At a Glance
A Blue Ribbon Catholic school where Latin starts in fourth grade and academic rigor is the daily expectation.
Best suited for
Families who want a rigorous, faith-centered elementary education with classical touches like Latin, in a well-resourced Upper East Side setting, and who are willing to engage directly with the school community.
What stands out
- Three-time National Blue Ribbon School recognition (2011, 2018, 2024) — a credential held by relatively few New York City schools.
- Latin instruction beginning in fourth grade, an unusually classical offering for a parish-affiliated elementary school.
- A substantial arts, music, and technology curriculum running alongside religious studies, suggesting a fuller academic day than typical faith-based schools.
- A wide tuition band ($12,315–$25,000) that likely reflects parish subsidy tiers — worth asking admissions exactly what determines a family's rate.
- An enrollment of 520 students, giving the school the scale to offer programs and electives that smaller elementary schools cannot.
Things to consider
- Parent reviews are mixed: academics and the writing program draw consistent praise, but multiple reviewers raise concerns about principal leadership and limited parent involvement — visit and talk to current families before applying.
- The 17.6:1 student-teacher ratio is on the higher side for a private school, so don't expect the intimate feel of a small progressive program.
- As a Catholic school, daily religion and sacramental preparation are central — make sure your family is genuinely comfortable with that identity.
- The wide tuition spread means your actual cost depends heavily on parish affiliation and financial-aid decisions — get a clear number before committing.
- Rolling admissions gives flexibility, but popular grades fill quickly; don't assume a late application is fine.
Identity
St Ignatius Loyola is a co-educational Roman Catholic elementary school operating under the Archdiocese of New York, serving PreK through fifth grade with a mission that pairs Catholic Christian formation with serious academics. The school frames itself as encouraging enthusiasm for learning rather than rote compliance, and the Latin program in fourth grade and above signals a classical-academic sensibility within a Catholic framework.
Community
With 520 students, this is a sizable elementary school — much larger than the typical Manhattan private — and the student body is predominantly so (roughly 74% white, with a notable Asian population around 13% and small Hispanic and Black representation). The diversity index of 0.49 lands in the moderate range, reflecting a community that is largely demographically concentrated but not entirely homogeneous.
Neighborhood
The school sits in Carnegie Hill, one of the wealthiest and most educated pockets of the Upper East Side — the surrounding census area shows a median household income approaching $200,000 and a bachelor's-degree attainment rate over 84%. The block is quiet and residential, with the cultural institutions of Museum Mile a short walk up Fifth Avenue.
The 86 St station on the 4, 5, 6 lines is about a four-minute walk, the 86 St Q stop is roughly nine minutes, and the 77 St 6 train is about an eight-minute walk — strong transit access for crosstown and downtown commutes.
Notable Programs
What Parents Are Saying
Mixed reviews; parents praise academic rigor, strong writing program, and tough teachers, while some criticize principal leadership and lack of parent involvement
Synthesized from public parent reviews · Apr 2026
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Frequently Asked Questions
- Is ST IGNATIUS LOYOLA SCHOOL a good school?
- Published quality ratings aren't available for ST IGNATIUS LOYOLA SCHOOL yet on Motley. It's a private school serving grades Pre-K to 5 in Upper East Side-Carnegie Hill.
- What grades does ST IGNATIUS LOYOLA SCHOOL serve?
- ST IGNATIUS LOYOLA SCHOOL serves grades Pre-K to 5.
- How do students get into ST IGNATIUS LOYOLA SCHOOL?
- ST IGNATIUS LOYOLA SCHOOL runs its own private admissions process — typically an application, a visit, and sometimes testing.
- Is ST IGNATIUS LOYOLA SCHOOL public, charter, or private?
- ST IGNATIUS LOYOLA SCHOOL is a private school.
- What neighborhood is ST IGNATIUS LOYOLA SCHOOL in?
- ST IGNATIUS LOYOLA SCHOOL is in Upper East Side-Carnegie Hill, Manhattan.