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Preschool and daycare guide

Preschools, daycares and early education programs, listed by neighborhood. Most run an application cycle in the autumn for places starting the following September, so tours generally begin about a year ahead.

Listed here94 ProgramsGrouped by neighborhood, Battery Park City up to the Upper East and Upper West Sides
Full-day care8 Offer DaycareMarked with a plum edge and a daycare label
When to startA Year AheadApplications generally open the autumn before
How it is compiledNot SponsoredNo program pays to appear, and inclusion is not an endorsement

What the research says

Evidence

The findings below come from published research and they point at the same thing: what happens between the teachers and the children matters more than the building, the equipment or the length of the waitlist.

01Watch how adults speak to childrenEarly learning is built on trusting relationships. Harvard researchers advise looking for staff who get down to eye level, use children's names, listen, and try to understand what a child is doing rather than correcting it. Warmth is hard to define and easy to recognize on a tour.
02Behavior is guided, not punishedEvery preschooler is still learning to share, wait and put frustration into words. Look for consistent routines, timers for turn-taking, language children are given for conflicts, and teachers who treat difficult moments as teaching rather than misbehavior.
03Play is the method, not the rewardPlay is how young children learn vocabulary, mathematics and self-control. That does not mean an unstructured room: teachers should be introducing new challenges and asking questions that make children think. Worksheets and flashcards are not age-appropriate, whatever "getting ready for real school" is said to mean.
04Children are movingResearchers suggest children should not be expected to sit for more than fifteen or twenty minutes at a stretch, and should get plenty of time outdoors. Look at the walls too: children's own work, and evidence that they choose their activities.
05Ask about the staff, not just the childrenTeachers do better with professional development, planning time, a livable wage and benefits. Ask the director directly about turnover: consistently high turnover is treated in the research as a warning sign of deeper problems.
06Teachers matter more than facilitiesThe evidence is blunt on this point. A new building, a long waitlist or a fashionable name tells you far less than the people in the room. Researchers are direct about this: the most important aspects of quality are stimulating, emotionally supportive interactions between teachers and children, and effective use of curricula. Class size, ratios and staff qualifications make good interactions more likely, but do not guarantee them.
What the evidence shows about benefits

An analysis integrating evaluations of 84 preschool programs found that children gained, on average, about a third of a year of additional learning across language, reading and mathematics. Large public systems in Tulsa and Boston produced bigger gains, between half a year and a full year in reading and mathematics.

The benefits are not limited to disadvantaged children. The evidence shows middle-class children benefit substantially too, as do children with special needs and dual language learners, though children from low-income backgrounds benefit most of all. A second year of preschool adds further gains, usually smaller than the first.

Test-score differences between children who attended preschool and those who did not tend to narrow through elementary school. Long-term studies nonetheless find lasting effects on outcomes that matter more: high school graduation, years of education completed, earnings, and lower rates of crime and teen pregnancy. Why those effects persist after test scores converge is still being researched.

The strongest evidence on that question comes from Boston, where public preschool places were assigned by lottery, letting researchers compare children who won a place with near-identical children who did not. Following roughly four thousand children into adulthood, they found no detectable effect on state achievement tests, but higher rates of high school graduation, SAT-taking and college enrollment, and lower rates of school discipline and juvenile incarceration. The effects were larger for boys than for girls.

Benefit-cost estimates from both intensive older programs and contemporary public ones range from three to seven dollars saved for every dollar spent.

Sources
How to Pick a Preschool — Suzanne Bouffard, Usable Knowledge, Harvard Graduate School of Education, 2017 Untangling the Evidence on Preschool Effectiveness — Beth Meloy, Madelyn Gardner and Linda Darling-Hammond, Learning Policy Institute, 2019 Lasting Gains from Preschool — on McCoy, Gonzalez and Jones, Child Development, 2019 The Long-Term Effects of Universal Preschool in Boston — Guthrie Gray-Lobe, Parag Pathak and Christopher Walters, Quarterly Journal of Economics, 2023, via MIT Blueprint Labs Investing in Our Future: The Evidence Base on Preschool Education — Yoshikawa, Weiland, Brooks-Gunn and colleagues, Society for Research in Child Development and Foundation for Child Development, October 2013

Approaches to early education

Schools describe themselves in shorthand: Montessori, Reggio, Waldorf, play-based, nature-based. Here is what each one means, and what it tends to look like in a room full of three-year-olds. In practice most programs borrow from more than one, so it is worth asking a director what the label means in their building rather than assuming.

