At a Glance
An all-girls liberal arts foundation where academic rigor and self-confidence start in pre-K
Best suited for
Families committed to a single-sex liberal arts foundation for their daughters who can manage the price point and the early application calendar — and who want their child building confidence and intellectual habits before middle school.
What stands out
- One of the few all-girls PK-5 programs in Manhattan, building confidence and voice in girls from the earliest years
- A genuinely broad arts program — orchestra, choir, jazz, theater, dance, photography, sculpture, and 3D art all on offer alongside traditional academics
- A dedicated STEAM Lab signals real investment in hands-on science and design at the elementary level, not just the middle years
- Foreign language instruction begins in the lower school rather than waiting for middle or upper divisions
- NYSAIS accreditation places the school within the more rigorous NYC private-school accountability framework
Things to consider
- $68,480 tuition is at the very top of the Manhattan elementary market — financial aid availability isn't listed in this data, so ask directly
- All-girls from pre-K onward means this is the wrong fit for families seeking a coed elementary, or for households with sons who won't all attend together
- Some parent reviews flag cliques and uneven socioeconomic mixing — worth probing on the tour rather than discovering later
- The November 15 application deadline sits unusually early; families should be touring and applying well before the typical January rush
- This is the entry to a larger Spence network, so expect a campus transition before middle school completes the picture
Identity
Spence's lower school is a secular, all-girls program covering pre-K through fifth grade, with a stated philosophy built around rigorous liberal arts, character, and intellectual confidence in young women. The school explicitly celebrates "the strength, intellect and vitality of women" and treats diverse viewpoints as fuel for inquiry, not an afterthought. It is part of a larger Spence network that continues through upper school, accredited through NYSAIS.
Community
Because Spence is single-sex from the start and sits in one of Manhattan's wealthiest residential pockets, the student body skews toward Upper East Side families able to cover a top-of-market tuition. The school actively cultivates diverse viewpoints as part of its mission, but parent reviews flag that socioeconomic mixing can be uneven inside the classroom. Cultural and intellectual diversity appear present; economic diversity does not read as a strength.
Neighborhood
Carnegie Hill is one of Manhattan's wealthiest and most education-dense neighborhoods — a leafy stretch of the Upper East Side with deep private-school roots, anchored by museum mile and brownstone blocks. The census context shows an affluent, well-educated residential base, which both explains the school's location and shapes who tends to apply. It is the kind of neighborhood where school calendars drive family routines as much as anything else.
Three subway stops give families real options: the 96 St (6) is about a 5-minute walk, 86 St (4 5 6) about 8 minutes, and 86 St (Q) about 11 minutes.
Notable Programs
What Parents Are Saying
Overwhelmingly positive reviews praise academic rigor, passionate teachers, an inclusive community, self-confidence building, and whole student development; some concerns are noted about socioeconomic diversity and cliques
Synthesized from public parent reviews · Apr 2026
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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.