Choosing the right school for our children is a big decision and we know that it can feel overwhelming.
As you consider the learning environment, teaching style and school philosophies that best suit your child, Greenwich, New Canaan, Darien and Stamford Moms have come together to give you information and resources all in one place.
The 2021 Private School Guide is a list of schools in the Connecticut and New York areas that includes what each school offers and when to attend an Open House so that you can ask questions and take an in person or virtual look.
Scroll down to take a look!
All Saints Catholic School
Looking for a school with a strong spiritual foundation and a supportive community that builds up young people?
Our engaged, committed faculty are dedicated to providing the best academic and social emotional foundation for our students at All Saints Catholic School.
Beginning in Pre-K 3 to 8th grade, All Saints Catholic School builds leaders and a family for life. Join us!
Pre-K – Grade 8
(203) 847-3881
[email protected]
Visit the website here for more information.
Open House: November 14, noon – 2 p.m.
Contact [email protected] to learn more and to schedule a tour!
Brunswick School
With an average class size of 12, Brunswick enjoys a vast amount of space in Greenwich, CT – the Upper, Middle and Lower/Pre Schools are spread out among 162 acres on three campuses.
Pre-K – Grade 12
Visit the website here for more information!
Open House: November 7, 1 p.m. (All Grades) October 31, 1 p.m. (Upper School)
Catholic Academy of Stamford
The Catholic Academy of Stamford is a fully accredited Pre-K through 8th grade school providing academic excellence, personalized learning and faith based education in a nurturing environment to Stamford and our surrounding community.
Catholic Academy of Stamford has limited available seats in limited grades.
The Children’s School
That is why we at The Children’s School have focused on early childhood education for 56 years, with a clear mission—nurturing good habits of heart and mind through an individualized learning program and unsurpassed teaching talent. Head of School Maureen Murphy explains, “In that time, we have melded the very best thinking about children’s astonishing capacity to learn with five decades of working with children ourselves.”
That expertise means that each student is known and supported in our classrooms, courtesy of a 6-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio. Every student has a learning program designed expressly for them, with careful monitoring and record keeping that allow for swift adjustments if necessary at The Children’s School. It also means your child is immersed in a curriculum rich in music, art, science, movement, technology, books and more books, and a suite of learning materials that beckon children to play, which, as we know, is the basis of all learning for children. Our five-acre sustainable campus and state-of-the-art building and Art Barn enfold students in the wonders of discovering the world and self-expression.
Ages 3 – 8
(203) 329-8815
[email protected]
Visit the website here for more information!
Open House: November 5, 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Contact The Children’s School to arrange a private tour.
Enjoy a glimpse into the school and philosophies here.
The Cedar School
The Cedar School is co-ed day high school designed for bright students with mild-to-moderate language-based learning differences, such as Dyslexia.
We offer a college-prep program for students, grades 9-12, in Fairfield County, Westchester County, and the New York area. The Cedar School provides a rich academic setting and researched-based support for students who experience challenges in traditional educational settings. The school’s multisensory approach allows students to access a rigorous curriculum while mastering the skills they need for college and beyond.
Grades 9 – 12
[email protected]
Visit the website here for more information!
Contact [email protected] to schedule your in-person tour.
Eagle Hill School
Eagle Hill School is an independent, co-ed, day and five-day boarding school located in Greenwich, CT.
Eagle Hill School develops life-changing academic skills, self-confidence, and character in students who have been diagnosed with language-based learning differences, including dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, executive functioning disorder, ADHD, and auditory processing disorder. Each child is carefully evaluated, and based on the specific nature of his or her learning difficulty, a personalized educational program is developed.
Grades K – 8
Jennifer Shirazi, Director of Enrollment
[email protected] & [email protected]
Visit the website here for more information!
Virtual Open Houses: October 12, November 9, December 14, 9:30 a.m.
Fusion Academy
Fusion Academy is a private accredited middle and high school for grades 6 -12.
