In New York City, there are over 14,000 public and private K-12 schools operating today.
Thus, choosing a school for your children in any of the five boroughs can be a daunting task. First, you must research an endless amount of schools before you can even consider making a choice.
Each school offers different approaches to its curriculum and after-school programs available to students. Usually, your decision will come down to tuition cost, student demographics, the variety of athletic sports offered and the different types of college preparation courses offered.
For some parents, this is a major decision that will change the course of their children's lives forever. They want to set them on a clear path to attend an Ivy League School. But the process of choosing a school doesn't need to be overwhelming. In fact, the right school might be within walking distance of your home. Just think of New York City as your own personal sanctuary for quality education.
Take a look at our guide to get a complete overview of the top NYC schools.
Your Source for Public Schools
The power of intellect is important for those students who expect to further their education beyond high school. The success of the top public NYC schools (Stuyvesant High School, Roosevelt High School and Brooklyn Tech High School) should not be solely based on how they trained a young mind, but rather on the courses offered that help the students to mature.
The classroom interaction should provide the energy needed to spark curiosity in students to learn the subject matter.
Emphasis should be placed on the development of the student's strength and talents, which forges the foundation that is necessary for tackling future academic challenges. Public schools are committed to developing a student's self-worth and independence.
This is accomplished by providing a very demanding curriculum that enhances a student's ability to work or study in a specific career.
Choose an NYC School District That Offers the Best in Education
School districts were created to build and operate all schools within its border. One of the largest school districts in the United States is the New York City Department of Education as it runs over 1,800 separate schools.
The department is run by a chancellor, who administrates over all registration of students into the school system, adds or subtracts extended day or summer school classes and implements all extracurricular school activities.
Private schools are run by a board of trustees. They take their responsibilities very seriously as all of their business decisions will have a direct effect on the day-to-day operations. Some of the top private schools value an open line of communication between the parents and school administrators.
This means having them become an active participant in school-related events such as fundraising galas and other social activities. It's an opportunity to get the parents connected with school officials while giving back at the same time.
The lone common denominator between public school districts and private school administrators is their ability to recognized and celebrate the excellence found in their student body. Both entities are quite proud of the accomplishments.
Quality High School Education, Top NYC Schools
Some define graduating from high school as an achievement in completing a tough curriculum. Your elders believe it is the first sign that you have become a functioning member of our society. Seriously, the top NYC schools assist by igniting a spark of interest in their students.
It is providing a quality education that features some of their favorite course study matters. Thus, the school's faculty must craft a personalized journey that is based on the student body's interests and passions.
Your classroom time together must be informative, yet enjoyable at the same time.
It is a challenging endeavor to create such a curriculum that meets the diverse needs of students. The goal is to provide them the fundamentals and skills needed for college and other post-secondary education opportunities.
Teachers hope to encourage students into discovering their own voice and become independent thinkers. This will help them to better connect with others in their future careers.
The mission of all of the top NYC schools (Regis High School, Robert Louis Stevenson School, Baruch College High School and Grammercy Arts High School) regardless of being public or private is their ability to keep their educational principles despite having their academic agenda changed through the years.
And the majority of graduates from the above NYC schools are continuing their education by attending a college, university or advanced training for a professional career.
Top Middle Schools in New York City
The connection between middle school students and their teachers are genuine during their time together. Educators nourish this relationship with a series of challenging classroom exercises that peaks the student's interests. It will force them to use their mind, which opens their imagination and trains them to decipher information in problem-solving situations.
Some of the top middle schools (The Clinton School, Public School 33, Berkeley Carroll School) in New York City offers a curriculum that gains students the skills and confidence to learn, grow and reach their full potential in life.
The coursework is designed to build self-esteem while helping a student to recognize their academic prowess. They will take great pleasure in discovering the intellectual value of their research findings. The middle school years are where classroom discussion reinforces the course content by bringing it to life.
Explore New York for Top Elementary Schools
The top NYC elementary (PS 11 Elementary School, Trinity Elementary, Bank Street School for Children) schools provide an enriching, engaging educational experience in a dynamic setting. Hopefully, the classroom becomes a "second" home for the students because of the warm and supportive atmosphere.
The curriculum is designed to develop a young student's intelligence by assisting them to acquire the knowledge and skills that form their personality. The role of the teacher is very important as their job is to keep the students on track in their development.
As the students progress through their elementary school years, the coursework will become more complex and challenging.
