German-American School Manhattan - Elementary School vs La Scuola d'Italia
German-American School Manhattan - Elementary School and La Scuola d'Italia are both in New York, about 9 km apart. Both schools offer IB and Bespoke programmes. German-American School Manhattan - Elementary School also offers American and German, and La Scuola d'Italia also offers Cambridge IGCSE. Published annual fees are $32,500 - 42,500 at German-American School Manhattan - Elementary School and $28,765 - 37,585 at La Scuola d'Italia, which puts German-American School Manhattan - Elementary School roughly 13% higher. German-American School Manhattan - Elementary School takes pupils from 2 to 11, and La Scuola d'Italia from 3 to 18. Typical class sizes are 12 at German-American School Manhattan - Elementary School and 15 at La Scuola d'Italia.
IB (PYP), American Curriculum, Bespoke Curriculum, German Curriculum
Curriculum
IB (DP), Bespoke Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE
Pupils
Pupils
—
Pupils
142
Typical class size
Typical class size
12
Typical class size
15
Instruction language
Instruction language
German, English
Instruction language
Italian, English
Opened
Opened
2018
Opened
—
Bus service
Bus service
No
Bus service
No
Essentials
Essentials
Location
Location
German-American School Manhattan operates two Tribeca campuses: GSM Kita Preschool & Kindergarten at 85 Warren Street and GSM Dual Immersion Elementary School at 74 Warren Street. It is described as a Premier Tribeca Location with access via most subway lines. The Kita campus is at 85 Warren St and the Elementary campus is at 74 Warren St, New York, NY 10007.
Location
12 E 96th Street, New York, NY 10128, United States. The school is located in New York City.
Stages
Stages
The program serves children from age 2 through 5th grade. GSM Kita Preschool & Kindergarten serves ages 3–5 (2 years German immersion) and GSM Dual Immersion Elementary School serves Grades 1–5.
Stages
Preschool; Primary School; Middle School; High School (Liceo Scientifico).
School type
School type
Bilingual IB World School (Preschool and Lower School) in Manhattan.
School type
The school is a Scuola Paritaria (a fully accredited Italian school recognized by the Italian Ministry of Education).
Pupil nationality mix
Pupil nationality mix
—
Pupil nationality mix
—
Additional learning support
Additional learning support
Subjects are taught in German and English by native speakers; teachers address each child's individual needs with attention to language level and developmental skills.
Additional learning support
—
Country affiliation
Country affiliation
—
Country affiliation
Italy
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation
—
Religious affiliation
—
School day structure
School day structure
—
School day structure
—
Bus service details
Bus service details
—
Bus service details
—
Fees
Fees
Fee details
Fee details
Application fee
- Application fee: USD 200 (one-time, required with application).
Tuition fees (school year 2025/26)
- Preschool & Pre-K (full program): USD 35,500 per year. - Preschool — half day or 3 days/week option: USD 32,500 per year. - Elementary (Grades K–5): USD 42,500 per year.
Note: The school's published figures are given as annual tuition amounts for the 2025/26 school year; no published per-term (semester/quarter) breakdown of those exact amounts is available. Families are required to sign the school contract and pay a first installment to reserve a spot.
Billing schedule and payment terms
- A signed school contract and payment of the first installment are required to reserve a place after acceptance. Acceptance notices begin to be sent December 1 and enrollment is secured once the contract and first installment are received. - No detailed published schedule for remaining installments, due dates, late fees, or tuition refund deadlines is available in the published materials for the 2025/26 school year.
Boarding fees
- Boarding fees: Not applicable. The school operates GSM Kita Preschool & Kindergarten and a Dual Immersion Elementary School (Preschool through Grade 5) at day-school locations in Manhattan; no boarding program or boarding fees are published.
Other costs and fees
- After‑school care and camp programs are offered, but specific fees for after‑school care, camps, extended day, or extracurricular programs are not published. - Uniform fees: No published uniform requirement or uniform fee is listed. - Typical ancillary charges such as lunch/meals, classroom materials, field trips, technology fees, instrument or supply fees, or activity fees are not itemized in the published fee information. - Financial assistance: Financial aid is offered to qualifying families through SSS (School and Student Services).
