New York City's Best Public Pre-K and Elementary Schools

Completely revised with new profiles of more than 150 elementary schools and pre-kindergarten programs!

For nearly 2 decades, parents have looked to Clara Hemphill to help them find a good public school for their child. This Fourth Edition features all-new reviews of more than 150 of the city’s best public elementary schools, based on visits and in-depth interviews by the InsideSchools staff. This essential guide uncovers the “inside scoop” on schools (the condition of the building, special programs, teacher quality, and more), includes a checklist of things to look for on a school tour, and incorporates new listings of charter schools and stand-alone pre-kindergarten programs. It also provides the hard facts on:

• Total school enrollment
• Test scores for reading and math
• Ethnic makeup
• Who gets in?
• Admissions requirements
• Teaching methods and styles
• Special education services
• How to apply

Clara Hemphill is founding editor of the InsideSchools website and the director of education policy at The New School’s Center for New York City Affairs. She is the author of New York City’s Best Public Middle Schools and New York City’s Best Public High Schools. Her two children attended public school in Manhattan and the Bronx. Lydie Raschka writes reviews for InsideSchools. She is a graduate of Bank Street College, a former public elementary director school teacher, and a Montessori teacher-trainer. Her son attended public elementary school in Manhattan.

“Brisk, thoughtful profiles of topnotch, intriguing schools.”

—New York Daily News

“Hemphill has done for schools what Zagat’s did for restaurants.”

—Big Apple Parent

“Thoughtful, well-researched…required reading.”

—New York Magazine

“A bible for urban parents.”

—The New York Times

"The gold standard. There is nothing else that compares."

—NYC School Help