Maria Montessori · Italy, early 1900s

Montessori

Built on the view of the child as naturally eager for knowledge and capable of directing their own learning. Teachers act as guides who observe and offer the next material at the right moment, rather than leading the room from the front. Care of self, of others and of the environment is treated as part of the curriculum.

In the classroom Mixed-age classes, usually spanning three years. Long uninterrupted work periods, with children choosing their own activity. Specially designed hands-on materials, used in a particular sequence. Teachers trained and credentialed for the age they teach. Any school may call itself Montessori, so ask about teacher credentials and accreditation. American Montessori Society
Loris Malaguzzi · Reggio Emilia, Italy, postwar

Reggio Emilia

An approach rather than a method, founded on an image of the child as strong, capable and a holder of rights, who learns through what Malaguzzi called the hundred languages: drawing, building, movement, music, talk. Learning is driven by children's own questions, pursued in long projects, and made visible through documentation on the walls.

In the classroom An atelier, or studio, with an atelierista working alongside teachers. The environment treated as a third teacher, arranged with care. Photographs, transcripts and children's work documenting projects in progress. Several educators present with the children rather than one lead teacher. Families expected to participate, not simply to be informed. Reggio Children
Rudolf Steiner · Germany, 1919

Waldorf

A developmental approach that aims at the whole child, physical, social, emotional and intellectual, with the arts woven through everything rather than taught separately. Early childhood is deliberately unhurried: imaginative play, practical work and rhythm come first, with formal academics introduced later. Waldorf has its foundations in anthroposophy, Steiner's spiritual philosophy.

In the classroom Strong daily and seasonal rhythms, and a lot of storytelling. Open-ended natural materials, and simple toys that leave room for imagination. A deliberately low-tech environment in the early years. Practical work: baking, gardening, tidying, handwork. Children often stay with the same teacher for several years. Waldorf Education, AWSNA
NAEYC · developmentally appropriate practice

Play-based

Not the absence of teaching, but teaching through play. Researchers describe play as a spectrum: free play that children direct entirely, guided play where a teacher sets up a context and asks questions while the child stays in charge, and games with rules. Comparisons of the three consistently find that guided play produces more learning in vocabulary, mathematics and spatial skills than either free play or direct instruction alone.

In the classroom Centers children choose between: blocks, dramatic play, art, water, books. Teachers moving between groups asking questions rather than lecturing. Learning goals present but embedded in the play, not sitting on worksheets. Long stretches of time, so play can develop rather than being cut short. NAEYC, The Power of Playful Learning
Forest schools, nature preschools and outdoor programs

Nature-based

Nature-based programs put the outdoors at the center rather than treating it as a break from the real work, and they range from a few hours outside each day to forest kindergartens that meet outdoors in almost all weather. The pedagogy is usually play-based; the difference is where it happens and what the children handle. Research links time in natural settings to gains in physical activity and motor development, attention and self-regulation, and in children's own sense of connection to the natural world. Washington became the first state to license outdoor, nature-based child care in 2021, and other states have since followed.

