At a Glance
A small, family-style middle school betting on personal attention over selectivity
Best suited for
Families looking for a small, accessible, nurturing middle school — particularly those with international students, or local Queens families who want early college-prep exposure and a personal, family-style environment over a more selective, credentialed program.
What stands out
- Open enrollment and rolling admissions make this one of the more accessible private options in the area.
- An Agriculture and Farming program is genuinely rare for a New York City middle school and gives the curriculum a hands-on, earthier dimension.
- ESL/ENL and TOEFL prep, combined with a stated global perspective, suggest the school actively welcomes international students.
- College counseling support at the middle school level is unusually early — parents say it's a real strength.
- A 15-course AP catalog (as listed) and dedicated SAT prep signal a serious academic posture for a 6–8 school.
Things to consider
- Grades 6–8 only — families will need a separate plan for high school, which is a real consideration in a city where selective high school admissions loom large.
- No subway within a 20-minute walk means the commute is car- or bus-dependent; this is not a drop-on-the-way-to-work school for most Manhattan or Brooklyn families.
- Open enrollment means the school is not selective in the way many private middle schools are — a plus for access, but worth weighing if you want a highly screened peer group.
- The philosophy mentions "spiritual" development, though no specific religious affiliation is stated — families looking for an explicitly faith-based environment may want to ask directly.
- Tuition of $15,500 is moderate by NYC private school standards, but it's still a real line item for three years of middle school.
Identity
A nonsectarian private middle school (grades 6–8) that frames itself around holistic development — spiritually, academically, emotionally, socially, and physically — in a small, nurturing setting. Open enrollment and a no-uniforms policy set it apart from more selective, traditional private schools. The school has been intentional about positioning itself as a tight-knit community rather than a credentialing institution.
Community
Whitestone Academy does not publish detailed demographic breakdowns, so the picture comes from signals: open enrollment, an ESL/ENL program, TOEFL prep, and a stated global perspective all point to a mixed community that includes international students and English-language learners alongside local families. Parent reviews describe friendly students and a warm, family-like culture.
Neighborhood
Whitestone-Beechhurst is a quiet, residential pocket of northeastern Queens with a solidly middle-class profile — median household income around $95,000 and over a third of adults holding a bachelor's degree. The area has the feel of a suburban neighborhood more than a city one, with single-family homes and local shopping rather than dense foot traffic. It's the kind of place where the school fits into the rhythm of the block rather than dominating it.
The school is beyond walking distance of the subway, so families should plan on a car, school bus, or local bus commute.
Notable Programs
What Parents Are Saying
Positive reviews praise caring staff and administration, helpful teachers, excellent college counseling support, small class sizes, friendly students, holiday parties and field trips. Parents note significant growth and confidence in students.
Synthesized from public parent reviews · Apr 2026
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Frequently Asked Questions
- Is WHITESTONE ACADEMY a good school?
- Published quality ratings aren't available for WHITESTONE ACADEMY yet on Motley. It's a private school serving grades 6 to 8 in Whitestone-Beechhurst.
- What grades does WHITESTONE ACADEMY serve?
- WHITESTONE ACADEMY serves grades 6 to 8.
- How do students get into WHITESTONE ACADEMY?
- WHITESTONE ACADEMY runs its own private admissions process — typically an application, a visit, and sometimes testing.
- Is WHITESTONE ACADEMY public, charter, or private?
- WHITESTONE ACADEMY is a private school.
- What neighborhood is WHITESTONE ACADEMY in?
- WHITESTONE ACADEMY is in Whitestone-Beechhurst, Queens.