At a Glance
A Small, Religious High School in Affluent Riverdale with Exceptionally Small Classes
Best suited for
Families seeking a small, intimate school environment with very low student-teacher ratios, who are comfortable with an extremely homogeneous student body and want a faith-based education in an affluent Bronx neighborhood. The ideal fit is someone who values personalized attention over diversity and doesn't mind a longer commute for a quieter, suburban-feeling setting.
What stands out
- Very small class sizes — 6.7:1 student-teacher ratio means genuine individual attention
- Religious affiliation with the Church of God in Christ — an unusual and specific denominational identity
- Located in affluent Riverdale, a distinctive neighborhood setting in the Bronx
- Small total enrollment (636) creates a tight-knit campus feel
Things to consider
- The student body is 99.7% White — this is an extremely homogeneous community with minimal racial or ethnic diversity
- Tuition costs for private schools in NYC are substantial and should be factored in
- Commute to and from Riverdale can be lengthy depending on where you live
- The religious affiliation may or may not align with your family's values — it's a specific denomination
Identity
SAR High School is a private, coed secondary school with a religious foundation tied to the Church of God in Christ. With just 6.7 students per teacher, this is a small and intimate learning environment — the kind of place where a teenager won't get lost in the crowd. The school occupies a specific niche: a faith-based institution in an affluent urban neighborhood.
Community
This is an extremely homogeneous student body — 99.7% of students identify as White, with negligible representation of other racial or ethnic groups. The diversity index of 0.0213 reflects this. For families prioritizing exposure to diverse peers, this is a meaningful data point to weigh. Conversely, some families may appreciate a tight-knit, demographically similar community for their high schooler.
Neighborhood
Riverdale-Spuyten Duyvil is one of the most affluent and suburban-feeling neighborhoods in the Bronx, known for its tree-lined streets, detached homes, and proximity to Van Cortlandt Park. It's a predominantly residential area with a family-friendly feel, though it requires a commute to reach most of Manhattan's core.
Riverdale is a residential neighborhood in the far northern Bronx. Most families will need to account for commute time — this isn't a walkable-to-school neighborhood for most NYC families, and transportation will be a daily factor.
Notable Programs
What Parents Are Saying
Mixed reviews: Parents praise strong academics, excellent teachers, and personal attention. Concerns include competitive culture, limited outdoor space, and some reports of cliques. Niche rating 4.4/5 based on 49 reviews.
Synthesized from public parent reviews · Apr 2026
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Frequently Asked Questions
- Is SAR HIGH SCHOOL a good school?
- Published quality ratings aren't available for SAR HIGH SCHOOL yet on Motley. It's a private school serving grades 9 to 12 in Riverdale-Spuyten Duyvil.
- What grades does SAR HIGH SCHOOL serve?
- SAR HIGH SCHOOL serves grades 9 to 12.
- How do students get into SAR HIGH SCHOOL?
- SAR HIGH SCHOOL runs its own private admissions process — typically an application, a visit, and sometimes testing.
- Is SAR HIGH SCHOOL public, charter, or private?
- SAR HIGH SCHOOL is a private school.
- What neighborhood is SAR HIGH SCHOOL in?
- SAR HIGH SCHOOL is in Riverdale-Spuyten Duyvil, Bronx.