At a Glance
An all-girls Catholic college prep in the Dominican tradition, where Study, Community, Prayer, and Service are the daily pillars.
Best suited for
Catholic or faith-comfortable families seeking a values-driven, all-girls college-preparatory education with a STEM emphasis, at a relatively attainable price point on the Upper East Side.
What stands out
- The Pre-Med College Advantage Program gives aspiring young scientists a focused pre-medical pathway, rare for a Catholic girls' school.
- A formal partnership with St. John's University offers a structured college-credit route, easing the transition to higher education.
- The Math and Science Academy signals a serious STEM emphasis woven into the broader Catholic liberal arts curriculum.
- The four Dominican pillars — Study, Community, Prayer, and Service — make faith formation central, not optional, shaping daily life and graduation expectations.
- At $12,300, tuition is unusually accessible for a Manhattan private secondary school, particularly one with AP courses and a dedicated STEM track.
Things to consider
- It's an all-girls environment — families should consider whether their daughter will thrive in a single-sex setting.
- Roman Catholic identity is woven into the curriculum and community life; non-Catholic families should expect regular faith formation and worship.
- Mixed reviews flag concerns about social cliques and inclusion policies — worth probing honestly during a visit and conversations with current parents.
- The 14.4:1 ratio is solid but not as intimate as some smaller progressive or independent schools.
- Tuition is modest by Manhattan standards but still a real commitment; families should ask directly about financial aid availability.
Identity
An all-girls Catholic secondary school in the Dominican tradition, named for St. Vincent Ferrer. The four pillars of Study, Community, Prayer, and Service shape both the academic program and the spiritual life of the school, with the goal of forming intellectually curious, morally grounded, and independent young women. It is coeducational in name only — enrollment is entirely female across grades 9 through 12.
Community
The student body is roughly 54% White, with a substantial Hispanic population around 26%, plus smaller Asian and Black communities. As an all-girls Catholic school, it draws families seeking a single-sex, faith-centered environment, and the Dominican heritage brings a service-oriented ethos. Parent reviews are mixed: academics and teacher dedication get strong marks, but some families have raised questions about social dynamics and inclusion.
Neighborhood
The school sits in Carnegie Hill, one of Manhattan's wealthiest residential enclaves, where the median household income approaches $200,000 and over 84% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The blocks around East 65th are leafy and quiet, lined with prewar townhouses and a mix of upscale retail along Madison and Lexington. The Dominican parish and school anchor a tight-knit religious community in the neighborhood.
Lexington Av/63 St (M, Q) is about a 3-minute walk, 68 St-Hunter College (6) about 4 minutes, and Lexington Av/59 St (N, R, W) about 6 minutes — among the best transit-served blocks on the Upper East Side.
Notable Programs
What Parents Are Saying
Mixed reviews - positive feedback on academic rigor, caring teachers, and strong science program; concerns about cliques, inclusion policies, and some administrative practices noted in reviews
Synthesized from public parent reviews · Apr 2026
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Frequently Asked Questions
- Is ST VINCENT FERRER HIGH SCHOOL a good school?
- Published quality ratings aren't available for ST VINCENT FERRER HIGH SCHOOL yet on Motley. It's a private school serving grades 9 to 12 in Upper East Side-Carnegie Hill.
- What grades does ST VINCENT FERRER HIGH SCHOOL serve?
- ST VINCENT FERRER HIGH SCHOOL serves grades 9 to 12.
- How do students get into ST VINCENT FERRER HIGH SCHOOL?
- ST VINCENT FERRER HIGH SCHOOL runs its own private admissions process — typically an application, a visit, and sometimes testing.
- Is ST VINCENT FERRER HIGH SCHOOL public, charter, or private?
- ST VINCENT FERRER HIGH SCHOOL is a private school.
- What neighborhood is ST VINCENT FERRER HIGH SCHOOL in?
- ST VINCENT FERRER HIGH SCHOOL is in Upper East Side-Carnegie Hill, Manhattan.