Best NYC boys high school with strong sports teams? Public or private

[Anonymous]

Manhattan preferred but open to Brooklyn too

[Anonymous]

Are you looking for all-boys? I don't know of any all boys publics (maybe a couple of random charters in bad nabes).

Private SS - Collegiate, Browning, Xavier, Fordham Prep (Bronx). For co-ed private, Poly Prep in Brooklyn and the Hill schools (Riverdale, Fieldston) are probably the best.

Public - all the large selective HS have great sports (Stuy, Bronx Sci, BTech), and Beacon, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Clinton (all Manhattan) come to mind.

[Anonymous]

I’m going to caveat on the sports for public. The large specialized teams have huge sports programs but if you are looking for elite sports, NYC public not the place (as a parent of a kid that just graduated). She loved her school and was recruited so no regrets at all. Just note that it won’t be like a boarding school or top suburban program. These schools have competitive tryouts and lots of kids get cut etc but team sports in the city not typically at a high level given fewer fields, resources, etc. Very few kids recruited at college level. Even many of the travel programs not top notch in the city. In my kids sports all the top travel players travelled to NJ, LI or other locations. Poly has top sports for Brooklyn hands down and likely top in the city if you have a serious athlete.

[Anonymous]

Agree with you on public schools. Depends if she's looking for a strong sports culture, or recruit-level serious. If the latter, you definitely want Hill schools or Poly Prep. Or better yet boarding. Otherwise you'll spend a LOT of time traveling.

[Anonymous]

Xavier and Fordham Prep both have sports in their blood. Dont discount Fordham Prep - it's a quick train trip up and they have sports on campus. Other schools, like Xavier, the kids have to travel afterschool to Governor's Island or Randalls Island and then you get home from there. Or there's a bus back to school and then you go home from school. Either way, it adds a giant chunk of time at the end of the day.


Some schools better than others at certain sports. If you can clarify, I might have more intel.

[Anonymous]

NY privates are notoriously bad at sports - squash has some recruits, tennis, too. I didn’t go all-boys, obviously, but I transferred from Trinity to Andover my sophomore year to pursue soccer and lacrosse at a more competitive level. Got recruited to play lacrosse in college, and loved my experience.

Most of the TT are, for the most part, atrocious at sports.

[Anonymous]

Regis (catholic) won the catholic league and the all-city league in basketball this year (meaning, beat the public schools too).

Avenues (private) punches above its weight in sports and college placement.

HSMSE (public) has a fantastic track and cross country program. 125 kids in a class and 14 went to MIT alone in 2023 (not sure about this year)