They offer a personalized one-to-one education model where every course is individualized to the student in a positive social setting. Fusion offers both in-person and live virtual instruction for full-time enrollment, part-time courses for credit, or tutoring/mentoring sessions.
The school is open year-round and enrolls on a rolling basis.
Greenwich Academy
A leader in all-girls education, Greenwich Academy is an independent college preparatory day school for students in grades pre-K through 12. Their rigorous academic program empowers students to be creative, inquisitive, and resourceful in every aspect of their learning under the guidance of a dedicated and talented faculty. Underpinning everything they do is a firm commitment to helping girls develop compassion, moral courage, and resilience, as embodied in our motto: Toward the Building of Character.
Rich co-curricular offerings enhance everyday learning at GA. Whether she’s writing for our award-winning literary magazine, working to cultivate new antibiotics, attending a conference on Kingian Non-Violence, or fashioning a costume for a musical production, a GA girl has the opportunity to identify her interests and explore them fully. The fine and performing arts are popular at every level, as are community service and social justice commitments. We are also proud of the strength of our athletic program, as well as the fact that girls of all skills levels can participate.
In GA’s Upper School, the Coordinate Program with their brother school, Brunswick, enables GA students to enroll in classes on both campuses and gives them access to a total of over 200 courses between the schools.
Pre-K – Grade 12
(203) 625-8990
[email protected]
Visit the website here for more information!
Open House: October 17, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Register here!
Greenwich Catholic School
Greenwich Catholic School is unlike any other school in Fairfield and Westchester County.
We do more than educate your child. We help mold them into strong, confident leaders who think critically, act compassionately, and are prepared to be responsible global citizens.
Each child at Greenwich Catholic is known, cared for, and supported by every member of our strong community.
With unrivaled academics and athletics, comparatively low tuition, and a solid track record of getting our graduates into their first choice high school, Greenwich Catholic sets each student up for success.
We are a co-educational day school in Greenwich, Connecticut, where students in PreK 3 through Grade 8 learn and thrive.
Greenwich Country Day School
The Mission of Greenwich Country Day School is to enable all children in their care to discover and to develop what is finest in themselves—to achieve the highest standards in their studies, in their play, and in their character.
Greenwich Country Day School is a co-educational, college preparatory, independent school for nursery through 12th grade. The purposeful mission of academic excellence and character development is as relevant today as it was at the school’s founding in 1926. GCDS’s curriculum builds a solid background in the sciences and humanities while challenging students to develop critical knowledge and skills through inquiry, exploration, interdisciplinary studies, and real-world application, preparing them for a rapidly changing world.
Important lessons are learned not only in the classroom, but also on the playing fields, in the art room, on stage, and through extracurricular activities, such as the chess team, robotics club, and student publications. An extensive community service program and numerous leadership opportunities teach students to turn their initiative and generosity into meaningful action. GCDS graduates are known as exceptionally well-prepared for success in higher education—and in life.
German International School New York
Open a world of opportunities for your child with a distinctive bilingual education and a rigorous curriculum that emphasizes the sciences.
For over 40 years, German International School New York (GISNY), an independent Pre-K through Grade 12 college preparatory program, cultivates students to develop into curious, analytical, and conscientious global citizens.
GISNY is the only school in the tristate area accredited to offer the NYS High School Diploma and the German International Abitur, a globally recognized diploma, which facilitates access to universities worldwide.
The completion of our science wing this fall with a new state-of-the-art Maker Space allows our students to fully explore projects in the fields of design thinking, life sciences, and artificial intelligence.
Our Pre-K and Kindergarten programs offer a bright, spacious, and nurturing environment, and with our Nature-Based Early Childhood Education Program our students enjoy most of their school day outdoors exploring, learning, and playing on our beautiful 20-acre campus.
Children entering our Pre-K or Kindergarten programs are not required to speak or understand German and build the foundation of being bilingual by first grade.
