At a Glance
A faith-filled Catholic elementary school where strong academics and a tight-knit community come at a rare Manhattan price point
Best suited for
Catholic (or faith-comfortable) families in Washington Heights who want an affordable, community-centered elementary education with bilingual exposure and a smooth Pre-K-through-5th-grade runway.
What stands out
- A single flat tuition of $5,750 makes St. Elizabeth one of the most affordable private elementary options in Manhattan, reflecting its parish-subsidized model.
- A Dual Language program supports bilingual literacy from the early years, a meaningful fit for the neighborhood's Spanish-speaking families.
- Every student gets a personal laptop through the 1-1 Laptop Program, unusual at this price point.
- Dual accreditation from NCEA and NAEYC signals both a strong Catholic academic framework and high-quality early-childhood practice.
- Parent reviews are remarkably consistent and warm, repeatedly praising the school as a welcoming, family-oriented community with excellent safety measures.
Things to consider
- The school tops out at 5th grade, so families will need a separate middle-school plan.
- As a Catholic school, faith formation and liturgical life are part of daily routine — families should be comfortable with that, even if they are not Catholic themselves.
- At 220 students across seven grade levels, class sections are modest and the school feels intimate, but the program scope (clubs, electives, athletics) is more limited than at larger private schools.
- Rolling admissions mean seats can open mid-year, but the most popular entry points (Pre-K, K) may fill early through parish connections.
- Specialized supports and resources for students with significant learning differences are not described in the available data, so families should ask directly.
Identity
St. Elizabeth is a coeducational Roman Catholic elementary school serving Pre-K through 5th grade, rooted in a parish community in Washington Heights. Its mission pairs faith formation with academic rigor, encouraging intellectual curiosity, creativity, and self-respect in a supportive environment. The school is accredited by both the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) and the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).
Community
The student body is 78.2% Hispanic, with smaller shares of White (7.7%), Black (6.4%), Multiracial/Other (6.4%), and Asian (1.4%) students, giving a diversity index of about 0.50. The community reflects the predominantly Dominican and Latino character of northern Washington Heights. Parent reviews consistently emphasize a strong sense of family and a welcoming atmosphere for all families, including those who may not themselves be Catholic.
Neighborhood
The school sits in northern Washington Heights, a middle-income neighborhood where the median household income is around $76,919 and about 41.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The area has a working-class, multigenerational character with deep parish roots, and 14% of residents live below the poverty line — typical of this stretch of upper Manhattan. Families here tend to be tightly connected to local churches, schools, and small businesses along the Broadway corridor.
The school is well-served by the 1 train, with the 191 St station about a 4-minute walk away and the 181 St station about 6 minutes; the A train at 181 St is roughly 7 minutes on foot.
Notable Programs
What Parents Are Saying
Highly positive reviews; parents describe the school as welcoming with a diverse community, excellent safety measures, and supportive staff. Ratings are 4.71 and 4 out of 5. Multiple reviews praise Principal Stark and note a strong sense of family.
Synthesized from public parent reviews · Apr 2026
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Frequently Asked Questions
- Is ST ELIZABETH SCHOOL a good school?
- Published quality ratings aren't available for ST ELIZABETH SCHOOL yet on Motley. It's a private school serving grades Pre-K to 5 in Washington Heights (North).
- What grades does ST ELIZABETH SCHOOL serve?
- ST ELIZABETH SCHOOL serves grades Pre-K to 5.
- How do students get into ST ELIZABETH SCHOOL?
- ST ELIZABETH SCHOOL runs its own private admissions process — typically an application, a visit, and sometimes testing.
- Is ST ELIZABETH SCHOOL public, charter, or private?
- ST ELIZABETH SCHOOL is a private school.
- What neighborhood is ST ELIZABETH SCHOOL in?
- ST ELIZABETH SCHOOL is in Washington Heights (North), Manhattan.