Refund information
- No published refund policy for deposits, first installments, or tuition refunds appears in the school's published 2025/26 tuition materials. The only published procedural detail is that families sign a contract and pay a first installment to reserve a spot.
Fee payment options
- Specific payment methods (credit card, ACH/bank transfer, online payment portal, or checks) are not itemized in the published tuition materials. The main office contact details are provided for billing or admissions inquiries: phone (646) 869-1152 and info@germanschoolmanhattan.org.
Brief summary of findings and gaps in published information
- Published, load-bearing figures are: USD 200 application fee and annual tuition amounts for 2025/26 (Preschool & Pre-K USD 35,500; Preschool half day 3 days/week USD 32,500; Elementary K–5 USD 42,500). - The published materials confirm that a signed contract and a first installment are required to reserve an offered place, and that financial aid is available through SSS. - The published materials do not provide a full per-term instalment schedule, itemized charges for ancillary services (meals, materials, uniforms, trips), payment-method options, detailed refund policy language, or any boarding fees (the school is a day school). These items are not published in the 2025/26 tuition materials.
(For billing or contract specifics not published above, contact the school's admissions/finance office at the provided phone number or email for the authoritative contract and payment schedule.)
Fee details
Application / Registration Fees
- Registration fee (one-time at enrollment, full-time students): USD 2,000. - Registration fee (temporary or part-time monthly enrolments): USD 200. - Parent Association (PA) dues: USD 100 per year (parents are members upon registration; opt-out of the yearly fee is noted in school policy).
Tuition fees — full-time (annual) by division / year group
- Preschool (PreK3 to Kindergarten) — Yearly tuition: USD 28,665. - Primary School (Grades 1–5) — Yearly tuition: USD 31,972. - Middle School (Grades 6–8) — Yearly tuition: USD 37,485. - High School (Grades 9–12) — Yearly tuition: USD 37,485.
Tuition fees — part-time / temporary and monthly rates
- Part‑time Preschool (PreK3 & PreK4, Mon–Fri 8:25 am–11:45 am) — Annual: USD 15,435. - Temporary / monthly tuition (enrolments billed monthly): - Preschool (PreK3–K): USD 3,307 per month. - Primary (G1–G5): USD 3,858 per month. - Middle School (G6–G8): USD 3,960 per month. - High School (G9–G12): USD 3,960 per month. - Part‑time monthly Preschool rate (Mon–Fri 8:25 am–11:45 am): USD 1,984 per month.
Billing schedule and payment terms
- The published tuition schedule gives annual and monthly (temporary/enrolment) amounts but does not specify a public per‑term billing breakdown, installment dates, or detailed payment-terms language in the available tuition schedule document. Re‑registration is required annually; families receive re‑registration materials in spring as part of the administrative process.
Boarding / Residence
- Boarding is not applicable. La Scuola d'Italia is a day school (published division hours and daily schedules are provided for PreK–12).
Other costs and common additional fees
- Parent Association dues: USD 100 per year (see Registration / PA Dues above). - After‑school activities and enrichment programs require separate payment; a detailed breakdown of after‑school fees is provided at program registration. - Uniform: a school uniform is required daily; the handbook describes uniform components and compliance expectations but does not list set prices for uniform items. Families should budget separately for uniforms and any replacement items. - Field trips, extracurriculars, tutoring, and special events: these commonly incur additional charges and are billed separately when applicable (the handbook and program registrations describe that such activities require separate payment).
Refund information
- No explicit public refund schedule or detailed refund policy for tuition (withdrawals, mid‑year departures, or cancellations) is stated in the published tuition schedule or in the 2025–26 Student and Family Handbook.
Fee payment options and administrative contacts
- Published materials do not list a public menu of accepted payment methods (credit card, bank transfer, check, etc.). The school's Business and Admissions contacts are listed for billing or financial questions: Director of Business Administration: Paola Serrone (contact via school administrative office); Admissions office contact information is also published for enrollment procedures.
Brief summary of source coverage
- The figures above use the school's published tuition schedule and the 2025–26 Student & Family Handbook for division definitions, registration fees, monthly/temporary rates, PA dues, uniform policy, and the after‑school fee statement. The published materials provide annual and monthly rates but do not publish a per‑term breakdown, specific installment dates or payment terms, a detailed tuition refund policy, nor an explicit public list of accepted payment methods; those items are not specified in the available documents.
