At a Glance
An ultra-small Upper West Side middle school with extraordinary personalization
Families seeking an ultra-small, highly personalized middle school experience on the Upper West Side, with the ability to pay premium tuition for near-individual attention. Best for students who will thrive in an intimate setting of fewer than 35 peers and who would benefit from extraordinary adult attention.
- 3:1 student-teacher ratio — extraordinarily personalized attention
- Total enrollment of just 33 students creates an intimate community
- Nonsectarian and coed middle school serving grades 6-8
- Located in a prime Upper West Side location with near-perfect family density
- Very high cost to maintain — extremely low ratios require significant tuition
- Lacks racial diversity compared to typical NYC schools
- Very small community may not suit students who thrive in larger social settings
- No religious affiliation if that's important to your family
- Missing data on tuition, extracurriculars, and academic outcomes
A tiny nonsectarian private middle school with a 3:1 student-teacher ratio — this is as personal as schooling gets, with almost one adult for every three students.
The student body is notably homogeneous — 82% White, 18% Black, and essentially no Hispanic or Asian students. This lack of racial diversity is unusual for NYC private schools and may reflect the school's specific enrollment patterns or family network.
The Upper West Side (Central) is one of Manhattan's most family-friendly neighborhoods, with a family density score of 97 out of 100. It offers access to Central Park, excellent restaurants, strong public transit, and a mix of pre-war buildings and modern developments.
Highly walkable — the neighborhood is known for its tree-lined streets, easy access to subway lines, and proximity to cultural institutions like the American Museum of Natural History.
Notable Programs
What Parents Are Saying
Mixed reviews - some parents praise the school for accommodating different learners and small class sizes, while some concerns raised about certain teachers and safety issues
Synthesized from public parent reviews · Apr 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is SMITH SCHOOL a good school?
- Published quality ratings aren't available for SMITH SCHOOL yet on Motley. It's a private school serving grades 6 to 8 in Upper West Side (Central).
- What grades does SMITH SCHOOL serve?
- SMITH SCHOOL serves grades 6 to 8.
- How do students get into SMITH SCHOOL?
- SMITH SCHOOL runs its own private admissions process — typically an application, a visit, and sometimes testing.
- Is SMITH SCHOOL public, charter, or private?
- SMITH SCHOOL is a private school.
- What neighborhood is SMITH SCHOOL in?
- SMITH SCHOOL is in Upper West Side (Central), Manhattan.
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