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Best Preschools on the Upper West Side

Nature inspires art at Columbus Preschool. Photo courtesy of the school
Nature inspires art at Columbus Preschool. Photo courtesy of the school
9/9/24 - By Drew Kristofik

When it comes to finding the best preschool in NYC, the family-packed Upper West Side offers plenty of choices. With preschool spots in high demand, it can feel as if you're trying to get your toddler into college!

Take heart, though, great preschools on the Upper West Side are plentiful, so with a little legwork, you'll find the right fit for your family. We're outlining some top Upper West Side preschools below, and we've divided them by type to help you start your search. Don't forget our Preschool Directory is an excellent resource to find more programs as well.

For more help, we've compiled a helpful list of preschool admissions tips, plus 10 questions to ask during a preschool tour.

A quick overview of some of the preschool categories below:

  • A traditional preschool follows the NYC public school calendar and runs from September to June, with a curriculum that reflects the school's unique educational mission.
  • A year-round school is similar but is in session over the summer months as well.
  • Co-op preschools require parents to commit some time to school administration, management, or activities.
  • Reggio Emilia and Montessori preschools are both focused on child-directed learning, but you may find you prefer teachers who consider themselves "guides" en route to making the child independent (the Montessori approach), or you may be drawn to Reggio's emphasis on communication and documentation.
  • Home-based preschools are run out of a home-like environment, rather than a school, and tend to have small classes and an intimate approach.
  • If your family is interested in religious or dual-language preschool instruction, we've also listed a selection of those.
  • Remember that some schools fit multiple categories (co-op and Reggio, for example, like Family Annex).

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OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Traditional Preschools on the Upper West Side

Kidville Upper West Side

Kidville's Upper West Side location offers a gradual separation preschool alternative program and summer camp, plus award-winning classes, an indoor play space, legendary birthday parties, and other signature programs—all under one roof. READ MORE

Montclare Children's School

Nestled in a beautiful landmark building on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, the Montclare Children’s School serves children ages 2-5 and offers a unique balanced curriculum that features both teacher-guided and open-ended learning opportunities. A summer program is also available. READ MORE

ACT Preschool Programs

ACT's full-time preschool program utilizes a play-based curriculum to get kids ready for kindergarten. Games, outdoor play, and access to an indoor playground are all integral to the school day, and the overall focus is on allowing children the opportunity to deepen their natural curiosity, build social maturity, and prepare for the next step in their education. READ MORE

Bank Street School for Children

The Bank Street School for Children is an independent, coeducational school serving children in preschool through eighth grade. The school's innovative, progressive approach places children at the center of their learning to help them grow as critical thinkers, problem-solvers, and creators.  READ MORE

Brownstone School

Brownstone's approach to learning is play-based, but children in all classrooms, ages 2-5, follow a daily schedule. Working independently and in small groups, the children learn through the hands-on exploration of selected materials such as, artistic mediums, blocks, children’s literature, cooking, dramatic play, games, manipulatives, music and movement, and outdoor play. READ MORE

Park Children's Day School

Park Children's Day School is a nonsectarian early childhood school, established in 1963, for children ages 2.1-5 years old. It offers a play-based philosophy and puts an emphasis on enrolling children from diverse racial, economic, and religious backgrounds. READ MORE

Year-Round Upper West Side Preschools

Dwight School

Dwight is an internationally renowned independent school—for students from preschool 2s through grade 12—that personalizes the educational journey for each student based on their interests, talents, and passions. The path starts with Small Wonder Childcare, a full-day year-round program for 6- to 12-month-olds designed to encourage active learning and connection through a consistent classroom routine and nurturing teachers. READ MORE

River School Westside

River School, a Bright Horizons preschool, is a play-based, discovery-driven learning program that offers year-round, full-day enrollment for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and pre-kindergarteners (ages 8 weeks through 6 years), including a summer program. READ MORE

All My Children Daycare & Nursery School

All My Children offers a holistic approach to education inspired by nature. Its eco-friendly early childhood education center is housed in a green building that's awash in abundant daylight. Its curriculum offers plenty of time for creative play with drama, music, movement, and dance. READ MORE

New York Preschool

NY Preschool is an independent school dedicated to educating children ages 18 months to 4 years old. It offers a unique learning environment and innovative curricula for Preschool Prep, 2s, 3s, and 4s. READ MORE