Diving deeper
Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements
Boarding arrangements
—
Boarding arrangements
—
Uniform requirement
Uniform requirement
—
Uniform requirement
—
Food options
Food options
—
Food options
—
House system
House system
—
House system
—
Governance and ownership
Governance and ownership
—
Governance and ownership
—
Academics
Academics
Curriculum details
Curriculum details
GSM is a bilingual IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) offered for Preschool (2s–4s) through Grade 5, with two campuses at 85 Warren Street (Kita Preschool) and 74 Warren Street (Dual Immersion Elementary). The curriculum blends German grade-level competencies with New York State Education standards and is aligned with IB principles. After establishing a solid bilingual foundation in kindergarten, instruction in grades 1–5 is split evenly between German and English, with native German teachers guiding German reading, writing, math, social studies, and ethics and native English teachers guiding English reading, writing, social studies, science, and math. Art, music, and movement are taught in both languages, and Spanish is introduced in Grade 3. Classes are small (maximum 20 students per class) to support personalized instruction, reflection, independence, and collaboration within an inquiry-based learning framework. The Kita/Preschool program (ages 2–4) uses a bilingual approach to early childhood learning. The school operates across two campuses: Kita Preschool at 85 Warren Street and Dual Immersion Elementary at 74 Warren Street.
Curriculum details
La Scuola d'Italia, Guglielmo Marconi is a fully accredited, bilingual Italian/English PreK-12 private school in Manhattan and a NYSAIS member. The Preschool program is bilingual with half the day in English and half in Italian, and specialist classes including Movement, Atelier and Music, Musical Theater, Spanish, and Mandarin. The Middle School is rooted in a bilingual and bicultural framework with core subjects including English, Italian, Mathematics, Latin, Philosophy, World History, Geography, IT & Design, Individuals & Societies, Physical Education, Music, and Visual Arts, with ENL and INL support. In High School the Liceo Scientifico balances humanities with advanced science and mathematics, and graduates earn the Italian Diploma di Stato, recognized as equivalent to a U.S. high school diploma; students may also pursue the International Baccalaureate Diploma. La Scuola offers a double-diploma structure and a Study Abroad option for Grades 10–12, with a college counselor to support university admissions. The Ernest L. Pellegri La Scuola d'Italia Scholarship is available to applicants entering Grades 8 and 9.
Student teacher ratio
Student teacher ratio
Class sizes are small. Maximum class size is 20 students per the Academics page; another page notes a maximum of 16 with an average of 12.
Student teacher ratio
—
Exam results
Exam results
—
Exam results
—
Higher education progression
Higher education progression
—
Higher education progression
Graduates earn the Italian Diploma di Stato, recognized as equivalent to a U.S. high school diploma. The program offers the option to pursue the International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB DP). From Grades 10–12, international Study Abroad students may join La Scuola, and there is a college counselor to support university admissions. This pathway supports applying to leading universities in the U.S., the U.K., Europe, and beyond.
Gifted and talented
Gifted and talented
—
Gifted and talented
Ernest L. Pellegri La Scuola d'Italia Scholarship is offered to applicants entering Grades 8 and 9.
