At a Glance
A working-class Catholic elementary school where affordability meets one of Queens' most diverse zip codes
Best suited for
Working- and middle-class Queens families — including those who aren't Catholic but want values-based elementary education — who want an affordable, diverse, community-oriented school and aren't focused on low student-teacher ratios.
What stands out
- Tuition of $5,600–$6,340 puts Saint Adalbert among the most affordable private elementary options in all of NYC.
- True 1:1 device program — every student from K through 8 has an iPad or Chromebook, unusual at this price point.
- Leader in Me program (Stephen Covey-based leadership curriculum) integrated alongside a STEM Lab and Lab Learner science curriculum.
- Demographics that genuinely reflect the neighborhood — no single group dominates, which is unusual for both Catholic schools and NYC private schools broadly.
- Parents consistently report direct access to the principal and teachers, suggesting a tight-knit, family-run feel rather than a bureaucratic institution.
Things to consider
- The 21.6:1 student-teacher ratio is on the high side for a private school — most NYC privates run closer to 8–12:1, so don't expect the small-class experience.
- Only goes through 5th grade, so families will face another middle-school transition in a city where that decision is its own project.
- Catholic identity is central to the mission — families who aren't comfortable with faith-based formation should weigh that carefully.
- With just 9 FTE teachers across 194 students, the staffing is lean; specialized teachers and resources will be more limited than at larger private schools.
- Elmhurst around the M/R stations gets very busy on weekdays — drop-off and pickup logistics are part of the daily reality here.
Identity
Saint Adalbert is a coed Roman Catholic elementary school serving Pre-K through 5th grade, accredited by the Brooklyn Diocese and rooted in forming students as moral leaders who serve their community. The school takes a holistic approach — developing children spiritually, emotionally, socially, and academically — under a Catholic identity that welcomes families from many faith backgrounds. Founded as a parish school, it remains closely tied to its sponsoring Catholic community while serving an unusually diverse student body.
Community
The student body is one of the most demographically balanced in the borough: roughly 38% Asian, 30% White, 29% Hispanic, and small Black and multiracial representation. That mix isn't incidental — it's a direct reflection of the Elmhurst neighborhood, one of the most diverse in the entire country. Families who enroll here tend to be working- and middle-class, often immigrant or first-generation, and value the school's affordability and inclusive vibe as much as its academics.
Neighborhood
Elmhurst is a densely packed, working- and middle-class Queens neighborhood with a median household income around $68,000 and a college-educated rate of about 30%. Walk the blocks around the school and you'll hear Mandarin, Spanish, Tagalog, and Bengali alongside English — it's a quintessential Newcomer New York neighborhood with a deep well of family-run restaurants, bakeries, and small businesses. The area is busy and crowded, especially around the subway, but families tend to settle in for the schools and the affordability.
The closest subway is Grand Av-Newtown on the M and R lines, about a 9-minute walk; Elmhurst Av (M R) is roughly 14 minutes and Woodhaven Blvd (M R) about 16 minutes on foot.
Notable Programs
What Parents Are Saying
Extremely High Satisfaction Rate from Enrolled Families; family-friendly and safe environment; great representation of different cultures and diversity; teachers who truly love the students; small school allows easier communication and accessibility to teachers and principal
Synthesized from public parent reviews · Apr 2026
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Frequently Asked Questions
- Is SAINT ADALBERT CATHOLIC ACADEMY a good school?
- Published quality ratings aren't available for SAINT ADALBERT CATHOLIC ACADEMY yet on Motley. It's a private school serving grades Pre-K to 5 in Elmhurst.
- What grades does SAINT ADALBERT CATHOLIC ACADEMY serve?
- SAINT ADALBERT CATHOLIC ACADEMY serves grades Pre-K to 5.
- How do students get into SAINT ADALBERT CATHOLIC ACADEMY?
- SAINT ADALBERT CATHOLIC ACADEMY runs its own private admissions process — typically an application, a visit, and sometimes testing.
- Is SAINT ADALBERT CATHOLIC ACADEMY public, charter, or private?
- SAINT ADALBERT CATHOLIC ACADEMY is a private school.
- What neighborhood is SAINT ADALBERT CATHOLIC ACADEMY in?
- SAINT ADALBERT CATHOLIC ACADEMY is in Elmhurst, Queens.