When exploring private school options in NYC, location is naturally a key factor. But the why behind your choice is just as important as the where.
These reasons include:
- Class size: Private schools tend to have smaller class sizes. With less students per class, teachers can offer each student more individual attention.
- Class schedules: Some private schools offer the more standard, Monday-Friday, morning to afternoon schedule. Other schools will have alternating days, shorter days, a mix of in-person and online classes, and other options. These alternative school schedules can be a necessity for student athletes, students with occupational therapy, or any other outside-of-the-classroom commitments throughout the week.
- Flexible enrollment: If you’re just moving to NYC — or if your child needs to switch schools in the middle of a semester — look for a private school with flexible, open enrollment.
- Extracurriculars and social life: Does the private school offer the extracurriculars and social life that you want for your child? Sports, arts, music, and other activities help students socialize, enjoy the school experience, and grow as individuals. Plus, these activities also look good on college applications.
- Tuition: For some parents, private school tuition is a dealbreaker. If this is the case, focus on private schools that offer scholarships, grants, or payment plans.
We’ve compiled a list of of the 8 best private schools in New York City with these factors in mind.
First on the list is our own private Fusion Academy, which offers a personalized 1-to-1 learning model for every class to better support each child’s unique needs.
Here’s a full list of the schools we’ll cover:
- Fusion Academy – A private school focused on personalized learning.
- Poly Prep Country Day School – A private school known for its athletic programs.
- Saint Ann’s School – A private school with a focus on the arts.
- United Nations International School – A private school that fosters diverse voices.
- Horace Mann School – A private school with a strong focus on STEM.
- Convent of the Sacred Heart – An all-girls private school.
- Regis High School – A highly-regarded all-boys school.
- Hackley School – Renowned as the best boarding school.
You can request more information about Fusion Academy or read testimonials from our parents and students.
1. Fusion Academy: The Best Private School in New York City for Personalized Learning
Fusion Academy is a 1-to-1 private high school and middle school, where teachers work with students on a customized plan unique to their needs. Because a classroom consists of one teacher working with one student, we adapt the curriculum to suit each student’s personal learning style, pace, and interests.
The 1-to-1 model is helpful to a wide range of students, including those with learning differences, those who need a more flexible schedule, or students that would benefit from a faster or slower learning pace.
Fusion has four campuses within New York:
We also have campuses in 18 other states and students can also take advantage of remote online learning through Fusion Global.
In addition to our full-time and part-time programs, we also provide services such as:
- Private tutoring
- Post-secondary counseling
- A math intervention program
- A reading intervention program
- And more
In the next section, we’ll take a closer look at the Fusion Academy experience, and how we structure 1-to-1 lessons, extracurricular clubs, and flexible scheduling to give your child the greatest chance at academic and social success.
1-to-1 Lessons Personalized to Your Child’s Needs
Private schools typically have small classes, but Fusion Academy offers a unique 1-to-1 format. One teacher is assigned to work with one student.
Because of this model, our teachers can offer more personalization in the classroom, ensuring your child is being taught with the methods that make the most sense to them.
This way, our students don’t have to worry about falling behind, being afraid to ask questions, or moving on to a new topic without having developed a deep understanding of the last one.
1-to-1 learning is great for:
Students with Learning Differences
Students with learning differences, such as ADHD, dyslexia, or sensory processing disorder thrive inside our 1-to-1 classes. This is because their unique needs can be far better met when their teacher has the freedom and time to cater to them specifically, as opposed to an entire class.
Here are two examples of how Fusion’s model benefits students with learning differences. First, a student with ADHD started to excel academically and socially when she was allowed to take movement breaks during lessons. Second, a student with sensory processing disorder was able to wear headphones while attending classes at Fusion.
Both of these personalizations aren’t generally available in traditional school settings, which prevents students from reaching their full potential.
Students Who Struggle Socially
For some students, hectic and packed campuses can be overwhelming, and large classes make asking questions intimidating — leading them to continue on with a lesson, even though they genuinely need help and clarification. Others may feel no sense of belonging and struggle to make friends.
