Saint Ignatius Loyola School (New York City)

Saint Ignatius Loyola School is a private, co-educational grammar school on Manhattan's Upper East Side. It serves students from PreK-3 through Grade 8 and is affiliated with the Archdiocese of New York.

The school was founded in 1854 as a parochial school to serve Irish families in the Yorkville neighborhood.^[1] The parish was transferred to the Society of Jesus in 1866, who introduced a Jesuit-inspired educational approach.^[2] The Upper Campus building at 48 East 84th Street has housed the school since 1906.^[1] The school holds the distinction of being the oldest Jesuit grammar school in New York.

The school operates two campuses on East 84th Street:

• Upper Campus (Grades 1–8): Located at 48 East 84th Street, this historic building (constructed in 1900 with later additions, including renovations in 2005) houses classrooms, science labs, art studios, and a gymnasium.^[3] The building totals approximately 100,000 square feet.^[4]

• Lower Campus (PreK-3 to Kindergarten): Located at 240 East 84th Street, this facility is designed specifically for early childhood education, providing a dedicated environment for younger students.^[5][6] Constructed in 1915 in a Neo-Gothic style as a "Day Nursery," it was financed and donated by Nicholas Frederic Brady, a leading philanthropist and one of the wealthiest men in New York at the time.^[7] The building totals approximately 16,000 square feet.^[8]

The school forms part of the historic parish complex which is anchored by the landmark Church of St. Ignatius Loyola. The church was completed in 1898, the parish complex was designated a New York City Landmark in 1969 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.^[9]

The interiors have served as a filming location for several television series, including the CW series Gossip Girl (Season 1, Episode 8)^[10] and HBO series Succession (Season 4, Episode 9).^[11][12]

The school educates approximately 500 children, with 50 students per grade. 99% of faculty hold advanced degrees.^[13][14] The curriculum emphasizes critical thinking, STEM (including coding classes, a working greenhouse used by all grades, and widespread technology integration), the arts, and character development rooted in Jesuit values of diligence, integrity, compassion, and social justice.^[15]

The school is financially self-sustaining and is additionally supported by a $50 million endowment, among the largest for a New York City elementary/middle school.^[14] It has received the National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence award three times (2011, 2018, and 2024).^{[1][16][17][18]}

The school offers interscholastic sports (basketball, soccer, track) ^[19] and a wide range of after-school clubs, including acting, animal habitats, art appreciation, arts and crafts, coding, cheer club, chess, creative writing, dance, drama, game club, sports club, screenwriting, sculpture making, yoga, and many others.^[20][1] Community events include science fairs, concerts, and annual traditions such as the St. Blaise feast day blessing of the throats.^[1] The close-knit community draws families primarily from Manhattan's Upper East Side.^[1]

The school serves as a feeder school to various competitive secondary institutions across New York City and beyond.^[1] For example, recent graduates secured admissions at an array of institutions, including:^[21][22]

• Archdiocesan Schools: Chaminade High School, Fordham Preparatory School, Notre Dame School of Manhattan, Regis High School
• Independent Day Schools: The Brearley School, The Chapin School, Collegiate School, Convent of the Sacred Heart, Dalton School, Ethical Culture Fieldston School, Friends Seminary, Horace Mann School, Marymount School of New York, The Nightingale-Bamford School, Riverdale Country School, The Spence School, Trevor Day School, Trinity School
• Boarding Schools: Blair Academy, Choate Rosemary Hall, Phillips Academy Andover
• Specialized Public High Schools: Bronx High School of Science, Hunter College High School, LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, Stuyvesant High School

The class of 2025 was awarded $5.1 million in merit-based scholarships.^[23]

The school maintains a low single-digit acceptance rate for unconnected kindergarten applicants. The process is entirely paper-based and structured around several required steps: mandatory parent information sessions and campus tours, submission of a formal application with supporting documents (including teacher recommendations), and in-person assessments that evaluate academic readiness and overall fit. Kindergarten assessment consists of a one-hour session divided into play time, a read-aloud, and a one-on-one skills test. Grades 1–8 assessment focuses on math, writing, and reading comprehension. The school welcomes families of all faiths, although Catholic families receive a tuition discount. ^{[24] [25]}