In the classroom, or out of it Substantial outdoor time daily, in most weather, with clothing to match. Loose natural materials, sticks, water, mud and sand rather than fixed equipment. Risk treated as something to be managed and learned from, not eliminated. In a dense city, ask exactly where the outdoor time happens and how often weather cancels it. NAEYC, Nature-Based Early Childhood Education

What to ask on a tour

Field Notes
01Safety and LicensingIs the program licensed by the NYC Department of Health, and can you see the most recent inspection report?What are the staff-to-child ratios for your child's age group?How are staff screened and trained in early childhood, first aid, and CPR?What are the policies on illness, medication, allergies, and emergency contacts?
02Day-to-Day and PhilosophyWhat does a typical day look like, and how much is structured vs. free play?How does the program handle nap time, meals, and toilet training?How and how often do teachers communicate with parents?What is the approach to discipline and to conflict between children?
03Logistics and CostWhat are the true hours, and what are the late-pickup fees?Does the program offer UPK or 3-K seats, and how does that affect tuition?What is the waitlist policy, and do siblings get priority?What's the calendar — closures, holidays, and summer coverage?

The directory

94 Programs
Cards with a plum edge offer full-day care. Every entry is a starting point. Confirm ages served, hours, licensing, tuition and availability directly with the program. Meet many of these schools in one afternoon at our annual Early Education Fair.

Battery Park City and Financial District

7 Programs
Day Nursery · DaycareBattery Park City Day Nursery215 South End Ave, 10280212 945 0088bpcdaynursery.com
MontessoriBattery Park Montessori21 South End Ave, 10280greenivy.com
Reggio Emilia · DaycareBig and TinyBrookfield Place, 300 Vesey St, Suite 100, 10282646 791 0024bigandtinyvesey.com
Daycare · DaycareBright Horizons20 Pine Street, 10005212 509 1580brighthorizons.com
Daycare · DaycareKinderCare FiDi4 NY Plaza, Suite 104, 10004212 513 7367kindercare.com
PreschoolPine Street School25 Pine Street, 10005greenivy.com
Daycare · DaycareThe Learning Experience28 Washington Street, 10004212 797 1110thelearningexperience.com

Tribeca, Seaport and Civic Center

15 Programs
PreschoolBright Beginnings NYC80 Beekman Street, 10038347 948 7130brightbeginningsnyc.com
Daycare · DaycareBuckle My Shoe — Tribeca40 Worth Street, 10013212 374 1489bucklemyshoe.org
Music and ArtChurch Street School74 Warren Street, 10007212 571 7290churchstreetschool.org
Early ChildhoodJCP — Jewish Community Project146 Duane Street, 10013212 334 3522jcpdowntown.org
PreschoolMy Little School54 Reade Street, 10007212 566 6764mylittleschoolnyc.com
PreschoolNew York Preschool — Tribeca88 Leonard Street, 10013917 746 5769nypreschoolandkidsclub.com
PrepPlaygarden Prep — Tribeca95 Franklin Street, 10013212 965 9717playgardenprep.com
Pre-KReade Street Prep77 Reade Street, 10007212 513 7735rsprep.com
Preschool–UpTransfiguration School10 Confucius Plaza, 10002212 431 8769transfigurationschoolnyc.org
CommunityTriBeCa Community School22 Ericsson Place, 10013212 226 9070tribecacommunityschool.com
Daycare · DaycareTribeca KinderCareTriBeCakindercare.com
Daycare · DaycareVivvi — Tribeca75 Varick Street, 10013212 519 7660vivvi.com
Daycare · DaycareVivvi — World Trade Center50 Park Place, 10007212 602 0829vivvi.com
PreschoolWashington Market School55 Hudson St / 134 Duane St212 406 7271washingtonmarketschool.org
PreschoolYa-Ya Preschool291 Broadway, 10013646 727 0718yayapreschool.org

West Village, Greenwich Village and Soho

11 Programs
NurseryBarrow Street Nursery School27 Barrow Street, 10014212 663 1203greenwichhousepottery.org
Daycare · DaycareBuckle My Shoe — West Village80 Eighth Avenue, 10011bucklemyshoe.org
Toddler–8thCity and Country School146 West 13th Street, 10011212 242 7802cityandcountry.org
Toddler–5thCorlears School324 West 15th Street, 10011212 741 2800corlearsschool.org
PlaygroupDowning Street Playgroup32 Carmine Street, 10014212 924 2557downingstreetplaygroup.org
PreschoolNew York Preschool — Greenwich Village11 Fifth Avenue, 10003646 846 0884nypreschoolandkidsclub.com
PreschoolPerry School136 West 10th Street, 10014212 255 1685perryschool.com
NurseryFirst Presbyterian Nursery School12 West 12th Street, 10011212 691 3432fpcns.org
NurseryWest Village Nursery School73 Horatio Street, 10014wvns.org
Toddler–12thGrace Church School86 Fourth Avenue, 10003212 475 5609gcschool.org
MontessoriThe Montessori Schools — SoHo75 Sullivan Street, 10012212 633 0600themontessorischools.org

