York Avenue Day School

PrivateUpper East Side

1520 York Avenue, New York, NY 10028

212-734-1000

www.yorkavenuedayschool.org

On this page

Overview

Educational philosophy

Progressive / Play Based

Programs offered

Infant · Toddler · 2s · 3s · Pre-K

Annual tuition

$31K – $38K / yr

School continues

Through Pre-K

Financial aid

Aid: $

Sibling & legacy

—

Upcoming:No upcoming admissions dates — check back soon

York Avenue Day School is a coed, not-for-profit independent early childhood school on the Upper East Side (Yorkville) serving children from 6 months through Pre-K. Founded as York Avenue Preschool in 1993 and merged with the co-located Eastside Day School in 2022, it now offers continuous care in a purpose-built 25,000 sq ft facility with an art studio, music room, teaching kitchen, 7,000+ volume library, gym and full gymnastics center, plus an on-site outdoor plaza playground. The play-based, emergent curriculum emphasizes child-directed exploration and a broad specialty program. Graduates place into a wide range of NYC independent kindergartens and public gifted & talented programs.

Programs & Schedule

2 yrs – 4 yrs2s · 3s

8:30am start · Mon–Fri · annual tuition by age & pickup time

Age	Until 12pmExt. to 12pm	Until 3pmExt. to 3pm	Until 6pmExt. to 6pm
2s	$30,850	$32,750	$36,600
3s	$30,850	$32,750	$36,600

Extended Day to 6pm available

Infant3 mo – 1 yr

Schedule option	Tuition / yr
Full Day 8:30-3:00	$34,850
Extended Day 8:30-6:00	$38,150

Extended Day to 6pm available

Toddler1 yr – 2 yrs

Schedule option	Tuition / yr
Full Day 8:30-3:00	$35,150
Extended Day 8:30-6:00	$37,300

Extended Day to 6pm available

Pre-K4 yrs – 5 yrs

Schedule option
Extended Day 8:30-6:00
Full Day 8:30-3:00

Tuition · $32,000 / yr

Extended Day to 6pm available

Admissions

Applications open ($125 fee); tours by appointment (212-734-1000).Aug 3

Notification (ISAAGNY, late February).Feb 26

Reply (ISAAGNY).Mar 4

Leadership

Carissa Canovas

Admissions contact

Nancy Baldaro

info@yorkavenuedayschool.org

Ex-missions

Ex-missions support ✓

Ex-missions refers to the process of applying from preschool to Kindergarten or an ongoing school. Schools with dedicated ex-missions support actively guide families through ERB testing, school visits, and applications.

Where graduates go

Private kindergarten & elementary

33 schools

Allen-StevensonBank Street SchoolBirch Wathen Lenox SchoolBrearleyBrowningBuckleyCaedmonCalhounChapinChurchillCollegiate SchoolColumbia Grammar & Preparatory SchoolConvent of the Sacred HeartDwight SchoolEthical Culture FieldstonGrace ChurchHewittHorace MannMarymount SchoolNightingale-BamfordRiverdale Country DaySpenceSpeyer Legacy SchoolSt. Bernard'sSt. David'sSt. IgnatiusSt. Stephen'sThe Cathedral School of St. John the DivineThe Dalton SchoolThe Lycée FrançaisTown SchoolTrevor Day SchoolUNIS

Public kindergarten & elementary

4 schools

Hunter College ElementaryLower LabNEST+mThe Anderson School

See the full list of schools graduates go on to — with counts and sources.

Culture & Community

Educational approach

Progressive / Play Based

Play-based, emergent and progressive early childhood curriculum built on the belief that 'play is the work of young children.' Child-directed exploration within a structured, nurturing environment: process-based art, integrated movement, and a rich specialty program (music, gym/gymnastics, teaching kitchen, STEAM, library, living science, yoga).

GenderCo-ed

Cultural programs

MusicArt

Outdoor spaceOwn outdoor space ✓

Enrichment

Gym and on-site gymnastics center with USA Gymnastics/USAIGC-certified coachesteaching kitchen/cookingSTEAMlending library (7,000-8,000 volumes) with dedicated librarianLiving Science (monthly animal expert visits)weekly yoga.