Best New York Private Schools Belonging to Membership Associations (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 1,136 private schools belonging to membership associations in New York.

The most popular school membership associations are National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) (28% of schools), Other school association(s) (14% of schools) and National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) (13% of schools).

Green Meadow Waldorf School Photo - Green Meadow`s middle school academic curriculum engages the budding capacities and immense curiosity of the young teenager. Through practical interdisciplinary experiences, age appropriate challenges, and meaningful social interactions, students thrive academically and emotionally. Every day, students take part in immersive, explorative inquiry, broadening and deepening their understanding of the world.

Saint Therese Classical Academy and Chesterton Academy Photo - Practicing for our winter Gala! Saint Therese and Sister Pierre

BASIS Independent Manhattan Photo - Our Upper School campus accommodates grades 6 to 12, while students in PreK to grade 5 attend our campus on the Upper West Side.

Buckley Country Day School Photo - Buckley Country Day School is a private, mission-driven, independent co-educational day school, serving 323 children in grades toddler through eight. The school provides a superior elementary education to an intellectually capable and diverse student body in a dynamic learning community.

British International School Of Ny Photo - More than a school; it's an education.We look forward to welcoming you.

Friends Academy Photo - Middle School Orchestra

Fusion Academy Brooklyn Photo - Classes at Fusion are one-to-one: one student and one teacher per classroom. Students have different teachers for different subjects, and teachers act as mentors in the one-to-one setting.

Battery Park Montessori, A Green Ivy International School Photo - Our small student-teacher ratios provide rich opportunities for personalized learning and one-one-one support from Montessori-certified teachers with years of experience in child development.

Fusion Academy Westchester Photo - Classes at Fusion are one-to-one: one student and one teacher per classroom. Students have different teachers for different subjects, and teachers act as mentors in the one-to-one setting.

Great Oaks Elementary School Photo - Cooking Classes

The Knox School Photo - One of four elite sports programs on campus, Knox Crew is a year-round competitive sport, with training on the water from our campus shoreline and in our indoor rowing facility.

Fusion Academy Long Island Photo - Classes at Fusion are one-to-one: one student and one teacher per classroom. Students have different teachers for different subjects, and teachers act as mentors in the one-to-one setting.

Buffalo Seminary Photo - Our 5- and 7-day boarding programs offer the opportunity to live in historic homes led by faculty members in family-style living.

A Fantis School Photo - Students enjoy rooftop playground twice each day.

Fusion Academy Upper West Side Photo - Classes at Fusion are one-to-one: one student and one teacher per classroom. Students have different teachers for different subjects, and teachers act as mentors in the one-to-one setting.

Vincent Smith School Photo - Learning never stops, even between class periods

Top-Ranked New York Private Schools by Membership Association (2026)

Membership Association

# Schools

# Students

% Minority

AdvancED, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Council on Accreditation and School Improvement

879

59%

Accelerated Christian Education (ACE) or (School of Tomorrow)

913

60%

Agudath Israel of America

1,493

Alabama Association of Independent Schools (AAIS)

100%

Alternative School Network

978

36%

American Association of Christian Schools (AACS)

1,973

32%

American Montessori Society (AMS)

6,308

36%

Association Montessori International (AMI)

530

51%

Association Montessori Internationale (AMI)

107

12%

Association of Baptist Christian Schools (ABCS)

318

Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI)

6,997

48%

Association of Christian Teachers and Schools (ACTS)

567

73%

Association of Classical and Christian Schools (ACCS)

626

31%

Association of Colorado Independent Schools (ACIS)

318

Association of LD Schools (ALDS)

143

40%

Association of Military Colleges and Schools

56%

Association of Waldorf Schools of North America

1,650

23%

Bilingual School Association

326

46%

Children and Adults with Attention Deficit or Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD)

143

40%

Christian Schools International (CSI)

407

23%

Cognia

5,696

41%

Council of Bilingual Education

842

75%

Educational Records Bureau

1,208

49%

European Council for International Schools

551

50%

Evangelical Lutheran Education Association (ELEA)

