Best private schools in NYC?

[Anonymous]

Agree, super common.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:np. If you cared only about academic rigor, my opinion would be:
Trinity > Hunter > St. B > Dalton > Riverdale > Town

Private k-12, vs UES k-8, vs Hunter are going to be very different though. Hunter will be the most different, with fewer wealthy families and more immigrants. FWIW, going through 12th grade wasn't important to us, so we're at a boys' k-8.

How would you do the ranking for coed plus all girls?

[Anonymous]

Does anyone have a sense of how many slots are typically available at K to unconnected kids?

E.g. if a school takes 90 kids - how many siblings and legacy applicants have already committed through Early Notification?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone have a sense of how many slots are typically available at K to unconnected kids?

E.g. if a school takes 90 kids - how many siblings and legacy applicants have already committed through Early Notification?

I think Dalton (which has 90 kids in their K) probably has more spots. I know in the past few years, both Brearley and Spence had like 10 spots left for unconnected kids.

[Anonymous]

I have a close relative who went to St David’s and then Horace Mann. St David’s prepared him very well, not just academically but they emphasized organization and character traits.

[Anonymous]

Any thoughts on the Hill schools for middle school admissions?
- I hear Horace Mann is great but a pressure cooker
- are Riverdale and Fieldston more balanced?
- any other thoughts?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any thoughts on the Hill schools for middle school admissions?
- I hear Horace Mann is great but a pressure cooker
- are Riverdale and Fieldston more balanced?
- any other thoughts?

My DS is at Horace Mann. He started in high school so I don't have much insight into the middle school there, but I can tell you that it can be a pressure cooker. The academics are intense and the work load is significant, so it's imperative that you make sure that the fit is right for your child. It's not a great place for kids who struggle academically, aren't self-motivated, or suffer from anxiety. My DS is happy there and has been able to successfully balance schoolwork, varsity sports, and a respectable social life.

Riverdale and Fieldston are more balanced, although Riverdale bears more similarities to Horace Mann than to Fieldston. Fieldston is probably the least "academic" of the three, but it's a great school and certainly worth considering. They've had some political drama over the past couple of years that culminated in the resignation of the head of school last summer, but I have no idea how much of that has been exaggerated by articles in NY Post (which loves to hate Fieldston).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any thoughts on the Hill schools for middle school admissions?
- I hear Horace Mann is great but a pressure cooker
- are Riverdale and Fieldston more balanced?
- any other thoughts?

Riverdale is as competitive to get into as Horace Mann in fact some may say Riverdale is harder to get into at middle school because Horace Mann has more slots. Once you are in, Horace Mann is academically more challenging.

Fieldston is relatively easy to get into! Interesting article on avenues….

https://www.businessinsider.com/avenues-nyc-private-school-sale-nord-anglia-2025-1

[Anonymous]

For these top tier private schools except Dalton is sibling admission more or less guaranteed? In what scenario do they not give a spot to a sibling

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For these top tier private schools except Dalton is sibling admission more or less guaranteed? In what scenario do they not give a spot to a sibling

Having done the preschool admissions process recently, Siblings will most likely be the strongest performers during assessments. Advantage extends to familiarity with the building, staff, assessment, etc...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For these top tier private schools except Dalton is sibling admission more or less guaranteed? In what scenario do they not give a spot to a sibling

Having done the preschool admissions process recently, Siblings will most likely be the strongest performers during assessments. Advantage extends to familiarity with the building, staff, assessment, etc...

Are you saying it’s still a competitive process for siblings? Or essentially a formality. We just finished interviewing for round 2 at Hunter but we hate that Hunter has no sibling privileges. Trying to understand how easy it is for most siblings to get in at the girls schools and Trinity, HM, Riverdale, Dalton etc

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Are you saying it’s still a competitive process for siblings? Or essentially a formality. We just finished interviewing for round 2 at Hunter but we hate that Hunter has no sibling privileges. Trying to understand how easy it is for most siblings to get in at the girls schools and Trinity, HM, Riverdale, Dalton etc

I am saying it a combination of priority advantage and being a strong performer. The child would have to severally underperform expectations given the advantages built in from following the older siblings path since an infant.

[Anonymous]

My understanding is that at many of these schools it's not atypical for each K class to have two-thirds of the slots taken up by siblings and legacies (many more siblings than legacies).

So the admissions teams clearly try to find a way to "make it work" is the conclusion I've reached -- but it's never guaranteed.

The other reason siblings may get preferential treatment is because the parents at this point have already been vetted as well, which makes their approach to education, dedication to the school, and other key factors a known quantity.

[Anonymous]

Round 2 Hunter mom, did your child attend a private preschool or 3k?

[Anonymous]

I’m curious to hear from parents that compared top public options for elementary (e.g. PS 6, 321, etc) to top privates. Cost aside, what is your take on the actual difference in quality of instruction and educational experience at these early years?