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Very Good

#200 of 991 private schools in NY

Top 20% of private schools

Spence School

School

22 E 91ST ST, New York, NY 10128

Private Estimated Score

Estimated academic score. This school does not have standardized test data. Based on NY statewide data. Learn more

Enrollment

769

Student-Teacher

6.2:1

Score

7.3

Grades

Kindergarten – 12th

Updated 2021-22

How this school compares

In New York

#50 of 118

public schools

New York schools

#81 of 277

About Spence School

# Spence School Spence School serves students from kindergarten through 12th grade on the Upper East Side of Manhattan at 22 E 91st Street. With 769 students and 124 full-time equivalent teachers, the school maintains a student-teacher ratio of 6.2:1, allowing for relatively personalized attention in classrooms. As a regular public school in New York City, Spence is positioned in a large urban setting with the resources and diversity that come with that environment.

The school currently holds a MySchoolScout Rating of 4.2 out of 10 and ranks at the 30th percentile among New York State schools, placing it at #693 out of 991 schools statewide. This suggests the school is working to strengthen its academic performance and would benefit from growth in student achievement. Parents considering Spence should recognize that the school serves a broad grade span from early childhood through high school graduation, which can provide continuity for families staying in the neighborhood.

The favorable student-teacher ratio indicates opportunities for more direct interaction between students and educators. The school's location in one of Manhattan's most established residential neighborhoods places it within a vibrant urban community.

What Parents Should Know

With a student-teacher ratio of 6.2:1, Spence School offers a notably low ratio compared to the national average. This typically means smaller class sizes and more opportunities for one-on-one interaction between students and teachers.

As a private school, Spence School operates independently from the local public school district. Families considering this school should inquire about tuition costs, financial aid availability, and the admissions process. Private schools are not required to follow the same curriculum standards as public schools, which can be either an advantage or a consideration depending on your priorities.

Financial Overview

Source: IRS Form 990 (2023 filing)

Per-Pupil Spending
Total expenses ÷ enrollment
$88,780
Per-Pupil Revenue
Total revenue ÷ enrollment
$75,498
Financial Health
Revenue-to-expense ratio (>1.0 = surplus)
0.85x — At Risk
Tuition Dependency
Share of revenue from program services (tuition, fees)
85%
Total Assets
End-of-year total assets from IRS filing
$386.7M

Financial data from IRS Form 990 filings via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Per-pupil figures based on current enrollment of 769 students. Not all private schools file Form 990.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How Spence School compares to 345 public schools serving similar grades in New York, NY

Student-Teacher Ratio
6.2:1
This School
vs
11.7:1
Public Avg
Avg School Size
769
This School
vs
438
Public Avg
Avg School Scout Rating
7.3
This School
vs
6.6
Public Avg

Student Demographics

White 53.2% vs 0%
Asian 13.9% vs 0%
Black 10.5% vs 0%
Hispanic 4.2% vs 0%
Spence School New York Public Avg

Nearby Other Schools

School Rating
Spence School (this school) 7.3
PS 169 ROBERT F KENNEDY 7.3
PS 198 ISADOR E IDA STRAUS 7.7
PS 77 LOWER LAB SCHOOL 6.8
PS 6 LILLIE D BLAKE 6.9
PS 527 EAST SIDE SCHOOL FOR SOCIAL ACTION 6.8
EAST SIDE MIDDLE SCHOOL 7.7
HIGH SCHOOL FOR CLIMATE JUSTICE (THE) 7.7
JUDITH S KAYE SCHOOL (THE) 7.5
PS 171 PATRICK HENRY 7.8
PS 290 MANHATTAN NEW SCHOOL 7.3
YORKVILLE COMMUNITY SCHOOL 8.8
PS 84 LILLIAN WEBER 7.8
LEXINGTON ACADEMY (THE) 5.8
PS 38 ROBERTO CLEMENTE 3.3
DREAM CHARTER SCHOOL EAST HARLEM 5.6
HERITAGE SCHOOL (THE) 7.3
MS 224 MANHATTAN EAST SCHOOL FOR ARTS & ACADEMICS 8.5
SUCCESS ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL-HARLEM 3 6.5
INNOVATION CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL 5.2
CENTRAL PARK EAST HIGH SCHOOL 8.7

Showing 20 of 345 schools. View all schools in New York

Demographics sourced from NCES Private School Survey (PSS) and Common Core of Data (CCD). Comparisons are based on enrollment-weighted averages.

Score Breakdown

What This Rating Measures

This rating reflects classroom size, instructional time, student diversity, community resources, and school characteristics. Private schools are ranked against other private schools in NY.

