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AARON SCHOOL (K-7)

309 EAST 45 STREET

At a Glance

A small, specialized school where students with learning differences get a second chance to thrive

Best suited for

Families whose child has a specific, identified learning difference — particularly dyslexia, dysgraphia, ADHD, or sensory/social challenges — and who want a small, structured environment where remediation and confidence-building happen together.

What stands out

  • Specialized in language-based learning differences using Orton-Gillingham and Wilson Fundations, both considered gold-standard interventions for dyslexia and decoding struggles.
  • Executive functioning is treated as a curriculum, not an afterthought — students get explicit instruction in organization, planning, and self-advocacy through a program called Advance.
  • Speech, language, and social skills support is built into the school day (K-2 with a dedicated speech/language specialist, 3-5 with a social worker/psychologist), so kids don't have to be pulled out for help.
  • Visual tools like Thinking Maps give students a structured way to organize thinking across subjects, which is especially helpful for kids who lose track of ideas quickly.
  • The program continues into applied high school courses, so families don't have to start the school search over again at adolescence.

Things to consider

  • Tuition runs about $78,488 — a meaningful investment, and worth weighing against how long the student is likely to stay (a multi-year commitment).
  • Parent reviews flag cramped physical space and windowless classrooms, which is real but a tradeoff many families accept for the small-group instruction.
  • This is not a general private school — it's designed for kids with identified learning needs; a neurotypical child without those challenges is likely not the target population.
  • Some parents give the high school program more mixed reviews than the lower school, so it's worth asking hard questions if you're planning to stay through graduation.
  • The Midtown location means a real commute for many families, especially from Brooklyn, Queens, or the outer boroughs.

Identity

Other

A nonsectarian, coeducational private elementary program purpose-built for students with reading, writing, math, attention, sensory, and social challenges. Its philosophy is interdisciplinary and explicitly skills-based, weaving executive functioning and self-advocacy into every subject rather than treating them as separate concerns.

Community

Insufficient Data

Families tend to find Aaron after a tough run elsewhere — often after exhausting public school supports or a mainstream private school that wasn't the right fit for a specific learning profile. The community is united by shared experience with learning differences rather than by neighborhood or background.

Neighborhood

East Midtown-Turtle Bay

East Midtown-Turtle Bay is one of Manhattan's higher-income, highly educated enclaves, with a median household income around $166,000 and over 80% of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher. The area is dense with offices and prewar residential buildings, and feels distinctly commuter-adjacent during weekdays.

From Grand Central-42 St on the 7 it's about a 7-minute walk; 51 St on the 6 is roughly 8 minutes; and Lexington Av/53 St on the E and F lines is around 9 minutes.

Notable Programs

Orton Gillingham and Wilson Fundations reading programsSocial skills curriculum (K-2 speech/language, 3-5 social worker/psychologist)Executive functioning program (Advance)Thinking Maps visual toolsApplied courses for high school

What Parents Are Saying

Mixed reviews; rated 4.33 out of 5 from 53 reviews (33% excellent, 67% very good), 3.7 from 6 reviews, and 5.0 from 2 reviews. Parents praise dedicated teachers, small class sizes, and strong support for learning differences. Concerns include limited physical space, small classrooms without windows, and mixed experiences with high school program quality.

Synthesized from public parent reviews · Apr 2026

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is AARON SCHOOL (K-7) a good school?
Published quality ratings aren't available for AARON SCHOOL (K-7) yet on Motley. It's a private school serving grades Pre-K to 5 in East Midtown-Turtle Bay.
What grades does AARON SCHOOL (K-7) serve?
AARON SCHOOL (K-7) serves grades Pre-K to 5.
How do students get into AARON SCHOOL (K-7)?
AARON SCHOOL (K-7) runs its own private admissions process — typically an application, a visit, and sometimes testing.
Is AARON SCHOOL (K-7) public, charter, or private?
AARON SCHOOL (K-7) is a private school.
What neighborhood is AARON SCHOOL (K-7) in?
AARON SCHOOL (K-7) is in East Midtown-Turtle Bay, Manhattan.