Lightbridge Academy of Midtown Manhattan

At Lightbridge Academy, children ages 6 weeks through pre-K thrive in an environment that encourages a passion for learning, provides nurturing care, and prepares them for academic success. The school supports working parents and busy families, keeping them connected through extended hours, ParentView internet monitoring, and an e-communication app. READ MORE

West Side YMCA Early Childhood Program

Designed to provide a flexible schedule for working parents, the Y's Early Childhood Center is open for full-day care on weekdays and provides a robust curriculum and flexible schedules. The Early Childhood Center offers a comprehensive child care program for children 6 months to 4 years of age. For children ages 1-3, school is offered through a fee-based program. At age 4, school is available through UPK.  READ MORE

Cooperative Preschools on the Upper West Side

Family Annex

The Family Annex is an independent, not-for-profit, and nonsectarian early childhood school with a Reggio Emilia philosophy at its core. It is three blocks away from the Columbia University campus, licensed by the New York City Department of Health and NAEYC accredited. READ MORE

Purple Circle

Purple Circle is an independent Early Childhood Program for children ages 2 years through 6 years. The school was founded in 1972 as a parent-cooperative that values families as integral members of the school community. Families are regularly invited into the classroom and collaboration is integral to the curriculum at Purple Circle.  READ MORE

River Park Nursery School

River Park Nursery School is a cooperative school that accepts children on a first-come, first-served basis for its 3s program (children can enroll starting at 2 years, 7 months), with no formal interview process. It also provides universal pre-K, and all children enrolled in the school get priority seating. READ MORE

Home-Based Upper West Side Preschools

Milestones UWS Preschool

Milestones UWS Preschool is an in-home preschool with a spacious, sunny classroom in close proximity to Riverside Park. With a focus on creating a warm, nurturing, and educational school experience, the curriculum balances free play, guided learning, and group activities for a well-rounded educational experience. READ MORE
La Escuelita schools little New Yorkers in the Spanish language and culture. Photo courtesy of the school
La Escuelita schools little New Yorkers in the Spanish language and culture. Photo courtesy of the school

Dual-Language Preschools on the Upper West Side

La Escuelita

La Escuelita Dual-Language Preschool is a NAEYC-accredited preschool designed to follow children as they truly learn. Teachers engage children in a warm, safe, and beautifully lit environment designed to pique their curiosity and encourage exploration. Children are immersed in Spanish for at least 90 percent of the day. Families of all language backgrounds are welcome. READ MORE

La Petite Ecole NYC

La Petite École New York is a bilingual French/English immersion boutique school. Its Reggio Emilia-inspired pedagogy, combined with its multisensory instructional approach to learning francophone culture, prepares graduates to become successful bilingual and bicultural kindergarten students. Continue the learning during its summer camp program, which includes art-inspired field trips, park time, and more fun.   READ MORE

Upper West Side Religious Preschools

Early Childhood Center at Stephen Wise Free Synagogue

Stephen Wise's programs for children ages 12 months through 5 years provide a nurturing environment infused with Jewish values and rituals. Values of progressive education, creative play-based experiences, and Jewish identity are central to its educational mission.  READ MORE

School of the Blessed Sacrament

The School of the Blessed Sacrament is a Catholic school with an early childhood program serving children in pre-K 3, pre-K 4, and kindergarten classes. Central to the school's mission is a love of self, God, and others. Children are encouraged to collaborate and grow in the faith-filled environment.  READ MORE

Beit Rabban Day School

The Gan at Beit Rabban provides children ages 2 1/2 to 5 years old with a caring, loving, and stimulating experience, including an integrated approach to Hebrew and Judaics. The curriculum tends toward a Reggio Emilia approach, with students encouraged to take risks and make meaningful connections.  READ MORE

Montessori and Reggio Emilia Preschools on the UWS

Columbus Pre-School

Columbus Pre-School is inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach to education, where teachers respect each child individually and help them act as the authors of their own learning. Child-centered instruction and holistic approaches are the cornerstones of daily activity. READ MORE

Morningside Montessori School

Morningside is a supportive early childhood learning environment guided by the Montessori method where students develop critical thinking skills, independence, interpersonal communication, and reflection. A close-knit community helps cultivate a lifelong love of learning for its students. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

ACT at the Cathedral Church of St. John The Divine
Central Park West Campus (Grades 5-12)
Lightbridge Academy of Midtown Manhattan
Stephen Wise Free Synagogue Early Childhood Center