Pre-K – Grade 12
(914) 948-6513
[email protected]
Visit the website here for more information!
Learn more and register for the next virtual open house or schedule a private campus tour here.
Greens Farms Academy
At Greens Farms Academy (GFA) we empower students to do the hard, thrilling, essential work of shaping their own world, of building their own future.
Our over 700 PreK–12 students come from 23 towns in Fairfield and Westchester counties and form an inclusive community that plays on 64 interscholastic athletic teams, participates in a robust service-learning program, and aspires to live by our school’s motto, “Each for All.”
GFA cultivates curiosity and prepares students for an evolving world. And, this shifting reality is a challenge our school and community are fortunately well-positioned to tackle.
Since 1925, Greens Farms Academy has graduated thousands of compassionate, enterprising, broad-minded women and men – people with the courage and vision to build a better tomorrow.
Pre-K – Grade 12
(203) 256-7514
[email protected]
Visit the website here for more information!
October 13: PreK-4 Open House, 830am – 10am.
October 24: PreK & K GFA Explore Day, 930am -11am
October 24: Grades 5-12 Open House, 1pm – 3pm
November 14: Grades 5-12 Open House, 1pm -3pm
December 8: PreK-4 Open House, 830am-10am
The Harvey School
The Harvey School personalizes an educational journey to be as unique as each individual student. Students don’t conform to a singular “portrait of a graduate.” They have unlimited opportunity to unlock potential and uncover talents.
Committed to engaged, college preparatory learning in a small class setting for students in grades 6-12, Harvey teachers ensure that students graduate knowing who they are and are fully prepared academically, socially, and emotionally.
Grade 6 – 12
William Mena, Director of Admissions and Financial Assistance
[email protected]
(914) 232-3161 ext. 113
Visit the website here for more information!
Open House: October 16, 9 a.m. – noon
Register here!
Holy Child
Grades 5 – 12
Visit the website here for more information!
All-School Open House: October 16, 10 a.m. 11 a.m. noon
Open House Webinars: October 21, 9 a.m. November 9, 6:30 p.m. December 7, 9 a.m.
Hopkins School
Set Your Curiosity Free. Hopkins School students are curious – they love to think and learn. Here each day, at the nation’s third oldest independent school, high-achieving students come to learn with an intellectual passion, challenging one another in a collective pursuit of excellence.
- Small classes average just 12 students.
- Nearly one third of our most recent graduating class received National Merit recognition.
- Our students’ most recent standardized test scores: 1470 average SAT, 32 average ACT. See our matriculation list
- Hopkins students are gifted scholars, but they are also talented leaders, athletes, artists, entrepreneurs and more.
- Students of color comprise 30 percent of our diverse, inclusive Hopkins family.
- “All the teachers are so willing to help. They do all they can to help you become your best.” – Will, 11th grader
Grades 7 – 12
(203) 397-1001
Schedule a Call with an Admission Team Member
Visit the website here for more information!
Open Houses: October 23 (Virtual) October 24 (In-Person)
Register here!
Iona Preparatory School
It is education for higher expectations, and there is no better investment you can make in your son’s future success than an Iona Preparatory education. Graduates have earned more than $130 million in academic, merit-based scholarships over the past five years—more than $24 million alone by the Class of 2021—to schools such as Boston College, Duke, Johns Hopkins, RPI, Virginia and Wake Forest.
Iona Prep is the two-time defending LoHud Tom Whelan Private School of the Year, winning a combined eight division, league, city or state titles in 2020-2021. Our 30 athletic teams across 15 sports rise to the highest level of competition in the Catholic High School Athletic Association. More than 50 student-run clubs and activities allow students to explore new interests and step outside of their comfort zones.
PreK 4 – Grade 12
(914) 600-6154
[email protected]
Visit the website here for more information!
