Wealthy NYC private schools take advantage of state-aid to pay teachers

A previously obscure New York state subsidy for private schools is growing quickly and a handful of the city’s wealthiest institutions are cashing in.

The program, which reimburses private schools for the salaries of math, science and technology teachers, started out with $5 million in state funding in 2017, and is poised to receive $55 million this year under the budget proposal released last week by Gov. Hochul.

Several wealthy New York City private schools, thought to have millions of dollars in their bank accounts, have taken advantage of the subsidy, the Daily News reported. 

The second-largest single recipient of state funds during the 2018-19 school year was Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School, which is an Upper West Side school that charges nearly $57,000 a year for tuition, with reported more than $40 million in the bank in June 2020.  The school collected $333,000 from the state to cover teacher salaries.

Packer Collegiate, an elite Brooklyn private school with an annual fee in excess of $50,000 and savings that exceeded $26 million in June 2020 according to financial filings, took in $110,000 from the state handout.

This has raised issues for some lawmakers and education watchdogs, who questioned whether subsidizing wealthy private schools is the best use of public funds.

“For the State of New York to subsidize these private schools charging $50,000 to $60,000 to go to school, I say no to that,” said state Sen. Robert Jackson (D-Manhattan), a longtime education advocate who’s fought to increase state funding to public schools. “That money could be used better at schools in our city and state where kids need it the most.”

Jackson acknowledged, however, that state funding for private schools amounts to not a “whole lot of money” compared with the more than $31 billion Hochul plans to spend overall on education next year.

Madia Coleman, a Hochul spokeswoman, said the governor is “committed to ensuring a quality education for every student, and the vast majority of state education aid goes to public schools. Access to STEM education is integral to the growth of our state and economy, and this grant program has grown, which is why Gov. Hochul is proposing to expand funding to meet the program demand and ensure the state can reach more student.”

Representatives from Columbia Prep and Packer Collegiate did not respond to requests for comment.