Preschools, Nursery Schools, and Pre-K Programs in Manhattan

Start your search for the top preschools, nursery schools, and pre-K programs in Manhattan. See the full list of early childhood classes here.

One of parents’ biggest concerns is ensuring their kids get a good education—and enrolling your child in the best preschool for them sets the foundation. After all, educators and child development experts say early childhood education offers kids advantages long after they leave their preschool classroom and helps set them up for success in school and beyond. Preschool helps young children learn to face social interactions, develop social and emotional skills, boost resiliency and curiosity, get ready for classroom learning, understand the concept of a routine, and more. The good news is there are plenty of quality preschools in Manhattan to choose from for your child. You’re sure to find the perfect preschool for your child in Upper East Side, Upper West Side, Chelsea, Greenwich Village, Tribeca, Meatpacking District, Hell's Kitchen, Financial District, Battery Park, Harlem, and more.

Watch the Manhattan, Brooklyn, & Queens School Showcase today to "tour" schools, meet directors, and find the perfect school for your child!

Check the boxes and submit the form below to connect with these businesses.

Day Care & Child Care

LIGHTBRIDGE ACADEMY
Locations in Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Long Island,
Email [email protected]

Lightbridge Academy is The Solution for Working Parents® providing the Gold Standard for health and safety in a nurturing environment for infant, toddler, and preschool age children. Our proprietary curriculum embraces every moment as another opportunity to learn and unlocks every child's potential. 

MOMMYBITES NANNY BOARDS
1501 Broadway 12th floor, New York
Email [email protected]

Mommybites is a community that connects expectant, new, and young moms to resources, education, expert parenting tips, fun family activities, job opportunities, childcare, and each other.

VIVVI
NYC Campuses: Hudson Yards | Tribeca | World Trade Center,
212-519-7660
Email [email protected]

At Vivvi, children’s natural curiosity guides a best-in-class curriculum facilitated by warm experienced teachers who foster the joy of learning. Our curated early childhood experience aligns the exceptional quality families deserve with the flexibility they need. We welcome children ages newborn-5 across all campuses—Hudson Yards, Tribeca, and World Trade Center.

Preschool Alternatives

TWIN PARKS MONTESSORI SCHOOLS
Central Park Montessori School
1 West 91st Street
New York, NY 10024
(212) 595-2000

Park West Montessori School
435 Central Park West
New York, NY 10025
(212) 678-6072

Riverside Montessori School
202 Riverside Drive
New York, NY 10025
(212) 665-1600

Email [email protected]

Twin Parks Montessori Schools nurtures a child’s natural tendency to learn. Our 3 campuses on the Upper West Side serve children from 3 months to 5 years. Our dedicated and caring teachers foster a beautiful learning environment designed to help each child reach their full potential.

Preschools

CHINA INSTITUTE'S IMMERSIVE SUMMER PROGRAM
40 Rector St., 2nd floor, Financial District, Manhattan
212-744-8181 x143
Email [email protected]

China Institute's early school year program is an engaging, fully immersive, in-person language environment where children learn skills to begin a lifetime of discovery and inspiration. All classes are conducted in Mandarin, providing the best foundation for acquiring academic, social, and language skills and success in kindergarten and beyond. www.chinainstitute.org/early-school-year-program.

THE ÉCOLE
111 E. 22nd St., Flatiron, Manhattan
646-410-2238
Email [email protected]

The École is an intimate and independent French-American school, located in New York’s vibrant Flatiron District, serving an international community of students from pre-nursery to eighth grade.

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH NURSERY SCHOOL
12 W. 12th St., Greenwich Village, Manhattan
212-691-3432

The First Presbyterian Church Nursery School is dedicated to the development of the whole child in a warm, nurturing environment. FPCNS offers experienced classroom teachers, and specialists in studio art, library, music, movement, gardening, and a healthy snack program. Children enjoy large airy classrooms, roof top playground, and indoor play spaces.

GILLEN BREWER SCHOOL
410 E. 92nd St., Upper East Side, Manhattan
212-831-3667
Email [email protected]

Gillen Brewer School is a family-oriented, early childhood and elementary special education program for ages 2.8-10 years old. We provide an integrated, developmentally-appropriate, academic-therapeutic program that includes speech-language therapy, occupational therapy, and counseling. Our curriculum is enriched with arts, music, science, and physical fitness.

LIGHTBRIDGE ACADEMY
Locations in Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Long Island,
Email [email protected]

Lightbridge Academy is The Solution for Working Parents® providing the Gold Standard for health and safety in a nurturing environment for infant, toddler, and preschool age children. Our proprietary curriculum embraces every moment as another opportunity to learn and unlocks every child's potential. 

THE MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL
347 E. 55th St., Sutton Place , Manhattan
212-223-4630

A multi-faceted program that inspires curiosity and a love of learning! Classes are equipped with didactic Montessori materials that encourage absorption of concepts through play, leading children to become well-rounded and confident. Program includes science, music, foreign languages, musical theatre, swimming, dance, yoga, chess, cultural events, and robotics!

PUSTEBLUME INTERNATIONAL PRESCHOOL AND AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS
244 W. 14th St., West Village, Manhattan
212-206-1137
Email [email protected]

We are a German and Spanish language immersion school with after-school/enrichment programs open to students from other schools. Special inquiry and exploration based curriculum is provided. Native-speaking faculty teaches music, movement, literacy, math concepts, and visual arts. Our fun, warm, learning environment cultivates the growth and development of your child.

TWIN PARKS MONTESSORI SCHOOLS
Central Park Montessori School
1 West 91st Street
New York, NY 10024
(212) 595-2000

Park West Montessori School
435 Central Park West
New York, NY 10025
(212) 678-6072

Riverside Montessori School
202 Riverside Drive
New York, NY 10025
(212) 665-1600

Email [email protected]

Twin Parks Montessori Schools nurtures a child’s natural tendency to learn. Our 3 campuses on the Upper West Side serve children from 3 months to 5 years. Our dedicated and caring teachers foster a beautiful learning environment designed to help each child reach their full potential.

VIVVI
NYC Campuses: Hudson Yards | Tribeca | World Trade Center,
212-519-7660
Email [email protected]

At Vivvi, children’s natural curiosity guides a best-in-class curriculum facilitated by warm experienced teachers who foster the joy of learning. Our curated early childhood experience aligns the exceptional quality families deserve with the flexibility they need. We welcome children ages newborn-5 across all campuses—Hudson Yards, Tribeca, and World Trade Center.

WETHERBY–PEMBRIDGE SCHOOL
7 E. 96th St., Upper East Side, Manhattan
646-213-3400
Email [email protected]

Wetherby-Pembridge is a unique, coed, independent school for students nursery to eighth grade that holds sacred its core values of respect, resilience, and responsibility. The curriculum is based on the rigorous English National Curriculum and is enriched by NYC’s cultural experiences. WPNY children are inspired to achieve personal confidence and success.

WHITBY SCHOOL
969 Lake Ave., Greenwich
203-869-8464
Email [email protected]

Located in Greenwich CT, Whitby is a coeducational independent school for children 18 months through eighth grade. Whitby offers a Montessori curriculum and International Baccalaureate (IB) programs in grades first-eighth. These two programs form the foundation for an educational continuum where students thrive and learn to think creatively and critically.

And you can always browse more of our education resources in Manhattan, including private schools, Catholic schools, charter and magnet schools, and special education schools.