The goal is to inspire them into a lifetime of learning by developing their skills to collaborate with others, being creative on their own and becoming independent thinkers. The school's staff is dedicated to providing a challenging experience that builds the foundation for them to advance through to the highest course of education available.
NYC's Top Private Schools
Private schools (Alexander Roberson School, Professional's Children's School, Dalton School) are a very popular choice among those parents seeking to have their children become a respected, active member of the local community. The curriculum is tailored to each student's needs that guarantee them success in the classroom. This approach helps them to better connect with the subject matter.
In this environment, students can discover one area of interest in relation to their course studies. Often, the most popular choice in a private school is the sciences. The course teacher helps to build a student's skill level by assisting them in completing complicated experiments. Their own expertise will help the student to provide a detailed account of their findings. This type of interaction can be beneficial to all.
Other courses that have built a similar foundation for students include math, humanities, foreign language and theater. Each stresses the importance of critical thinking. The curriculum is designed to stimulate a student's mind by engaging them to ask questions, develop better problem-solving techniques and working in collaboration with other students. Over time, they will build the confidence and independence needed to be successful in their other areas of study.
Attending a Christian School is a Viable Educational Option
The majority of all Christian (Geneva School of Manhattan, Christ Church Day School, ) NYC schools try to serve the needs of their students who want to be challenged by their set beliefs, outside procedures and surrounding cultures. It doesn't matter whether it is the more popular Catholic, Evangelical Christian (non-denominational) or other religious-affiliated schools, all are considered a non-profit private group that offers a credible, traditional academic curriculum from kindergarten through the 12th Grade.
Their niche in education has earned them a reputation as being schools where students are treated with the respect they deserve. However, each is run on religious principles but still have been deemed accredited by all of the top universities and colleges.
Past graduates believe their academic success is based on Christian schools offering their students an opportunity to develop a personal relationship with God.
Having an active religious faith enhances a student's deep respect for intellectual values. Sometimes, social awareness impels actions as an individual. Despite all of the challenges they encounter, each student will reach their true potential as a scholar.
The mission of religious schools are to provide an environment that allows students to advance their knowledge. Traditional teaching practices are frown upon in most religious schools.
Instead, they will instruct with the aid of visual, physical and vocal presentations. But the school's strict guidelines are enforced by the faculty, which usually means a failure to complete an assignment or pass a test will be immediately addressed. However, the solution could mean offering individual instruction that allows students to achieve immediate academic success.
A religious school's curriculum is designed to enrich the mind, body and soul of each student. And the majority of them have graduated and continued their education at a prestigious university or college.
Charter Schools
One of the more overlooked educational choices by most New Yorkers are charter schools. But their popularity is growing because they're offering a more diverse curriculum than traditional schools. Often, the top charter (KIPP Infinity, Achievement First Bushwick School) schools in New York City produce students who are culturally smart and intellectually stimulated by the coursework.
This type of education has become a necessity in our ever competitive world. The small classroom sizes promote personal growth for all students as they find themselves inside an atmosphere of educational freedom.
Boarding Schools
The consensus among residents believes that boarding school students have better academic grades due to the fact they can focus better on their studies than other students of their age.
Often, they have fewer distractions (television, video games and smartphones) which have been limited by the school's staff. The top boarding (Lemen Manhattan Prep, Yeshiva University High School for Boys) schools in New York City promote an environment for academic success.
The limited access to outside distraction as their dorm lifestyle is conducive for better studying habits.
Plus, parents believe their children are more exposed to art, drama and other extra-curricular activities than a traditional school. Often, the student discovers their true talents at a boarding school.
Over time, boarding school officials will assist them to choose a college that gains them further knowledge in their area of study. The regimented lifestyle gained from attending a boarding school will help them become more confident and efficient in their professional career.
Summer School: A Solid, Extended Education
In the past, the thought of attending summer school was thought to be a form of punishment for certain students.
Usually, it was a result of poor grades during the just-completed school year. Now, attending summer school is considered a smart move by school administrators. Students are using the summer courses to focus their attention on one or two subjects.
Often, the goal is to raise their GPA score to gain immediate acceptance into top collegiate universities. In some cases, students are trying to gain their graduation requirements faster, so they can enroll in their semester's classes.
Seniors with a clear academic agenda are ready to move onto their next chapter immediately. Enrolling in summer school will achieve this goal.