Open Houses:
October 17, noon – 3 p.m. October 21, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. (Grades 9-12)
October 20, 4:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. (Grades 6-7)
November 6, 9 a.m. – noon (PK-4-Grade 5)
King School
We value diversity and are inspired by our different backgrounds, perspectives, and lived experiences. Our students chart their own path and arrive at the nation’s top colleges confident, prepared, and ready to make an impact. King graduates are better prepared to better the world.
PreK – Grade 12
Visit the website here for more information!
Coffee and Conversation on Tuesdays:
Gives you a glimpse into different aspects of the school with opportunities
to learn on-campus and online.
Open House: November 7 (PreK – Grade 5)
Links Academy
Links Academy is located in Stamford.
Grades 6 – 12
(203) 883-0062
[email protected]
Visit the website here for more information.
Inquire to schedule a parent meeting here.
The Long Ridge School
With a unique focus on nursery and elementary education, The Long Ridge School is a warm, joyful environment where students excel through progressive, inquiry-based, personalized learning. When you visit our expansive, idyllic campus, you’ll find an inclusive community, where teachers, students, and parents of all backgrounds work together to guide children toward becoming compassionate
global citizens.
Teachers at the Long Ridge School nurture each child’s strengths and interests—instilling confidence and leadership skills; fostering academic, social, and emotional development; and collaboratively building for each student the foundation for a fulfilling future.
Age 2 – Grade 5
(203) 322-7693
[email protected]
Visit the website here for more information!
“Affording an Independent School Education: Demystifying the Financial Aid Process”
a Webinar Sponsored by The Long Ridge School: October 21, 6 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Register here!
Email [email protected] or call (203) 322-7693 to set up an in-person Campus tour.
The Masters School
Set on 96 acres overlooking the Hudson River, The Masters School is a leading coed day and boarding school.
We welcome students in grades 5-12 and offer five- and seven-day boarding options for upper school students.
Our renowned seminar-style learning approach produces independent thinkers who graduate prepared for college, career and life. Students find their passion on the athletic field, in the studio and on the stage.
Grades 5 – 12
[email protected]
Visit the website here for more information!
Virtual Open House: October 23, 10 a.m.
Register here!
The Mead School
Mead reinforces the development of a robust sense of self and encourages students to be directed by their curiosity, which opens the door to fearless learning.
Join us for an Open House or private tour to learn more about our commitment to student success well beyond the Mead years.
Child Care, Pre-K & K – Grade 8
[email protected]
Visit the website here for more information.
Virtual Open House: October 21, 5:30 p.m.
Coffee & Conversation: Mondays, 11 a.m. Early Learning Center,
Wednesdays, 10 a.m. K – Grade 8, Fridays, 10 a.m. Nexus at Mead
Register here!
New Canaan Country School
New Canaan Country School graduates excel at top day, boarding and public secondary schools and go on to lead lives of impact and purpose.
Pre-K – Grade 9
Visit the website here for more information.
Coffee in the Commons: October 7, October 14 & October 21
Early Childhood Close-Ups: October 6 & October 20
Lower School Close-Ups: October 13
Check here for more information about upcoming virtual and in-person admission offerings.
Pierrepont School
Pierrepont students are curious about themselves, others, and the world and they approach learning with humility but also with the fierce intensity of their thinking.
Our teachers share with our students the things they love fiercely, as academic fields are for them not dead lands of accumulation but the most meaningful parts of their presence as humans.
A Pierrepont education is where our students learn how to be within themselves and the world around them, fully human in the present, with the past and the future within.
Grades K – 12
203-226-1891
[email protected]
Visit the website here for more information.
For more information on our admissions process and for our 2021-22 tour dates, please contact a member of our admissions team at 203-226-1891 or email: [email protected].
The Pinnacle School
The Pinnacle School enables students in grades 2 – 12 with language-based learning differences to thrive through small class sizes, individualized academic programming, active problem-solving, and relationship building.