Classroom Attention
? Student-teacher ratio calibrated against other private schools. Lower ratios mean more individual attention. (30% of overall score)
A- 8.3 / 10
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio 6.2:1
Instructional Commitment
? Total annual instructional hours based on school day length and days per year. (15% of overall score)
B 5.9 / 10
View breakdown
School Day Length 6.9 hours
Annual Instructional Hours 1,173
Diversity & Inclusion
? Racial and ethnic diversity of the student body using Simpson's diversity index. (20% of overall score)
A 9.1 / 10
View breakdown
Diversity Index 65%
Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile
? Enrollment size and grade span breadth — indicators of program depth and peer community. (15% of overall score)
B- 4.5 / 10
View breakdown
Enrollment 769
View data sources

Score basis: Private school model

Data coverage: 80% of scoring components had data

Components scored: 4 of 5

Ranking pool: Private schools in NY

Test Scores

Test score data not yet available for this school.

Student Demographics NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

White 53.2%
Two or More 18.1%
Asian 13.9%
Black 10.5%
Hispanic 4.2%
Native American 0.1%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

22 E 91ST ST, New York, NY 10128

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Spence School may also want to explore other schools in the area. LASCUOLA DITALIA (rated 8.2/10, 0.2 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Another option is GUIDEPOST MONTESSORI AT MUSEUM MILE (rated 7.9/10, 0.6 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, RUDOLF STEINER SCHOOL (rated 7.6/10, 0.6 miles away), with a very similar rating. For more schools in New York, see our New York schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 0.6 mi
School Distance Rating
INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY OF NEW YORK New York 0.0 mi
NIGHTINGALE-BAMFORD SCHOOL New York 0.0 mi 7.3
HORACE MANN SCHOOL NURSERY-KINDERGARTEN DIVISION New York 0.1 mi 6.1
DALTON SCHOOL New York 0.1 mi 7.0
PS 169 ROBERT F KENNEDY New York 0.2 mi 7.3
LA SCUOLA D'ITALIA New York 0.2 mi 5.0
LASCUOLA DITALIA New York 0.2 mi 8.2
REGIS HIGH SCHOOL New York 0.3 mi 6.2
ST IGNATIUS LOYOLA SCHOOL New York 0.4 mi 4.3
MARYMOUNT SCHOOL OF NY New York 0.4 mi 6.4
WINDWARD SCHOOL THE - NYC New York 0.4 mi 6.7
PS 198 ISADOR E IDA STRAUS New York 0.4 mi 7.7
PS 77 LOWER LAB SCHOOL New York 0.4 mi 6.8
PS 6 LILLIE D BLAKE New York 0.5 mi 6.9
ISLAMIC CULTURAL CENTER SCHOOL New York 0.5 mi 7.8
RUDOLF STEINER SCHOOL New York 0.6 mi 7.6
GUIDEPOST MONTESSORI AT MUSEUM MILE New York 0.6 mi 7.9
PS 527 EAST SIDE SCHOOL FOR SOCIAL ACTION New York 0.5 mi 6.8
PS 290 MANHATTAN NEW SCHOOL New York 0.7 mi 7.3
PS 171 PATRICK HENRY New York 0.6 mi 7.8

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 10128 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$148,705

Median Home Value

$1,295,600

Median Rent

$2,648/mo

Population

59,000

College Educated

77.5%

Homeownership

32.3%

Avg Commute

32.1 min

Poverty Rate

8.5%

Median Age

42.7

Community Profile

The community surrounding Spence School has a median household income of $148,705. It is a well-educated community where 78% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $1,295,600, with a median rent of $2,648/month. The local poverty rate of 8.5% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 32 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
DAVID MARQUIS SCHOOL OF THE ARTS (THE) Staten Island, NY 7.3
NIGHTINGALE-BAMFORD SCHOOL New York, NY 7.3
PS 811 MICKEY MANTLE SCHOOL New York, NY 7.3
SOUTH RICHMOND HIGH SCHOOL IS/PS 25 Staten Island, NY 7.3
BEGINNING WITH CHILDREN CHARTER SCHOOL II Brooklyn, NY 7.2
NORTH WARREN CENTRAL SCHOOL Chestertown, NY 7.2

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Spence School

What grades does Spence School serve?

Spence School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 12th.

How many students attend Spence School?

Spence School has an enrollment of approximately 769 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Spence School?

The student-teacher ratio at Spence School is 6.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does Spence School rank in NY?

Spence School is ranked #200 out of 991 private schools in NY.

What is Spence School's MySchoolScout rating?

Spence School has a composite rating of 7.3 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

Is Spence School a private school?

Yes, Spence School is a private all-girls school with a Nonsectarian affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.

Is Spence School a religious school?

No, Spence School is a nonsectarian (non-religious) private school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
99 Walker's Paradise
Transit Score
100 Rider’s Paradise
Bike Score
75 Very Bikeable
City Safety
High (3,049/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (New York). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades
Kindergarten – 12th
Enrollment
769
Gender Split
0% M / 100% F
Student-Teacher Ratio
6.2:1
Teachers (FTE)
124
Type
private
Coed Status
all-girls
Affiliation
Nonsectarian
School Day
6.9 hours
Days Per Year
170 days
Setting
Large City
County
NEW YORK
Data Year
2022–2023

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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