LOWELL SCHOOL

Families with young children (pre-K through grade 5) who want a nurturing, progressive, hands-on environment with very small classes — and who can manage a car commute and the $40,000 tuition.

• Exceptionally small classes with a 5.7:1 student-teacher ratio — one of the most intimate settings in NYC private education.
• Progressive, hands-on, multi-sensory curriculum aligned to children's developmental stages rather than to standardized pacing.
• Includes a swim and physical-development program, which is unusual for a private elementary school and speaks to the whole-child philosophy.
• Strong social-emotional learning (SEL) emphasis and what parents describe as genuine therapeutic support woven into daily school life.
• Diverse student body (diversity index 0.79) within a tiny population, giving children broad exposure in a close setting.

• Tuition is a flat $40,000 for 2025-2026 — a significant investment, and there's no published sliding scale or financial aid data in the materials we reviewed.
• With only 113 students across seven grades, the peer pool is small; older elementary children may eventually seek wider social circles outside school.
• There are no subway stations within a 20-minute walk, making the commute car- or bus-dependent for most Queens and Manhattan families.
• Parent reviews emphasize success with children who needed confidence rebuilding or therapeutic support — families should consider whether that mission matches their child's needs.
• Accreditation is through the New York State Regents; Lowell is not affiliated with the major national associations (e.g., NAIS, NYSAIS) that some families look for.