Anonymous
Post 02/28/2026 15:49     Subject: Re:What is the most elite NYC preschool?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Hey all, expats here relocating this year, got into the processes pretty late
Ended applying to: Brownstones, Columbus, Montclare, WSMS (West Side Montessori), Avenues, CCDS (Christ Church).
How would you rank them ? cheers


I’d cross Avenues off unless you want to stay there long-term. They’re not going to be helpful applying out for kindergarten.

Of your remaining schools I’d pick CCDS without much thought. WSMS is a huge school and exmissions was really messy this year. Brownstone and Columbus send a majority of their grads to public school. Montclare felt cold and transactional to me. I loved CCDS but couldn’t do the commute so chose a very similar school closer to home.


I think the answer depends on what they want for elementary school. If they want private then I agree. Since they seem to live on the UWS, depending on exactly where they live I would consider public. And for public, as you noted, Brownstone and Columbus are both great (though my knowledge is a bit dated). They don't totally close out the private option though the other schools are likely better if you are focused on private.

What public elementary are you zoned for?

100% agree that Avenues makes no sense and would cut it no matter what.


Valid point. When they asked to rank the schools my brain immediately assumed it was for kindergarten exmissions.
Anonymous
Post 02/28/2026 15:31     Subject: Re:What is the most elite NYC preschool?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Hey all, expats here relocating this year, got into the processes pretty late
Ended applying to: Brownstones, Columbus, Montclare, WSMS (West Side Montessori), Avenues, CCDS (Christ Church).
How would you rank them ? cheers


I’d cross Avenues off unless you want to stay there long-term. They’re not going to be helpful applying out for kindergarten.

Of your remaining schools I’d pick CCDS without much thought. WSMS is a huge school and exmissions was really messy this year. Brownstone and Columbus send a majority of their grads to public school. Montclare felt cold and transactional to me. I loved CCDS but couldn’t do the commute so chose a very similar school closer to home.


I think the answer depends on what they want for elementary school. If they want private then I agree. Since they seem to live on the UWS, depending on exactly where they live I would consider public. And for public, as you noted, Brownstone and Columbus are both great (though my knowledge is a bit dated). They don't totally close out the private option though the other schools are likely better if you are focused on private.

What public elementary are you zoned for?

100% agree that Avenues makes no sense and would cut it no matter what.
Anonymous
Post 02/28/2026 15:06     Subject: Re:What is the most elite NYC preschool?
Anonymous wrote:Hey all, expats here relocating this year, got into the processes pretty late
Ended applying to: Brownstones, Columbus, Montclare, WSMS (West Side Montessori), Avenues, CCDS (Christ Church).
How would you rank them ? cheers


I’d cross Avenues off unless you want to stay there long-term. They’re not going to be helpful applying out for kindergarten.

Of your remaining schools I’d pick CCDS without much thought. WSMS is a huge school and exmissions was really messy this year. Brownstone and Columbus send a majority of their grads to public school. Montclare felt cold and transactional to me. I loved CCDS but couldn’t do the commute so chose a very similar school closer to home.
Anonymous
Post 02/28/2026 15:01     Subject: What is the most elite NYC preschool?
Anonymous wrote:Reading through these and I’m wondering what the point of being in these feeder schools if you’re already connected? I would think these feeder schools would be most helpful to the non connected families. If episcopal is not helpful for non connected families then is it really worth its high praise with exmissions? A Dalton legacy will likely get into Dalton without episcopals’ help, are my wrong?


I mean a lot of the legacy population went to these preschools themselves as children. And if you’re a new unconnected family in preschool and the kindergarten process worked for your oldest child, you’re not moving to a non-feeder preschool for subsequent children.

And no, A Dalton legacy insures nothing. Even Trinity doesn’t guarantee legacy acceptance.
Anonymous
Post 02/28/2026 12:59     Subject: Re:What is the most elite NYC preschool?
Hey all, expats here relocating this year, got into the processes pretty late
Ended applying to: Brownstones, Columbus, Montclare, WSMS (West Side Montessori), Avenues, CCDS (Christ Church).
How would you rank them ? cheers
Anonymous
Post 02/28/2026 12:36     Subject: What is the most elite NYC preschool?
Anonymous wrote:Reading through these and I’m wondering what the point of being in these feeder schools if you’re already connected? I would think these feeder schools would be most helpful to the non connected families. If episcopal is not helpful for non connected families then is it really worth its high praise with exmissions? A Dalton legacy will likely get into Dalton without episcopals’ help, are my wrong?