554

62%

Friends Council on Education (FCE)

1,683

26%

General Conference of the Seventh Day Adventist Church (GCSDAC)

1,081

96%

Institute for Independent Education

3,006

36%

International Baccalaureate (IB) World School

5,730

21%

International Boys Schools Coalition

1,354

31%

International Montessori Council (IMC)

Islamic School League of America (ISLA)

1,780

64%

Jesuit Secondary Education Association (JSEA)

3,943

32%

Learning Disabilities Association of America (LDA)

205

35%

Mercy Secondary Education Association (MSEA)

257

11%

Mid Atlantic Christian Schools Association (MACSA)

97%

Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools

33,782

39%

MSA-CESS Middle States Association Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools

2,993

19%

National Alliance of Christian Schools

National Association for the Education of Young Children

10,852

51%

National Association of Bilingual Education

National Association of College Admissions Counselors

908

38%

National Association of Episcopal Schools (NAES)

5,263

33%

National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS)

153

64,357

32%

National Association of Private Catholic and Independent Schools (NAPCIS)

187

National Association of Private Schools

National Association of Private Special Education Centers

1,470

66%

National Association of Secondary School Principals

351

39%

National Catholic Education Association

2,112

39%

National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA)

321

108,452

41%

National Christian School Association (NCSA)

2,824

71%

National Coalition of Alternative Community Schools

102

18%

National Coalition of Girls

4,366

27%

National Council for Private School Accreditation

160

National Honor Society (NHS)

733

11%

National Independent Private Schools Association

1,944

50%

National Junior Honor Society (NJHS)

377

43%

National Lutheran Schools Accreditation

644

22%

National Society of Hebrew Day Schools (NSHDS)

102

40,012

12%

Network for Mercy Education

297

89%

New England Association of Schools and Colleges

2,657

49%

New York State Association of Independent Schools (NYSAIS)

141

49,037

34%

Orton Gillingham Academy of Practioners and Educators

397

Other associations(s) for exceptional children

5,680

50%

Other Montessori association(s)

1,766

32%

Other religious school association(s)

126

35,088

40%

Other school association(s)

158

48,077

44%

Other special emphasis association(s)

4,810

59%

Prizmah: Center for Jewish Day Schools

1,729

Solomon Schechter Day Schools (SSDS)

2,051

Southern Association Of Colleges And Schools (SACS)

333

16%

Southern Baptist Association of Christian Schools (SBACS)

5,001

State or regional independent school association

12,452

29%

The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS)

3,392

37%

The French school system abroad (AEFE)

748

The Jewish Community Day School Association (SSDSA)

3,856

15%

Waldorf Early Childhood Association of North America

393

Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)

25%

Xaverian Brothers School Sponsorship

315

100%

Recent Articles

January 30, 2026

How Global Economic Trends Shape Private School Affordability

Explore how global economic trends influence private school affordability and enrollment in 2026, with insights for families and educators.

January 29, 2026

Parent Engagement in Private Schools in 2026

Explore how parent engagement in private schools builds strong communities, support networks, and student success in 2026.

January 29, 2026

So Many Choices: Navigating Private School Selection in 2026

A 2026 parent guide to choosing the right private school, with updated admissions timelines, tuition trends, affordability strategies, and expert insights.

Quick Links

SCHOOL SEARCH TOOLS:

SCHOOL BY TYPE (NY):

OPEN-HOUSES & JOBS:

Open houses in New York (67)

PUBLIC & BOARDING SCHOOLS:

PRIVATE SCHOOL DATA:

Most Popular Articles

How to Start a Private School in 2025: A Complete Guide

Boarding or Day School?

New York Private Schools By Tuition Cost

Free Private Schools & Voucher Programs in 2025

Overview of State Voucher Programs in the United States

Premier School Models
Excellence in School Security
Advanced Learning Frameworks
The Journey to Enrollment
Well-Rounded Achievements

Best New York Private Schools Belonging to Membership Associations (2026)

Top-Ranked New York Private Schools by Membership Association (2026)

More Articles