Union Square, Gramercy and Flatiron

10 Programs
PreschoolThe Acorn School330 East 26th Street, 10010acornschoolnyc.com
NurseryBeginnings Nursery School130 East 16th Street, 10003beginningsnursery.org
NurseryBrotherhood Synagogue Nursery28 Gramercy Park S, 10003212 995 9867brotherhoodnursery.org
Day SchoolChelsea Day School319 Fifth Avenue, 10016chelseadayschool.org
Arts PreschoolHGL ART Preschool & Fine Arts21 East 13th Street, 10003646 682 7887hglart.org
NurseryThe Jack and Jill School at St. George’s Church209 East 16th Street, 10003thejackandjillschool.org
MontessoriThe Montessori Schools — Flatiron5 West 22nd Street, 10010themontessorischools.org
PreschoolNew York Preschool — 22nd Street38 East 22nd Street, 10010917 525 4559nypreschoolandkidsclub.com
InternationalNord Anglia International School44 East 2nd Street, 10003212 600 2010nordangliaeducation.com
PreschoolThird Street Preschool235 East 11th Street, 10003212 777 3240 ext 48thirdstreetpreschool.org

Lower East Side and East Village

5 Programs
PreschoolEducational Alliance Preschool197 East Broadway, 10002646 395 4250edalliance.org
PreschoolElements Preschool99 Suffolk Street, 10002212 982 4444elementspreschool.com
PreschoolThe 14th Street Y Preschool344 East 14th Street, 1000314streety.org
PreschoolNew Amsterdam School62 Avenue B, 10009212 533 1820newamsterdamschool.org
Early ChildhoodUniversity Settlement ECC184 Eldridge Street, 10002212 453 4584universitysettlement.org

Midtown East and Sutton Place

3 Programs
NurseryCentral Synagogue May Family Nursery School123 East 55th Street, 9th floor, 10022centralsynagogue.org
NurseryKaplan Nursery School of Sutton Place Synagogue225 East 51st Street, 10022spsnyc.org
PreschoolNew York Preschool — Sutton Place401 East 55th Street, 10022646 832 2511nypreschoolandkidsclub.com

Upper West Side

22 Programs

Nursery schools, preschools and independent schools with early childhood divisions. Where a school has more than one campus, the address given is the early childhood one, which is often not the main building.

PreschoolBasic Trust127 West 94th Street, 10025basictrust.org
PreK – 12BASIS Independent ManhattanLower School, 795 Columbus Ave, 10025929 220 3800basisindependent.com
PreschoolThe Brownstone School128 West 80th Street, 10024brownstoneschool.org
ProgressiveThe Calhoun SchoolLower School, 325 West 85th St, 10024212 497 6550calhoun.org
PreschoolColumbus Pre-School606 Columbus Avenue, 10024columbuspre-school.com
International BaccalaureateDwight School94th Street campus, 705 Columbus Ave, 10025212 724 6360dwight.edu
ProgressiveEthical Culture33 Central Park West, 10023212 712 6220ecfs.org
PreschoolLa Escuelita225 West 99th Street, 10025laescuelitanyc.org
NurseryMarlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan — Zabar Nursery School334 Amsterdam Avenue, 10023nurseryschool.mmjccm.org
PreschoolMontclare Children’s School747 Amsterdam Avenue, 10025montclareschool.org
MontessoriMorningside Montessori School251 West 100th Street, 6th floor, 10025morningsidemontessori.org
PreschoolNew York Preschool — W 68th Street168 Amsterdam Avenue, 10023917 708 8440nypreschoolandkidsclub.com
PreschoolNew York Preschool — West End Avenue21 West End Avenue, 10023347 773 0603nypreschoolandkidsclub.com
NurseryNursery School of Habonim103 West End Avenue, 10023habonim.net
NurseryPark Children’s Day School4 West 76th Street, 10023parkchildrensdayschool.org
EpiscopalSt. Hilda’s and St. Hugh’s School619 West 114th St, 10025212 932 1980sthildas.org
NurseryStephen Wise Free Synagogue Early Childhood Center30 West 68th Street, 10023swfs.org
Inquiry-basedTrevor Day SchoolLower School, 1 West 88th St, 10024212 426 3355trevor.org
MontessoriTwin Parks — Central Park Montessori1 West 91st Street, 10024twinparks.org
MontessoriTwin Parks — Riverside Montessori202 Riverside Drive, 10025twinparks.org
MontessoriWest Side Montessori School309 West 92nd Street, 10025wsmsnyc.org
NurseryYaldaynu Preschool251 West 100th Street, 10025yaldaynu.org

