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3 Best Private Schools in New York (2026)

Independently ranked by our review of ratings, reviews and reputation · How we chose

Fenris Morrow
By Fenris Morrow, Expert in Professional Services · ✓ Data verified July 2026 · 6 min read

Picking a private school in New York usually starts with a wait list, not a shortlist. The private schools on this page have logged 30 Google reviews between them, and every one of them sits at 4.8 stars or higher, rare enough in early education that it's worth digging into why.

Short answer: New Amsterdam School leads with a perfect 5.0 across 11 reviews, the only Waldorf school in downtown Manhattan. Close behind, The Washington Market School runs two Tribeca campuses built on a Montessori and Reggio Emilia foundation, Hudson Street at 4.9 and Duane Street at 4.8. All three serve children from early childhood through Kindergarten.
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How the Manhattan Schools Stack Up

# Business Rating Reviews Best for
1 New Amsterdam School 5.0 ★ 11 Waldorf education and outdoor learning View ›
2 The Washington Market School - Hudson Street 4.9 ★ 11 Montessori-Reggio preschool, Hudson Street View ›
3 The Washington Market School - Duane Street 4.8 ★ 8 Montessori-Reggio preschool, Duane Street View ›
3 Best Private Schools in New York (2026)

Our top picks, reviewed

New Amsterdam School logo
#1 Overall🕑 Open 5 days/wk

New Amsterdam School

5.011 Google reviews

New Amsterdam School is an independent Waldorf school on Avenue B in the East Village, serving children from parent-child classes through Kindergarten and now into a Grades School. Its curriculum blends academics with outdoor education, gardening, and hands-on arts, following the century-old Waldorf approach developed by Rudolf Steiner. Parents describe a small, close-knit community built around that nature-based philosophy, and the school names its stated commitment to anti-bias and anti-racism work as part of its identity.

What people praise

  • Parents call it the only Waldorf school in downtown Manhattan
  • Daily outdoor and garden time comes up in nearly every review
  • Specific teachers are named and praised for their impact on individual kids
  • A perfect 5.0 across all 11 reviews, with nothing below 5 stars

Worth knowing

  • Only 11 reviews on file, a small sample to judge consistency
Reputation scorecardrank in New York
Rating5 / 5
Review volume11 · 75th
Confidenceearly
Recency11 months ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown100% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: It's our number one pick on a perfect rating, though with just 11 reviews behind it, weigh that alongside its two Washington Market School competitors below before you decide.

Website+1212-533-1820 Directions

62 Avenue B, New York, NY 10009

The Washington Market School - Hudson Street logo
#2🕑 Open 5 days/wk

The Washington Market School - Hudson Street

4.911 Google reviews

The Washington Market School has run early-childhood programs from its Hudson Street campus in Tribeca since 1976, blending Montessori and Reggio Emilia approaches. Families can choose half-day, full-day, or extended-day options, and the curriculum leans on hands-on group and individual activities. Reviewers describe teachers who notice a child's needs early, including one family who credits the school with connecting them to a speech therapist.

What people praise

  • A near-perfect 4.9 average across 11 reviews
  • Teachers identified a child's speech needs and helped find outside support
  • Reviewers describe a genuine sense of community among children and parents
  • Running continuously since 1976, per the school's own history

Worth knowing

  • Only 11 reviews on file for this location, a small sample
Reputation scorecardrank in New York
Rating4.9 / 5
Review volume11 · 75th
Confidenceearly
Recency4 weeks ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown91% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: It ranks second here on a near-perfect average, just behind New Amsterdam School's untouched 5.0, on a similarly small review count.

Website+1212-233-2176 Directions

55 Hudson St, New York, NY 10013

The Washington Market School - Duane Street logo
#3🕑 Open 5 days/wk

The Washington Market School - Duane Street

4.88 Google reviews

This is the Duane Street campus of the Washington Market School, running the same Montessori and Reggio Emilia program as its Hudson Street sibling since 1976, with a specific Montessori-school designation at this location. Families who've used both campuses describe consistent warmth and attentiveness at each site. One reviewer, an educator with over 12 years in the field, called the experience nothing short of exceptional.

What people praise

  • Families with kids at both campuses call the quality consistent across locations
  • The school brings in outside authors and psychologists for parent talks
  • A strong sense of community, with lasting friendships formed among families
  • An experienced educator among the reviewers called it exceptional

Worth knowing

  • The smallest review count on this list, just 8 reviews
Reputation scorecardrank in New York
Rating4.8 / 5
Review volume8 · 38th
Confidenceearly
Recency4 weeks ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown88% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: It ranks third here purely on a smaller review count than its sister Hudson Street campus, not a different experience. Treat picks two and three as one strong program with two addresses.

Website+1212-406-7271 Directions

134 Duane St, New York, NY 10013

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How we score

Rating is the live Google average for each school. Review volume measures how many families have actually left a review, ranked against similar schools. Confidence weighs the rating by that volume, since five reviews and five hundred don’t carry the same certainty. Recency checks how recently families are still reviewing. No school can pay to change any of these numbers.

How much does a private school cost in New York? (2026)

Independent early-childhood tuition in Manhattan varies widely by program length, extended-day options, and neighborhood, and none of these three schools publish list pricing we can verify as current. Contact each school directly for its latest tuition and any sibling or need-based aid.

Serving Downtown Manhattan

This list covers the East Village, home to New Amsterdam School on Avenue B, and Tribeca, home to both Washington Market School campuses on Hudson Street and Duane Street. If you’re searching for private schools near me in New York, all three sit within an easy walk or short subway ride of the Financial District and SoHo.

What to ask before you enroll

  • What educational philosophy does the program follow, and how does it show up day to day?
  • What’s the teacher-to-child ratio in the age group we need?
  • Is before or after care available, and does it cost extra?
  • How does the school support a child with developmental or speech needs?
  • What does tuition include, and are sibling or need-based discounts available?
  • What’s the timeline and process for enrollment?

Frequently asked questions

Are these rankings paid?

No. Rankings come from public Google data. A business can pay to be a Featured Partner (badge and top placement), but that never changes another business’s score or position.

How did you choose these schools?

We pulled every private school in New York with a real, active Google Business Profile and ranked them by their live rating, review volume, and recency, then read the reviews ourselves.

How often is this updated?

We refreshed this page in July 2026 and check back periodically as ratings and review counts change.

Are the Hudson Street and Duane Street locations really the same school?

Yes. Both are campuses of the Washington Market School, running the same Montessori and Reggio Emilia program since 1976.

Is a Waldorf or Montessori school right for every family?

Not necessarily. Both emphasize hands-on, child-led learning, but the pace and structure differ from a traditional academic track. Visit and ask questions before deciding.

The bottom line

All three schools run on small review counts, so read a few reviews yourself before deciding. If a nature-based Waldorf approach appeals to you, start with New Amsterdam School. If you want Montessori and Reggio Emilia, either Washington Market School campus delivers the same strong program.

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