At a Glance
A Chinatown-rooted Catholic elementary where immigrant families find Blue Ribbon–honored academics, K-8 Mandarin, and SHSAT prep at $9,470–$11,060 a year.
Best suited for
Chinatown and Lower Manhattan families — Catholic or not — who want rigorous academics, Mandarin exposure, and a tight-knit community at a Manhattan-friendly price.
What stands out
- National Blue Ribbon School in both 2011 and 2023, a rare double recognition that signals sustained academic excellence.
- K-8 Mandarin instruction paired with Kung Fu and Chinese culture enrichment — a culturally grounded curriculum few Catholic schools can match.
- Formal SHSAT preparation begins in the elementary years, reflecting a serious pipeline into New York City's specialized high schools.
- Tuition of $9,470–$11,060 puts Transfiguration among the most affordable private elementary schools in Manhattan.
- A 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio in a school of 167 supports close attention and a tight-knit feel.
Things to consider
- Some parent reviews describe strict teachers and noticeable academic pressure — the rigorous culture may not fit every child.
- Tuition, while accessible for a Manhattan private, is still significant for a neighborhood where roughly a third of families live below the poverty line; financial aid availability is worth asking about.
- The school ends at 5th grade, so families will face another middle-school transition.
- With 91.6% Asian enrollment, families seeking greater racial, cultural, or socioeconomic diversity may want to look elsewhere.
- The small enrollment of 167 means fewer peer cohorts and a narrower extracurricular slate than larger independent schools.
Identity
Transfiguration is a Roman Catholic, coeducational elementary school serving PK through 5th grade in a family-centered environment rooted in parish life. Its mission weaves Catholic moral formation with academic excellence, nurturing students intellectually, socially, and emotionally. The school emphasizes moral values alongside rigorous scholarship, in the tradition of urban Catholic education.
Community
The student body is overwhelmingly Asian (91.6%), reflecting deep roots in Manhattan's Chinatown and surrounding immigrant neighborhoods. With a diversity index of 0.27, Transfiguration is one of the more homogeneous private schools in the city. Parents describe a welcoming, active community where families participate closely in the school's daily life.
Neighborhood
The school sits in the heart of Chinatown-Two Bridges, a working-class Manhattan neighborhood where median household income runs about $35,443 and roughly a third of residents live below the poverty line. About 30% of neighborhood adults hold a bachelor's degree, a context that helps explain the school's unusually accessible tuition for a Manhattan private. The block carries the dense, mixed-use character of Lower Manhattan, anchored by longtime parish and immigrant institutions.
Three Canal Street subway stations sit within a six-minute walk: the J/Z, the N/Q, and the 6 — about as central as Manhattan transit gets.
Notable Programs
What Parents Are Saying
Generally positive - parents praise rigorous academics, welcoming community, and strong preparation for high school; some concerns about strict teachers and stress levels; multiple reviews highlight active parent community and quality early childhood program
Synthesized from public parent reviews · Apr 2026
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Frequently Asked Questions
- Is TRANSFIGURATION SCHOOL a good school?
- Published quality ratings aren't available for TRANSFIGURATION SCHOOL yet on Motley. It's a private school serving grades Pre-K to 5 in Chinatown-Two Bridges.
- What grades does TRANSFIGURATION SCHOOL serve?
- TRANSFIGURATION SCHOOL serves grades Pre-K to 5.
- How do students get into TRANSFIGURATION SCHOOL?
- TRANSFIGURATION SCHOOL runs its own private admissions process — typically an application, a visit, and sometimes testing.
- Is TRANSFIGURATION SCHOOL public, charter, or private?
- TRANSFIGURATION SCHOOL is a private school.
- What neighborhood is TRANSFIGURATION SCHOOL in?
- TRANSFIGURATION SCHOOL is in Chinatown-Two Bridges, Manhattan.