Special Music School (SMS)

Special Music School (SMS, PS 859) is New York City's only K–12 public school that teaches music as a core subject — and it's completely free. Run as a partnership between Kaufman Music Center and the NYC Department of Education, SMS offers serious young musicians a full academic education alongside intensive, pre-professional music training, all within the regular school day.

The school was founded in 1996, with the high school program added in 2013, making SMS the first and only K–12 public school in the nation offering pre-professional, performance-focused music studies integrated into a full academic curriculum. The NYC DOE funds the academics; Kaufman Music Center funds the music program through private donations — providing each student with approximately $10,000 worth of music instruction per year at no cost to families.

The music curriculum includes private instrumental lessons and classes in music theory, ear training, Dalcroze Eurhythmics, chorus, and music history. Students have access to over 50 pianos, a state-of-the-art electronic piano studio, the Birnbaum Music Library, and performance spaces including Ann Goodman Recital Hall and Merkin Concert Hall.

SMS draws students from all five boroughs and is highly selective. The K–8 program has very small class sizes — roughly 12 students per grade — while the high school admits 50 students per grade. Admission is by audition; for K–2, no prior musical training is required, but from Grade 3 onward, students must audition on an instrument.