At a Glance
An all-girls liberal arts powerhouse where rigorous academics meet confident, joyful learning
Families seeking an academically rigorous all-girls environment on the Upper East Side who value liberal arts education, strong arts and STEAM programs, and want their daughters to develop confidence and intellectual curiosity in a setting designed specifically for young women. Best fit for families comfortable with private school tuition and the Upper East Side neighborhood context.
- All-girls environment explicitly designed around how girls learn and lead
- STEAM Lab integrates science, technology, engineering, arts, and math across the curriculum
- Strong arts program including orchestra, choir, acting, dance, jazz, theater, and visual arts
- Foreign language instruction from early grades
- Athletics program builds teamwork and physical confidence
- NYSAIS-accredited with rigorous academic standards
- Application deadline November 15th — plan ahead
- Tuition is substantial at $68,480 annually — factor in the full K-12 cost when budgeting
- Socioeconomic diversity is limited; some parents mention cliques as a concern
- Very competitive admissions — apply by November 15th
- Location is exclusively Upper East Side; families outside Manhattan will have longer commutes
- This profile covers only the Elementary Division (PK-5); the school continues through 12th grade
Spence is an all-girls private school with a rigorous liberal arts curriculum that treats girls as capable, curious, and full of potential. The school explicitly believes in the strength, intellect and vitality of women — this isn't just marketing language, it's embedded in how they structure classroom dynamics, leadership opportunities, and expectations. Academic standards are high, and there's genuine attention to building self-confidence alongside intellectual capability.
Parent reviews consistently describe the community as warm, inclusive, and invested in the whole child — not just test scores. Teachers are described as passionate and deeply invested. That said, some families note concerns about socioeconomic diversity and the presence of cliques, which is worth considering if cross-economic-community exposure matters to your family. The school attracts families who value academic rigor and are comfortable with a high-tuition private school environment.
Spence's 93rd Street location sits in the heart of Carnegie Hill, one of Manhattan's most family-dense neighborhoods (97/100 family density). This is a stroller-friendly, sidewalk-wide, doorman-building world — tree-lined blocks, proximity to Central Park, and families everywhere. The neighborhood feel is established, residential, and pricey.
Highly walkable. The school is well-situated for Upper East Side families, with easy access to public transit and Central Park. Families commuting from other boroughs will want to factor in travel time — this is very much a neighborhood school.
Notable Programs
What Parents Are Saying
Overwhelmingly positive reviews on Niche and GreatSchools praise academic rigor, passionate teachers, inclusive community, self-confidence building, and whole student development; some concerns noted about socioeconomic diversity and cliques
Synthesized from public parent reviews · Apr 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is SPENCE SCHOOL AT 93RD a good school?
- Published quality ratings aren't available for SPENCE SCHOOL AT 93RD yet on Motley. It's a private school serving grades Pre-K to 5 in Upper East Side-Carnegie Hill.
- What grades does SPENCE SCHOOL AT 93RD serve?
- SPENCE SCHOOL AT 93RD serves grades Pre-K to 5.
- How do students get into SPENCE SCHOOL AT 93RD?
- SPENCE SCHOOL AT 93RD runs its own private admissions process — typically an application, a visit, and sometimes testing.
- Is SPENCE SCHOOL AT 93RD public, charter, or private?
- SPENCE SCHOOL AT 93RD is a private school.
- What neighborhood is SPENCE SCHOOL AT 93RD in?
- SPENCE SCHOOL AT 93RD is in Upper East Side-Carnegie Hill, Manhattan.
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