Upper East Side

21 Programs

Nursery schools, preschools and independent schools with early childhood divisions. Where a school has more than one campus, the address given is the early childhood one, which is often not the main building.

NurseryAll Souls School1157 Lexington Avenue, 10075allsoulsschoolnyc.org
PreschoolThe Art Farm Preschool431 East 91st Street, 10128theartfarms.com
NurseryThe Brick Church School62 East 92nd Street, 10128brickchurchschool.org
MontessoriThe Caedmon School416 East 80th Street, 10075caedmonschool.org
Catholic · GirlsConvent of the Sacred Heart1 East 91st Street, 10128cshnyc.org
PreschoolThe International Preschools345 East 86th Street, 10028ipsnyc.org
Bilingual ItalianLa Scuola d’Italia12 East 96th Street, 10128lascuoladitalia.org
Bilingual FrenchLycée Français de New York505 East 75th Street, 10021212 369 1400lfny.org
Catholic · GirlsMarymount School of New York1026 Fifth Avenue, 10028marymountnyc.org
PreschoolMerricat’s Castle School316 East 88th Street, 10128merricats.org
PreschoolNew York Preschool — E 67th Street219 East 67th Street, 10065917 909 4551nypreschoolandkidsclub.com
PreschoolNew York Preschool — E 94th Street345 East 94th Street, 10128917 924 8288nypreschoolandkidsclub.com
NurseryPenn Family Early Childhood Center at Park Avenue Synagogue50 East 87th Street, 10128pasyn.org
PreschoolPlaygarden Prep — Madison Avenue1366 Madison Avenue, 10128playgardennyc.com
PreschoolPlaygarden Prep — Park Avenue106 East 86th Street, 4th floor, 10028playgardennyc.com
Jewish day schoolRabbi Arthur Schneier Park East Day School164 East 68th Street, 10065parkeastdayschool.org
WaldorfRudolf Steiner School15 East 79th Street, 10075steiner.edu
BoysSaint David’s School12 East 89th Street, 10128saintdavids.org
PreschoolSt. Thomas More Play Group65 East 89th Street, 10128stthomasmoreplaygroup.org
IndependentThe Town School540 East 76th Street, 10021212 288 4383thetownschool.org
NurseryYork Avenue Day School1520 York Avenue, 10028yorkavenuedayschool.org
Please note

This guide covers the Manhattan neighborhoods we serve, from Battery Park City up through the Upper East and Upper West Sides.

Inclusion is not an endorsement by the Hudson River Park Mothers Group, and no program has paid to appear. It is offered for general information only and is not medical, legal or other professional advice.

Details change often. If something here is out of date, or you know a program that belongs in the guide, tell us and we will put it right.

There is more inside

A list tells you where. Other parents tell you what it is like.

Members can search two decades of discussion for first-hand accounts of these programs, ask the group directly, and hear how this year's admissions cycle is actually going.

Join us The Early Education Fair