At a Glance
Where a 5-to-1 ratio meets a rigorous, student-centered mission on Todt Hill.
Best suited for
Staten Island families who want a small, intellectually ambitious elementary program with a progressive-but-structured philosophy, and who can comfortably absorb both the tuition and the car commute.
What stands out
- A 5.5:1 student-teacher ratio that means a dedicated adult in every small elementary classroom.
- A Wagner College Higher Education Collaboration that brings college-level resources onto the campus.
- A public speaking semester built into the curriculum — unusual at the elementary level.
- AP offerings and a senior service project point to a serious academic trajectory through the upper grades.
- NYSAIS and NAIS accreditation anchor it in the broader independent school world.
Things to consider
- Tuition varies widely by grade — the range from $13,000 to $47,100 suggests significant escalator effects as a child moves up.
- Parent reviews are mixed, with some families citing frustration around administration responsiveness alongside praise for teachers.
- The student body is largely white, with limited racial and ethnic diversity at the school level.
- The commute is car-dependent; the nearest SIR stops are long walks and there is no NYC subway access.
- "Students at the center" language signals a progressive orientation, even with rigorous academics — families wanting a strict traditional model should look closely at the classroom approach.
Identity
Staten Island Academy is a nonsectarian, coed PK–5 program whose stated mission puts students at the center of a rigorous, well-rounded education. The school frames teachers as the key to inspiring that work, with explicit goals around analytical and ethical thinking, advocacy, and leadership. It is NYSAIS- and NAIS-accredited.
Community
At 305 students, this is an intentionally small elementary program drawing mostly from the surrounding neighborhoods. The student body is roughly 73% white, 12% Asian, with smaller shares of Black, Hispanic, and multiracial students; the diversity index lands in the moderate range. The fee structure and location mean the community skews affluent and largely local to Staten Island.
Neighborhood
The school sits on Todt Hill, a quiet, elevated residential pocket of Staten Island where median household income is about $107,000 and roughly 42% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Blocks feel suburban rather than urban — single-family homes, driveways, and quiet streets rather than storefronts. Getting here without a car is the practical question most families will have to answer.
Getting here without a car is a real planning issue — Jefferson Avenue (SIR) and Dongan Hills (SIR) are each about a 17- to 18-minute walk, so most families drive or arrange carpools.
Notable Programs
What Parents Are Saying
Mixed reviews - many praise the nurturing environment, excellent teachers, and rigorous academics, while some criticize high tuition, limited class offerings, and concerns about administration responsiveness
Synthesized from public parent reviews · Apr 2026
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Frequently Asked Questions
- Is STATEN ISLAND ACADEMY a good school?
- Published quality ratings aren't available for STATEN ISLAND ACADEMY yet on Motley. It's a private school serving grades Pre-K to 5 in Todt Hill-Emerson Hill-Lighthouse Hill-Manor Heights.
- What grades does STATEN ISLAND ACADEMY serve?
- STATEN ISLAND ACADEMY serves grades Pre-K to 5.
- How do students get into STATEN ISLAND ACADEMY?
- STATEN ISLAND ACADEMY runs its own private admissions process — typically an application, a visit, and sometimes testing.
- Is STATEN ISLAND ACADEMY public, charter, or private?
- STATEN ISLAND ACADEMY is a private school.
- What neighborhood is STATEN ISLAND ACADEMY in?
- STATEN ISLAND ACADEMY is in Todt Hill-Emerson Hill-Lighthouse Hill-Manor Heights, Staten Island.