stevenson.

Co-Ed:
TT = Horace Mann, Trinity, Dalton
2T = Riverdale, ECFC
3T = Columbia Grammar Prep (sometimes considered 2T),
4T = Dwight

The Brooklyn schools were not usually included in the rankings but they are: Saint Ann's (probably would fit in the TT category), Packer Collegiate, Poly Prep, Berkeley Carroll, Brooklyn Friends.

There are a ton of other great schools in NYC but this is a very traditional ranking system that focuses on the uptown/"hill" schools.

columbia grammar prep is not as far as i know considered very good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There used to be a board called UrbanBaby where there was a pretty well-known ranking based on scores, college exmissions, reputation, etc. There were "top-tier" schools (TT), 2T, 3T, etc. The pretty much agreed upon ranking (in order) is:

All Girls:
TT = Brearley, Spence, Chapin
2T = Convent of the Sacred Heart, Nightingale-Bamford, Marymount
3T = Hewitt

All Boys:
They don't have the same "TT" ranking because most boys schools are K-8/9. The only TT boys school is Collegiate. Browning is the only other K-12 boys school and it's probably 2T or 3T depending on who you ask.
But the rest are ranked as follows: St. Bernard's, St. David's, Buckley, Allen-Stevenson.

Co-Ed:
TT = Horace Mann, Trinity, Dalton

2T = Riverdale, ECFC
3T = Columbia Grammar Prep (sometimes considered 2T),
4T = Dwight

The Brooklyn schools were not usually included in the rankings but they are: Saint Ann's (probably would fit in the TT category), Packer Collegiate, Poly Prep, Berkeley Carroll, Brooklyn Friends.

There are a ton of other great schools in NYC but this is a very traditional ranking system that focuses on the uptown/"hill" schools.

So true.

-Trinity alum, uncle of incoming Dalton kindergartner, son of a Spence grad

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There used to be a board called UrbanBaby where there was a pretty well-known ranking based on scores, college exmissions, reputation, etc. There were "top-tier" schools (TT), 2T, 3T, etc. The pretty much agreed upon ranking (in order) is:

All Girls:
TT = Brearley, Spence, Chapin
2T = Convent of the Sacred Heart, Nightingale-Bamford, Marymount
3T = Hewitt

All Boys:
They don't have the same "TT" ranking because most boys schools are K-8/9. The only TT boys school is Collegiate. Browning is the only other K-12 boys school and it's probably 2T or 3T depending on who you ask.
But the rest are ranked as follows: St. Bernard's, St. David's, Buckley, Allen-Stevenson.

Co-Ed:
TT = Horace Mann, Trinity, Dalton
2T = Riverdale, ECFC
3T = Columbia Grammar Prep (sometimes considered 2T),
4T = Dwight

The Brooklyn schools were not usually included in the rankings but they are: Saint Ann's (probably would fit in the TT category), Packer Collegiate, Poly Prep, Berkeley Carroll, Brooklyn Friends.

There are a ton of other great schools in NYC but this is a very traditional ranking system that focuses on the uptown/"hill" schools.

This is right.
Signed,
Dalton Alum

I second that.
Signed,
NBS k-8
Trinity 9-12

I third that. Another NBS k-8 and Trinity 9-12!
I will say that if I had a son, I would aim for St Bernard’s. It’s very old boyish/British but I think it provides a truly great education.

why do so many girls leave NBS after 8th grade?

In my year there were only about 5 of us who left while in my grade at Chapin about 15 girls left. It just varies year to year. Leaving after 8th grade in NYC girls schools is common. Lots of girls want a coed hs experience and the girls schools are very stifling after 9 years. Also, many of the families with girls at girls schools are more likely to send kids to boarding schools, it’s family tradition.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The only addition to this is if you’re Catholic, Regis is all boys TT. It’s free as a bonus.

I personally think Brearley is really the only equivalent of Collegiate and the other 2 are more like 1.5T. Brooklyn-wise I think St Ann’s is clearly TT and Packer and Poly are 2T. For newer schools, Avenues, however hated, is clearly way better than Dwight; Basis Brooklyn is academically 2T.

