Special Music School

Special Music School is a highly selective K-12 public school in Manhattan, renowned for its unique integration of rigorous academics with world-class, pre-professional music training. Operating as a partnership between the Kaufman Music Center, which funds the extensive music program, and the NYC Department of Education, the school offers free private lessons with professional musicians, alongside a comprehensive curriculum in music theory, history, technology, and performance. Students consistently achieve exceptional academic results, with ELA and Math proficiency rates at 100%, well above citywide medians, and 100% of students participating in accelerated coursework. The high school boasts a 100% graduation rate and a college enrollment rate significantly above the city median. Parents and students describe a supportive, close-knit community with caring teachers and a strong sense of safety. While the K-8 division is located at the Kaufman Music Center, the high school is housed in the Martin Luther King, Jr. Educational Complex, near Lincoln Center. Parents note that some high school classrooms are on a lower floor without windows. Parents praise the dedicated teachers and the school's ability to foster both academic and musical excellence, though some older feedback noted concerns about administrative communication.