At a Glance
A Tiny, Intimate Elementary Community on Staten Island
Best suited for
Families seeking an intimate, highly personalized elementary education on Staten Island — particularly those who value knowing every teacher and classmate by name, and who are comfortable with a demographically homogeneous community. This school works best for parents who prioritize close adult-student relationships over diverse peer experiences.
What stands out
- Remarkably small scale with only 58 students across pre-K through 5th grade
- Exceptional 3.9:1 student-teacher ratio — among the lowest in the city
- Nonsectarian approach without religious affiliation
- Elementary-only focus means all programs and resources are tailored to young learners
- Coed environment from preschool through 5th grade
Things to consider
- Very homogeneous student body — limited diversity exposure for students
- Small size may not suit children who thrive in larger peer groups
- Geographic isolation on Staten Island means longer commutes for families elsewhere
- Low enrollment means limited extracurricular options typical of larger schools
- Tuition costs (not provided) should be weighed against the personalized attention offered
Identity
A very small, intimate elementary school with an exceptionally low student-teacher ratio, offering personalized attention in a nonsectarian setting.
Community
This is a tightly knit community of fewer than 60 students across six grade levels. The homogeneity of the student body (over 91% white) means families here share a similar cultural background, which can create a cohesive community but also limited exposure to diversity.
Neighborhood
Located in the Grasmere-Arrochar-South Beach-Dongan Hills area of Staten Island, this school sits in a residential neighborhood with moderate family density. Staten Island offers a suburban feel with single-family homes and quieter streets, though it is geographically separated from the rest of New York City.
The neighborhood is car-dependent by New York City standards. Most families will drive or rely on school transportation; walking to school is practical only for those living very nearby.
Notable Programs
What Parents Are Saying
Mixed reviews: praised for academic rigor, warm environment, and dedicated teachers; criticized for Russian-focused culture, rude staff, and organizational issues. Recent negative reviews cite head injury reporting concerns and payment processing problems.
Synthesized from public parent reviews · Apr 2026
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Frequently Asked Questions
- Is SMILES AROUND US ACADEMY a good school?
- Published quality ratings aren't available for SMILES AROUND US ACADEMY yet on Motley. It's a private school serving grades Pre-K to 5 in Grasmere-Arrochar-South Beach-Dongan Hills.
- What grades does SMILES AROUND US ACADEMY serve?
- SMILES AROUND US ACADEMY serves grades Pre-K to 5.
- How do students get into SMILES AROUND US ACADEMY?
- SMILES AROUND US ACADEMY runs its own private admissions process — typically an application, a visit, and sometimes testing.
- Is SMILES AROUND US ACADEMY public, charter, or private?
- SMILES AROUND US ACADEMY is a private school.
- What neighborhood is SMILES AROUND US ACADEMY in?
- SMILES AROUND US ACADEMY is in Grasmere-Arrochar-South Beach-Dongan Hills, Staten Island.