The private-preschool scene in New York City is not for the faint of heart. It takes tenacity, gumption, luck, and often the right connections for families to land a spot on an elite school's short list for admissions.
"It is important to understand that private-school admission in New York City — including at the preschool level — has now reached a critically competitive level at all points of entry," Amanda Uhry, CEO and founder of Manhattan Private School Advisors, told Insider.
She said that 550,000 children under the age of 5 live in New York City — and while only a fraction of them are private preschool and K-12 applicants, there are only about 10,000 spots available in the city.
Parents can explore several avenues to get their child into a top NYC preschool, including knowing a family whose child recently graduated from the school in good standing, knowing a board member who can speak on your behalf, and having a skill or resource that could be helpful to the school.
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But another perhaps more reliable path involves working with an insider who understands the entire process.
Based on recommendations and referrals from industry experts, Insider compiled a list of eight prominent figures who offer specific expertise in NYC preschool admissions. Those selected have strong ties with admissions directors at many of the city's top nursery schools, as well as expertise on what it takes to get kids into the best schools. Many also boast long legacies in New York's preschool community.
The following influencers are listed in no particular order.
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