Academic calendar
Academic calendar
—
Academic calendar
—
Wellbeing & support
Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning
Social & emotional learning
—
Social & emotional learning
—
Special educational needs (SEN)
Special educational needs (SEN)
—
Special educational needs (SEN)
—
English as an additional language
English as an additional language
—
English as an additional language
—
Mental wellbeing
Mental wellbeing
—
Mental wellbeing
—
Safeguarding
Safeguarding
—
Safeguarding
—
Safeguarding policy
Safeguarding policy
—
Safeguarding policy
—
Facilities
Facilities
Facilities overview
Facilities overview
—
Facilities overview
—
Sports facilities
Sports facilities
—
Sports facilities
—
Academic facilities
Academic facilities
—
Academic facilities
—
Extra curricular facilities
Extra curricular facilities
—
Extra curricular facilities
—
Parent experience
Parent experience
History
History
—
History
—
Community
Community
—
Community
—
Parent teacher association
Parent teacher association
—
Parent teacher association
—
Extra-curricular
Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual
Academic & intellectual
—
Academic & intellectual
—
Arts & creative
Arts & creative
—
Arts & creative
—
Cultural & language
Cultural & language
—
Cultural & language
—
Social & hobbies
Social & hobbies
—
Social & hobbies
—
Community & service
Community & service
—
Community & service
—
Leadership & professional
Leadership & professional
—
Leadership & professional
—
Lifestyle & wellbeing
Lifestyle & wellbeing
—
Lifestyle & wellbeing
—
Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
—
Language provision
—
Bilingual teaching
Bilingual teaching
—
Bilingual teaching
—
Immersion programs
Immersion programs
—
Immersion programs
—
Reputation
Reputation
Awards
Awards
—
Awards
—
Accreditations
Accreditations
—
Accreditations
—
Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
1. Apply: Request our application form any time. You will be asked to include the birth certificate, report cards of prior schools and a $200 application fee. Enrollment is rolling for the 2025/26 school year for Preschool through Grade 5.
2. Interviews & Playdates: For Grade 1 or higher, schedule an interview with the child and parent(s)/guardian(s). The interview should be scheduled after submitting the application two days prior. Please request an appointment from the admissions team. Prior knowledge of German is not a prerequisite for admissions K-2; students with strong academic records can be admitted without German language into Grades 3-5. For Preschool or Kindergarten (ages 2-4), open-format playdates are offered; playdates typically occur on Tue/Thu/Fri at 4 PM.
3. Acceptance: Acceptance letters of preferred admissions are sent starting December 1. Families sign the school contract and pay the first installment to reserve a spot (first come first served).
4. Admissions Timetable: For the 2026-27 admissions season, two cycles are used: Early Admissions for siblings and partner-school students; Regular Admissions across all grades. Application Submission Deadline: December 1; Acceptance Notification Date: December 15. Rolling admissions apply for the current year.
5. Current Admissions: We are currently accepting applications for the 2025/26 school year for GSM bilingual Kita Preschool (ages 2-4), GSM bilingual Kindergarten (age 5), and GSM Dual Immersion Elementary School (grades 1-5); interviews are required for the elementary.
6. Open Houses & Tours: In-person open house tours are held at 74 & 85 Warren Streets. Spring tour season includes dates such as 3/5, 3/9, 3/12, 3/26; sign up for open houses online. Virtual Zoom tours are available; community playdates are scheduled on dates such as 3/12, 4/16, 5/14, 6/11; sign up for playdates online.
7. Tuition & Financial Information: Tuition for School Year 2025/26: Preschool & PreK $35,500/year; Preschool half-day 3 days/week $32,500/year; Elementary K-5 $42,500/year. Financial aid is available to qualifying families through SSS.
Admissions
Admissions Process: We're excited to welcome new families to La Scuola d'Italia. The first step is to reach out to our Head of Admissions, Ms. After an initial meeting (held either on campus or virtually) you'll have the opportunity to speak with the appropriate Head of Division (Preschool, Primary, Middle, or High School) and the Head of School. These conversations are a chance for us to learn more about your family's educational goals and for you to ask any questions about our curriculum, student life, community, or transition support. Once you're ready to move forward, the full application process is completed through Ravenna, our admissions platform, which allows you to securely submit required documents and track your progress. Tuition Fees 2025/2026 are published. The 2025-2026 academic year calendar is available for download. We look forward to meeting you and learning more about your family.
Scholarships
Scholarships
GSM offers financial aid to qualifying families through SSS.
Scholarships
School Parity: La Scuola d'Italia is a fully accredited Italian school recognized by the Italian Ministry of Education, offering the same academic structure and quality as the Italian school system. 2024 Financial Report (Bilancio Consuntivo 2024) is available, as required by the Italian Ministry of Education. The yearly approved PTOF (Piano Triennale dell'Offerta Formativa) is accessible. Document May 15, 2025. Scholarships: We offer merit-based scholarships annually. NIAF (National Italian American Foundation) Scholarship. Diversity & Inclusion Scholarship. We look forward to welcoming you to La Scuola d'Italia.