We went to a feeder and are an unconnected family and got in to a TT SS school. Many feeders still have plenty of unconnected families.

And Dalton does not automatically accept siblings and legacies. They are notorious for not doing that. So you are never guaranteed a spot there. I’m sure they take it in to consideration, but no you do not automatically get a spot.
Anonymous
Post 02/28/2026 11:52     Subject: Re:What is the most elite NYC preschool?
Anonymous wrote:DD was fortunate enough to be accepted into WSMS and Episcopal this cycle. Which would you recommend? Which has stronger exmission results for an unconnected family?


Just a data point but people swear by 92NY and PCDS as THE TT but we know legacies from PCDS that turned it down for WSMS and board of trustee members of 92NY that chose WSMS for their children 🤷🏾‍♀️
Anonymous
Post 02/28/2026 11:52     Subject: What is the most elite NYC preschool?
Reading through these and I’m wondering what the point of being in these feeder schools if you’re already connected? I would think these feeder schools would be most helpful to the non connected families. If episcopal is not helpful for non connected families then is it really worth its high praise with exmissions? A Dalton legacy will likely get into Dalton without episcopals’ help, are my wrong?
Anonymous
Post 02/28/2026 11:29     Subject: Re:What is the most elite NYC preschool?
Anonymous wrote:Episcopal exmissions for unconnected families were pretty much on par with connected I would say. In fact, I am a legacy at another private school, and they managed to get my daughter into 2 other TT girl schools (as well as my Alma mater).


The same for All Souls. So many people harping that All Souls, Episcopal etc. only work with sibling and legacy families and your child won’t get in to a TT it unconnected. Absolutely so far from the truth.
Anonymous
Post 02/28/2026 11:28     Subject: What is the most elite NYC preschool?
Anonymous wrote:Our child is three and got accepted into International Preschools, Montclare, and the nursery program at Town School. Ideally we would want Dalton, Trinity, Collegiate and other top tier for elementary and high school. Which school should we choose for his preschool/nursery?


Honestly I am not sure Town would be thrilled to have you exmit after PreK since they go through 8th and that’s where their exmissions is focused.

Trinity is extraordinarily difficult to get in to for K. They take so many siblings and legacies. I think this year they had about 10 open spots for unconnected families.

I am unsure about exmissions with Monclare or IPS.
Anonymous
Post 02/28/2026 11:20     Subject: What is the most elite NYC preschool?
Our child is three and got accepted into International Preschools, Montclare, and the nursery program at Town School. Ideally we would want Dalton, Trinity, Collegiate and other top tier for elementary and high school. Which school should we choose for his preschool/nursery?
Anonymous
Post 02/27/2026 00:33     Subject: Re:What is the most elite NYC preschool?
Episcopal exmissions for unconnected families were pretty much on par with connected I would say. In fact, I am a legacy at another private school, and they managed to get my daughter into 2 other TT girl schools (as well as my Alma mater).
Anonymous
Post 02/26/2026 22:52     Subject: Re:What is the most elite NYC preschool?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:DD was fortunate enough to be accepted into WSMS and Episcopal this cycle. Which would you recommend? Which has stronger exmission results for an unconnected family?


Wsms. Episcopal has poor exmissions for unconnected families. You'll get into a A private s hool but not what you want if you're not siblings or legacy


But Wsms exmissions was not good this year for unconnected families. It’s either on this thread or another thread. Multiple people chimed in. New director not doing a good job
Anonymous
Post 02/26/2026 22:49     Subject: Re:What is the most elite NYC preschool?
Anonymous wrote:DD was fortunate enough to be accepted into WSMS and Episcopal this cycle. Which would you recommend? Which has stronger exmission results for an unconnected family?


Wsms. Episcopal has poor exmissions for unconnected families. You'll get into a A private s hool but not what you want if you're not siblings or legacy
Anonymous
Post 02/26/2026 22:08     Subject: Re:What is the most elite NYC preschool?
DD was fortunate enough to be accepted into WSMS and Episcopal this cycle. Which would you recommend? Which has stronger exmission results for an unconnected family?