Located in Stamford, Connecticut, Pinnacle is accredited by New England Association of Schools and Colleges and is a Connecticut State Approved Special Education Program.
Riverdale Country School
Riverdale is a Pre-K through Grade 12 independent school on two “green” campuses in New York City that provides a rigorous academic program for its students as well as an intentional educational focus on personal development in all divisions.
The school has many traditions that have developed in its 100+ year history, but, at the same time, is a leader in developing educational practices that are relevant to schools in the United States and across the globe. Riverdale provides a comprehensive education that challenges our students, helps them develop meaning and purpose in their lives and, as our mission states “developing minds, building character, and creating community in order to change our world for the good.” Riverdale is more than just a school, it is an experience.
Pre-K – Grade 12
[email protected]
718-549-8810
Visit the website here for more information!
Open House information is available here!
Rye Country Day School
Rye Country Day School is a Pre-K through Grade 12 co-educational, college preparatory school serving 900+ students from Westchester and Fairfield Counties and New York City. Providing an excellent education using both traditional and innovative approaches, RCDS offers a challenging program that stimulates individuals to achieve their maximum potential through academic, athletic, creative, and social endeavors.
The School promotes moral responsibility and strength of character within a respectful, diverse, and nurturing learning community. Rye Country Day students are engaged, passionate learners, who exemplify the School’s commitment to teaching empathy, critical thinking, active citizenship, and service.
The RCDS motto, Not for Self, but for Service, guides teachers, students, and families and stresses the core belief in the potential of each individual to have a positive, lasting impact.
Pre-K – Grade 12
Visit the website here for more information!
Open Houses:
October 17, noon (Lower School)
October 24, noon (Middle School)
October 31, noon (Upper School)
Sacred Heart Greenwich
Preschool: The mission of the Barat Center for Early Childhood Education at Sacred Heart Greenwich is to honor the young child through an appreciation of their developmental and transitional needs. The program provides rich learning experiences in phonological and phonemic awareness, emergent literacy, number sense, and fine and gross motor development. Sacred Heart Greenwich is highly committed to immersing children in the natural world by using outdoor classroom experiences that highlight concepts and skills. Additionally, Barat Center introduces them to enriching offerings, such as world languages, art, music, and technology.
K-12: Located on a beautiful 110-acre campus in Greenwich, Sacred Heart is an all-girls’ Catholic, independent college-preparatory day school that offers a rigorous academic program that challenges students to take on a variety of leadership roles on campus and beyond. Sacred Heart Greenwich provides an empowering learning environment for girls and young women from kindergarten through twelfth grade to prepare them to become confident, intelligent, and compassionate global leaders. Faith, community, growth, intellect, justice: These criteria define the Sacred Heart Greenwich experience for each student.
Schoolhouse Academy
”Children must be taught how to think not what to think” – Margaret Mead
Schoolhouse Academy’s world-class educational program will prepare your child with the necessary skills, knowledge, and real-world experiences required for success in college, and a 21st Century competitive, global economy.
St. Aloysius
St. Aloysius is a Kindergarten through eighth grade, co-educational Catholic school in New Canaan. We have a strong commitment to academic excellence. We educate the whole child and provide a nurturing environment for our students to thrive. We teach and live the values of our faith and foster a commitment to serving others. Our school is truly a community of teachers, parents, and students. We provide our students with both strong academic and faith formation to succeed at the top high schools and for life. Our families come from towns across Fairfield County and New York State.
– Low student to teacher ratio, with individualized learning and a dedicated faculty
– Our curriculum balances traditional and technology-driven approaches
– Strong core curriculum, plus the Arts, Spanish and Physical Education for all grades
– Enhanced Upper School curriculum includes Public Speaking, Performing Arts, Dance and French
– Preparation for the sacraments of First Holy Communion and Confirmation
– Our graduates succeed at the top private and public high schools
– Active parent community
– Two-time winner of the Connecticut Science and Engineering Fair
– A National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence for Outstanding Academic Achievement (2010)
– Accredited by New England Association of Schools and Colleges
– We welcome individuals of any race, color, religion, and national and ethnic origin
St. Luke’s School
St Luke’s is a secular (non-religious) private school in New Canaan, CT, for grades 5-12.
