At a Glance
A Tiny, Intimate Elementary School with a Surprising Religious Affiliation
Families seeking an intimate, highly personalized elementary education in the Upper West Side, and who are comfortable with — or specifically drawn to — a small-school environment. Ideal for parents who prioritize low student-teacher ratios and individual attention over diversity or a long-established reputation. Those wanting a secular-feeling school may be caught off guard by the Church of God in Christ affiliation.
- Extremely small size (105 students total) with a 5.9:1 student-teacher ratio
- Unusual religious affiliation (Church of Christ) for a school that presents as secular
- Part of the BASIS network with its academic emphasis
- Grades pre-K through 5th in one compact building
- Located in a transit-rich, family-friendly Upper West Side neighborhood
- Very low racial diversity — the student body is 85% white
- Newer school with limited track record (opened recently)
- Religious affiliation may be a surprise to families assuming nonsectarian
- Tuition for private elementary in Manhattan is significant
- Only covers elementary grades — families will need to plan for middle school transition
A tiny private elementary (105 students) with a 5.9:1 student-teacher ratio — this is as small and personal as schools get in Manhattan. The surprising twist: formal affiliation with the Church of God in Christ, though the school operates and feels largely secular in its presentation.
With 85% white students and a diversity index of just 0.40, this is a homogeneous community. The school is coed and serves young children across early elementary grades, creating a tight-knit, family-like atmosphere by virtue of its tiny size.
The school sits in the Upper West Side/Manhattan Valley area — a densely populated, family-rich neighborhood with excellent transit connections. It's blocks from Central Park, giving families easy access to green space and recreational activities.
The location scores very high for transit (94/100) and family density (89/100), meaning this is a highly walkable, convenient neighborhood for families who rely on public transportation.
Notable Programs
What Parents Are Saying
Parents describe the school as the most academic in NYC with amazing opportunities without snobbery; teachers are wonderful, supportive, friendly and passionate; exceptional social-emotional support; students are challenged and happy; diverse community with nice, smart kids and families
Synthesized from public parent reviews · Apr 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is BASIS INDEPENDENT MANHATTAN a good school?
- Published quality ratings aren't available for BASIS INDEPENDENT MANHATTAN yet on Motley. It's a private school serving grades Pre-K to 5 in Upper West Side-Manhattan Valley.
- What grades does BASIS INDEPENDENT MANHATTAN serve?
- BASIS INDEPENDENT MANHATTAN serves grades Pre-K to 5.
- How do students get into BASIS INDEPENDENT MANHATTAN?
- BASIS INDEPENDENT MANHATTAN runs its own private admissions process — typically an application, a visit, and sometimes testing.
- Is BASIS INDEPENDENT MANHATTAN public, charter, or private?
- BASIS INDEPENDENT MANHATTAN is a private school.
- What neighborhood is BASIS INDEPENDENT MANHATTAN in?
- BASIS INDEPENDENT MANHATTAN is in Upper West Side-Manhattan Valley, Manhattan.
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