At Fusion, our campuses are designed to promote success both academically and socially by adapting to each student’s learning and communication styles, ensuring that every aspect of the school day is engaging and fulfilling. Classes are also 1-to-1, encouraging students to feel comfortable asking questions. Plus, campuses offer both quiet and social areas for students.
Gifted Children
Gifted students sometimes struggle in traditional schools, as they often aren’t challenged enough, and can become bored, demotivated, and withdrawn. At Fusion Academy, we tailor the material to make it appropriately challenging and include student interests, making learning more mentally stimulating for gifted students.
For example, we had a student who loved to learn about astronomy and all things outer space. Our teachers were able to use that passion as a topic in their classes – a means of introducing new concepts and further the student’s education, while connecting the syllabus with something the student was passionate about.
Finally, our teachers only see between 6 and 8 students each day. That allows them far more opportunity to develop a relationship with your child, understand their individual interests and struggles, and develop a plan to help them succeed.
Social Activities and Spaces to Make Friends
A key factor in choosing the right private school is the social environment. At Fusion, while classes are 1-to-1, we also create a vibrant, supportive campus where students can build meaningful social connections.
At each campus, we have two main areas for students to interact when they’re not attending a class.
First, there’s the Homework Café. Here, a student can complete the coursework they were assigned, so it doesn’t turn into homework they need to complete at home. For plenty of students, it’s easier to focus and remain on task in our Homework Cafés. They’re around other students and teachers who can help if they have a question about an assignment.
There’s also the Social Homework Café. This is where social clubs meet up, students hold meetings, and everyone can socialize and interact with each other.
Here are some examples of social clubs offered across our campuses:
- Chess
- DnD
- Film
- Photography
- Music
- Yoga
- Video games
- Student created clubs
Fusion teachers understand the importance of maintaining the social aspect of school. They look for opportunities for students to collaborate and put pairs together which they feel could develop strong friendships. Shy students are never left behind, as teachers go out of their way to learn their interests, and guide them into interactions with students who have expressed similar ones.
In addition the Social Homework Café activities, we often organize day trips or excursions, such as:
- Hikes
- Rock climbing
- Volunteering
- Community service
You can learn more about both Homework Cafés here.
An important note for online students: If you’re interested in 100% online learning, our fully-virtual campus, Fusion Global Academy, has similar social opportunities with their Global Homework Café and social clubs.
Open Enrollment and Flexible Schedules
School days are highly customizable with us. If you’d find it more convenient for your child’s schedule to start and end after traditional hours, that’s entirely possible with us.
We’re flexible in other ways too, for example:
- Enroll at any point. There’s no need to wait for semesters to start, as each child is on their own schedule – meaning you can join us at any point in the year.
- Flexible holiday periods. You can arrange for holidays to be set during any point in the year, after which your child will continue learning right where they left off.
Fusion Academy Tuition
As Fusion Academy offers flexible academic programs, the tuition for each student varies depending on your child’s needs. For example, we offer:
- Full-time programs
- Part-time programs
- Remedial Classes
- Supplementary Classes
Each of our New York campuses offer slightly different packages with tuition fees. You can view them here.
For example, you can view our tuition breakdown for the full-time and part-time programs at our Brooklyn campus. These prices are for the 2024–2025 school year and don’t include any enrollment/registration fees.
Here’s a breakdown of other academic programs at Fusion, such as tutoring and college counseling:
We offer various payment options, including:
- Paying in full (at a discounted rate).
- Enrolling in a payment plan.
- Third-party financing that covers tuition.
If you’re interested in Fusion Academy for your child, you can request more information.
2. Poly Prep Country Day School: A Private School with Popular Athletic Programs
Poly Prep Country Day School is a top-rated private school based in Brooklyn. They cater to grades K-12, and are well known for their strong athletic programs, incredible facilities, and strong history of success across numerous sports, such as football, basketball, and baseball. In total, they have programs focused on 15 different sports. The breakdown includes:
- 28 varsity teams
- 12 junior varsity teams
- 12 middle school teams
- 60+ NYSAIS championships
- 275+ league championships
- 24 Poly Prep students recognized as All-Americans since 2017
Here are the 2024–2025 tuition costs for Poly Prep Country Day School:
All tuition includes lunch, off-campus grade level field trips, all technology devices in lower and middle school, and bus service.
