After spending many months researching public schools in NYC, I've compiled a comprehensive analysis of the best elementary schools in Districts 2 and 3. I've gathered data from five major school ranking sites - SchoolDigger, U.S. News & World Report, Niche, GreatSchools, and Public School Review.
Not sure which district you live in? District 2 covers Midtown, Clinton, Gramercy, Upper East Side, Financial District, Tribeca, and West Village, while District 3 includes Upper West Side and Lincoln Square. You can easily check your school district by entering your address on the GreatSchools District Boundaries Map. This tool will help you confirm which district your home falls under.
This analysis focuses solely on public schools, excluding charter schools, to provide a clear picture of traditional public school options in these districts. I created my own ranking system by analyzing all 55 public elementary schools in Districts 2 and 3, taking an average of their rankings across these five major platforms.
District 2 Top 5 Elementary Schools
| Rank* | School Name | Grades | Students | Address |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | P.S. 077 Lower Lab School | K-5 | 373 | 1700 3 Ave |
| 3 | P.S. 124 Yung Wing School | PK-5 | 520 | 40 Division St. |
| 4 | P.S. 089 Liberty School | PK-5 | 340 | 201 Warren St |
| 5 | P.S. 006 Lillie D Blake | PK-5 | 587 | 45 E 81st St |
| 6 | P.S. 267 East Side Elementary School | K-5 | 362 | 213 East 63rd Street |
District 3 Top 5 Elementary Schools
| Rank* | School Name | Grades | Students | Address |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Anderson School | K-8 | 482 | 100 West 77th Street |
| 8 | P.S. 166 The Richard Rodgers School | K-5 | 593 | 132 WEST 89 STREET |
| 10 | P.S. 087 William Sherman | PK-5 | 668 | 160 West 78th Street |
| 19 | Special Music School | K-12 | 295 | 129 West 67th Street |
| 22 | P.S. 009 Sarah Anderson | PK-5 | 483 | 100 West 84th Street |
* Rankings were calculated using an average of five major school ranking websites (U.S. News & World Report, Niche, SchoolDigger, GreatSchools, and Public School Review) across all 55 public elementary schools in Districts 2 and 3, excluding charter schools. The rankings from each source were normalized to ensure a comparable scale before averaging.
Each of these schools has consistently demonstrated excellence across multiple evaluation criteria, including academic achievement, safety ratings, school culture, and family engagement. While these schools represent the highest-rated options in their respective districts, it doesn't mean that other schools aren't equally good choices. Families should consider practical factors like location, program offerings, and their child's specific needs when exploring school options, as there are many excellent schools beyond this list that might be the perfect fit for your child.
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