That is what I thought so too. Chapin and Spence are definitely great schools but not quite on par with Brearley.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There used to be a board called UrbanBaby where there was a pretty well-known ranking based on scores, college exmissions, reputation, etc. There were "top-tier" schools (TT), 2T, 3T, etc. The pretty much agreed upon ranking (in order) is:

All Girls:
TT = Brearley, Spence, Chapin
2T = Convent of the Sacred Heart, Nightingale-Bamford, Marymount
3T = Hewitt

All Boys:
They don't have the same "TT" ranking because most boys schools are K-8/9. The only TT boys school is Collegiate. Browning is the only other K-12 boys school and it's probably 2T or 3T depending on who you ask.
But the rest are ranked as follows: St. Bernard's, St. David's, Buckley, Allen-Stevenson.

Co-Ed:
TT = Horace Mann, Trinity, Dalton
2T = Riverdale, ECFC
3T = Columbia Grammar Prep (sometimes considered 2T),
4T = Dwight

The Brooklyn schools were not usually included in the rankings but they are: Saint Ann's (probably would fit in the TT category), Packer Collegiate, Poly Prep, Berkeley Carroll, Brooklyn Friends.

There are a ton of other great schools in NYC but this is a very traditional ranking system that focuses on the uptown/"hill" schools.

I thought collegiate was the top top for boys?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There used to be a board called UrbanBaby where there was a pretty well-known ranking based on scores, college exmissions, reputation, etc. There were "top-tier" schools (TT), 2T, 3T, etc. The pretty much agreed upon ranking (in order) is:

All Girls:
TT = Brearley, Spence, Chapin
2T = Convent of the Sacred Heart, Nightingale-Bamford, Marymount
3T = Hewitt

All Boys:
They don't have the same "TT" ranking because most boys schools are K-8/9. The only TT boys school is Collegiate. Browning is the only other K-12 boys school and it's probably 2T or 3T depending on who you ask.
But the rest are ranked as follows: St. Bernard's, St. David's, Buckley, Allen-Stevenson.

Co-Ed:
TT = Horace Mann, Trinity, Dalton

2T = Riverdale, ECFC
3T = Columbia Grammar Prep (sometimes considered 2T),
4T = Dwight

The Brooklyn schools were not usually included in the rankings but they are: Saint Ann's (probably would fit in the TT category), Packer Collegiate, Poly Prep, Berkeley Carroll, Brooklyn Friends.

There are a ton of other great schools in NYC but this is a very traditional ranking system that focuses on the uptown/"hill" schools.

So true.

-Trinity alum, uncle of incoming Dalton kindergartner, son of a Spence grad

That is quite a pedigree 😉

[Anonymous]

As a parent of Collegiate and Spence DC, I think Spence has an excellent MS program where they have incorporated CS very well. Spence's HS offerings are comparable to Collegiate's. There are a lot of stereotypes related to these schools but the schools are changing both demographically and content wise. The new HOS at Spence is steering the school in the right direction and Collegiate is slower to change (my son reminds me that his school has been around for 400 years so they generally get things right!).

[Anonymous]

Spence is definitely a top-rate school. Not sure why the general consensus is that brearley is better. in terms of outcomes, all the tt schools only differ marginally, and most of that’s superficial. they’re all intense academically, awful at sports, have great ecs, and provide absurd opportunities for kids. only basic educational philosophies, size of school, location, and facilities separate them. if your kid gets into one, they’ll be getting among the best educations in the world, and they’ll have as good a chance as any to go to a top college - though this should probably be a secondary consideration.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Spence is definitely a top-rate school. Not sure why the general consensus is that brearley is better. in terms of outcomes, all the tt schools only differ marginally, and most of that’s superficial. they’re all intense academically, awful at sports, have great ecs, and provide absurd opportunities for kids. only basic educational philosophies, size of school, location, and facilities separate them. if your kid gets into one, they’ll be getting among the best educations in the world, and they’ll have as good a chance as any to go to a top college - though this should probably be a secondary consideration.

It's because of the schools' historic reputations. Back when WASP-dom mattered, Chapin was the school of choice for the old money crowd and Spence attracted the society crowd, while Brearley just cared that its students could do the work.

[Anonymous]

I am one of the NBS/Trinity people from above. Granted this was 30 years ago, but the girls in my class at Trinity who came from Spence - and there were about 5 of them, were super smart and total grinds. From what I remember, they ended up at Harvard, Princeton and Stanford. It’s always been a snakepit of girls but you gotta be impressed by the teaching.