When it comes to financial aid, 22% of the study body receives financial aid, and financial aid packages, when awarded, do cover 80% of tuition.
You can third-party reviews here.
3. Saint Ann’s School: A Private School for the Arts
Saint Ann’s School teaches grades Pre-K through 12, and are well regarded for their emphasis on arts and academic rigor. They’re a private school based in Brooklyn, and utilize creative and progressive approaches in their classes.
For example, Saint Ann’s mission statement remarks that students at the school are “unfettered by grades,” allowing “teachers and students to embark on journeys of discovery in which the arts are central.”
A lack of formal grades does not mean a lack of academic rigor. Students complete the basic requirements of Art, English, History, Foreign Language, Math, Science, and Rec Arts.
When it comes to art, Saint Ann’s has a substantial offering in its catalog. Here are some examples of the courses offered to high school students:
- Introduction to Architecture & Design 1 and 2
- Digital Photography
- Oil Painting
- Printmaking
- Clay, Plaster, Paper, Wax: The Elements of Sculpture
- Animation
- And more.
Here are the 2024–2025 tuition costs for Saint Ann’s School:
You can read third-party reviews here.
4. United Nations International School: A Private School with a Strong Focus on Diversity
The United Nations International School in Manhattan serves Pre-K to 12th grade. It’s a coeducational, International Baccalaureate, college-preparatory day school.
The school was highly international from its origins — founded by a group of United Nations parents who wanted to provide an international education for their children. That spirit remains to this day. The school has 1,450 students, representing 109 different countries. In addition to a rigorous curriculum, students are exposed to global cultural diversity.
Here are the 2024–2025 tuition costs for the United Nations International School:
You can read third-party reviews here.
5. Horace Mann School: A Private School with a Strong STEM Focus
Horace Mann School is a private school in the Bronx, catering to Pre-K, all the way up to the 12th grade. It’s a coeducational, nondenominational independent day school. Their goal is to stretch the limits of their students’ intellect and imaginations, and they have access to state of the art science labs and other facilities across campus.
Here are the 2024–2025 tuition costs for Horace Mann School:
You can read third-party reviews here.
6. Convent of the Sacred Heart: An All-Girls School
Convent of the Sacred Heart an all-girls Catholic school based in Manhattan, with multiple campuses. It is also ranked among the top 5 schools for STEM subjects in NYC.
Many students from the school go on to study at Ivy Leagues, such as Yale and Harvard, which is a testament to the rigorous academic standards to which they hold their students.
Here are the 2024–2025 tuition costs for Convent of the Sacred Heart:
You can read third-party reviews here.
7. Regis High School: A Competitive, Tuition-Free All-Boys School
Regis High School is a prestigious private Catholic all-boys school located on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, serving grades 9–12. It is ranked as the top all-boys high school in New York.
Admission is highly competitive, as the school is nationally recognized and entirely tuition-free. It’s merit-based, with special consideration for families needing financial assistance.
Note that all incoming students must be baptized Catholic.
You can read third-party reviews here.
8. Hackley School: A Private School with Room & Board
Located just 30 minutes north of Manhattan, Hackley School is a private boarding school that is well known for its reputation of academic excellence. They offer a wide range of programs across arts, athletics, and other extra-curriculars, while also fostering a social environment where fellow students see each other as family.
It’s considered one of the top independent schools in the area, and its graduates often go on to attend prestigious colleges and universities.
Here are the 2024–2025 tuition costs for Hackley School:
You can read third-party review here.
Find the Best Private School in NYC for Your Child
In this post, we looked at 8 different private schools in NYC, including boarding schools, Catholic schools, international programs, and more.
Each of these schools has something unique to offer their students. All of them pride themselves on the rigor of their academics and the school environment that allows their students to thrive.
Further, each focuses on student success, though the methodologies will vary from school to school.
The best approach is to think of how your child will best thrive — and what they need to succeed.
Fusion Academy might be the best private school for your child — especially if they need or will benefit the most from a highly personalized and flexible environment.
If you want to learn more, contact Fusion today and schedule a visit with your local campus.
