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CHILDREN'S ACADEMY

317 EAST 50 STREET

At a Glance

A tiny Turtle Bay school built for language-based learners, with speech and OT woven into every classroom.

Best suited for

Families whose children have language-based learning differences — including dyslexia, auditory processing, or related profiles — and who want a small, supportive elementary setting where therapy is part of the school day rather than an after-hours add-on.

What stands out

  • Speech-language pathology is integrated into every classroom, so children receive their therapy alongside (rather than apart from) their peers.
  • The published 6:2:1 student-to-teacher-to-aide ratio enables real-time differentiation in ways larger schools structurally cannot.
  • A 12-month academic year — uncommon among private schools — avoids the reading and language regression many language-based learners show over long summer breaks.
  • Skill-based grouping across grade levels lets a child work at their instructional level rather than being locked into a same-age cohort.
  • Group and individual occupational therapy are available on-site, making sensory and motor support part of the school day.

Things to consider

  • The 2:1 ratio reported in the PSS data reflects total staff including SLPs and OTs; the lived classroom experience is closer to 6 students to 2 teachers to 1 aide.
  • With 59 students spanning PK-5, families should plan early for the middle school transition — Children's Academy does not continue beyond elementary.
  • The school is purpose-built for language-based learners; families whose children do not have this profile may find the model more support than they need.
  • Tuition is not listed in the available data, so families will need to confirm cost directly with the school.
  • Parent reviews are limited (15 reviews rated 3.7), making first-hand conversations with current families especially worthwhile.

Identity

Other

Children's Academy is a nonsectarian, coed combined elementary program (PK-5) that uses evidence-based practices to support children with language-based learning differences. The school's foundational belief is that students thrive when instruction meets them where they are, and it weaves speech-language support directly into classroom life rather than pulling kids out of their peer group. Founded around this specialized mission, the school balances a rigorous standards-aligned academic program with the kind of individualized scaffolding that small classes make possible.

Community

Diverse

With 59 students total, the Children's Academy community is small enough that most families know one another well. The student body reflects meaningful racial and ethnic variety — about 47.5% white, 16.9% Hispanic, 15.3% Asian, 8.5% Black, and 11.9% multiracial or other — consistent with Manhattan's mix of families actively seeking out this specialized approach.

Neighborhood

East Midtown-Turtle Bay

East Midtown-Turtle Bay is a quiet, well-heeled residential pocket anchored by mid-rise apartment buildings and the UN/consulate corridor to the east. Median household income in the surrounding census area sits above $166,000, with about 84% of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher and a poverty rate around 6%. For families of school-age kids, the area feels manageable on foot — sidewalks, grocery runs, and a handful of small parks are all close at hand, even if the streets can feel hushed on weekends.

Three subway options sit within roughly an eleven-minute walk: Lexington Avenue/53 Street on the E and F in about 5 minutes, 51 Street on the 6 in about 6 minutes, and 59 Street on the 4, 5, and 6 in about 11 minutes.

Notable Programs

Integrated speech-language pathology in every classroom12-month academic program6:2:1 student-to-teacher ratioGroup and individual occupational therapySkill-based grouping across grade levels

What Parents Are Saying

Rated 3.7 from 15 reviews

Synthesized from public parent reviews · Apr 2026

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Frequently Asked Questions

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