At a Glance
A tiny, mission-driven middle school where Lasallian social justice values meet one of Manhattan's most diverse student bodies.
Best suited for
A family looking for a small, mission-driven middle school where their child will be known personally, values racial and economic diversity, and wants social justice principles integrated into daily school life.
What stands out
- An unusually low 8.3:1 student-teacher ratio for a private school, meaning teachers can know every student by name and parents can expect real individual attention.
- A mission rooted in Lasallian social justice education — service, equity, and community are woven into the curriculum rather than tacked on as electives.
- One of the most racially diverse private middle schools in the city, with no single group making up a majority.
- A genuinely small community of 157 students across three grades, which can be a real strength for middle-schoolers navigating early adolescence.
- A surprisingly robust enrichment menu for such a small school, including drama, debate, chess, visual arts, and music.
Things to consider
- The school only goes through 8th grade, so families need a separate plan for high school — there is no built-in continuity.
- Listed tuition is $26,250, which is notable given the stated mission to serve economically disadvantaged students; families should ask directly about financial aid availability.
- Parent reviews are mixed — while the community and teachers draw praise, some families have raised concerns about academic rigor and administrative experience.
- A school of 157 students will not offer the same range of teams, clubs, or social circles as a larger private middle school.
- The March 1 application deadline is earlier than many independent schools, so families should plan accordingly.
Identity
De La Salle Academy follows the Lasallian educational tradition, a Catholic-rooted philosophy that emphasizes social justice, community, and academic excellence, though the school itself is nonsectarian. It is a coeducational middle school serving grades 6 through 8, founded specifically to serve economically disadvantaged students. The mission-driven identity is central to how the school presents itself to families.
Community
The student body is one of the most racially diverse in the private school landscape, with a diversity index of 0.77 — Asian students make up the largest group at 45.9%, followed by Hispanic (26.8%) and Black (21.7%) students. The school is intentionally non-selective by income, recruiting from across the city rather than a single neighborhood. Mixed parent reviews highlight the strong sense of community and dedicated teachers, with some families raising concerns about academic rigor and administrative consistency.
Neighborhood
The school sits in Hell's Kitchen, a densely populated midtown neighborhood with a median household income of $102,535 and a college-educated rate of 71.4%. The area is a working-class-meets-tourist mix, with restaurants, theaters, and residential blocks all within a few blocks of the school. The neighborhood's central location means families come from across the city rather than just the surrounding blocks.
Subway access is exceptional — the 42 St-Port Authority Bus Terminal (A, C, E) is about a 2-minute walk away, and Times Sq-42 St (1, 2, 3 and 7) is about a 6-minute walk, connecting families to virtually every line in the system.
Notable Programs
What Parents Are Saying
Mixed reviews; parents praise sense of community, dedicated teachers, and diverse student body, though some concerns about academic rigor and administrative experience
Synthesized from public parent reviews · Apr 2026
Make this school part of your plan
Everything on this page is yours to read. An account keeps your research in one place.
No credit card required
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is DE LA SALLE ACADEMY a good school?
- Published quality ratings aren't available for DE LA SALLE ACADEMY yet on Motley. It's a private school serving grades 6 to 8 in Hell's Kitchen.
- What grades does DE LA SALLE ACADEMY serve?
- DE LA SALLE ACADEMY serves grades 6 to 8.
- How do students get into DE LA SALLE ACADEMY?
- DE LA SALLE ACADEMY runs its own private admissions process — typically an application, a visit, and sometimes testing.
- Is DE LA SALLE ACADEMY public, charter, or private?
- DE LA SALLE ACADEMY is a private school.
- What neighborhood is DE LA SALLE ACADEMY in?
- DE LA SALLE ACADEMY is in Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan.