At a Glance
A Modern Orthodox elementary school on the Upper West Side where Jewish learning, character, and academics are woven together.
Best suited for
Modern Orthodox families on or near the Upper West Side who want their children immersed daily in Jewish learning, Hebrew, and Middot alongside a strong secular program, and who value a school that explicitly teaches mental health literacy and character from an early age.
What stands out
- Comics-based mental health literacy curriculum — an unusual and age-appropriate approach to SEL
- Explicit focus on Middot (Jewish ethics and character) alongside academics
- Stand With Israel advocacy program reflecting Modern Orthodox zionist values
- Robotics and chess as part of enrichment
- Welcoming of diverse Jewish customs and observance levels within Modern Orthodoxy
Things to consider
- The tuition range is enormous — $24,200 to $93,060 — so families need clarity on what they're budgeting for at each grade level; the total PK-5 commitment is substantial
- Mixed parent reviews: while many praise the school, some families cite concerns about rising tuition and what they describe as punitive discipline
- Modern Orthodox identity means Shabbat observance, kashrut, and Jewish learning are woven into the school day — this is not a culturally Jewish but secular school
- Elementary only (PK-5), so families will face another middle school transition in sixth grade
- Rolling admissions offer flexibility but mean seats can fill without a fixed deadline
Identity
This is a Modern Orthodox day school — meaning the school day includes Jewish learning, Hebrew, and assumes families observe Shabbat and keep kosher at home. The school explicitly welcomes a range of Jewish backgrounds and customs within that framework.
Community
The school presents itself as warm and nurturing, and many families echo that. Parent reviews online are genuinely mixed, though — some praise a top-notch education and caring environment, while others raise concerns about tuition increases and describe discipline as overly punitive in some cases.
Neighborhood
The Upper West Side (Central) is a solidly upper-middle-class Manhattan neighborhood with a high concentration of college-educated families and a well-established Jewish community.
Three subway options are within reasonable walking distance: 72 St (1/2/3) and 79 St (1) are both about a 6-minute walk, and 66 St-Lincoln Center (1) is around 12 minutes on foot. The 1/2/3 lines run along Broadway and connect directly to Midtown and downtown.
Notable Programs
What Parents Are Saying
Mixed reviews - some parents cite concerns about tuition increases and punitive methodology, while others praise top-notch education in a warm, nurturing environment
Synthesized from public parent reviews · Apr 2026
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Frequently Asked Questions
- Is MANHATTAN DAY SCHOOL a good school?
- Published quality ratings aren't available for MANHATTAN DAY SCHOOL yet on Motley. It's a private school serving grades Pre-K to 5 in Upper West Side (Central).
- What grades does MANHATTAN DAY SCHOOL serve?
- MANHATTAN DAY SCHOOL serves grades Pre-K to 5.
- How do students get into MANHATTAN DAY SCHOOL?
- MANHATTAN DAY SCHOOL runs its own private admissions process — typically an application, a visit, and sometimes testing.
- Is MANHATTAN DAY SCHOOL public, charter, or private?
- MANHATTAN DAY SCHOOL is a private school.
- What neighborhood is MANHATTAN DAY SCHOOL in?
- MANHATTAN DAY SCHOOL is in Upper West Side (Central), Manhattan.