St. Luke’s mission is an exceptional education that inspires a deep love of learning, a strong moral compass, the commitment to serve, and the confidence to lead. St. Luke’s Center for Leadership advances our mission by helping students develop exceptional leadership ability.
Grades 5 – 12
Connect with our Admissions Team!
[email protected]
203-801-4833
For more information visit the website here!
St. Luke’s Middle School Experience:
October 20, 9:15 a.m. (parents only)
Open Houses:
October 24, noon (Upper School)
November 7, noon (Middle School)
Welcome Wednesdays:
Prospective families are invited to join our Admissions Director, Head of School, and Heads of Upper and Middle Schools for a discussion of St. Luke’s mission and distinct approach to education. Wednesdays, November 10, December 8, January 5 & 26, 9:15 a.m.
Spire School
The Spire School is an independent, therapeutic day school for intellectually capable students in Grades 6 – 12 who are struggling academically and emotionally.
Our students have experienced anxiety and avoidance, struggled with executive functioning challenges or depression, and benefit from a smaller, supportive learning environment with robust academics and a strong health and wellness component.
Located in Stamford, Spire is accredited by NEASC and is a CT State Approved Special Education Program.
Grades 6 – 12
(203) 661-1609 x204 to speak with Dede LeComte, Director of Admissions
Visit the website here for more information!
Inquire, then students and parents take a tour (together or separately as preferred by the family) and meet with the Director of Admissions and the Head of School. It is at this time the student will have his/her informal interview.
Tamim Academy of Greenwich
Inspired by Chabad, guided by leading educators and enriched by the spirit of community, Tamim Academy of Greenwich prepares students for purposeful lives by empowering them with a positive self-concept, a passion for learning, and strong eternal values.
Tamim Academy offers a joyous and inclusive approach to Jewish education. It matches an outstanding and innovative educational model with an individualized, child centered focus, emphasizing the development of the “whole child”, mind, body, and soul.
Our integrated curriculum provides fluidity between general and Judaic studies, encouraging real-world application and making learning more meaningful to students.
K – Grade 1
(917) 576-0615
Visit the website here for more information!
Contact Maryashie Deren at [email protected] to schedule a private campus tour.
Watch the video HERE to learn more about Tamim Academy!
Villa Maria School
For almost 50 years the Villa Maria School has been home to a smart and creative community of students who have otherwise struggled in traditional school settings.
Our students have been identified as having language processing disorders, nonverbal learning disabilities and/or executive functioning difficulties. Villa Maria is designed to be a small, understanding and safe place to do uncomfortable work.
We are dedicated to helping our students realize their full potential by encouraging meaningful relationships and promoting life-long learning through skill development.
Kindergarten – Grade 9
(203) 322-5886 x104
[email protected]
Visit the website here for more information!
Virtual Open House: October 21, 9 a.m.
Register here!
Campus tours are available by appointment.
Whitby School
Located in Greenwich CT, Whitby is a co-educational independent school that provides educational continuity for children 18 months through Grade 8 in the Fairfield-Westchester area.
The premier Whitby Montessori Children’s House three-year program and the highly-recognized International Baccalaureate (IB) program in Grades 1 – 8 form the foundation that empowers Whitby students to think creatively and critically, preparing them as life-long learners and global citizens.
18 months – Grade 8
(203) 302-3900
[email protected]
Visit the website here for more information!
All School Open House: October 23, 1 p.m.
Virtual Middle School Exploration: October 27, 7:30 p.m.
Virtual All School Open House: November 18, 9:30 a.m.
