Special Music School (03M859) 
129 West 67 Street, Manhattan, NY 10023, Manhattan
Phone: 212-501-3318
Hours: 8:00am - 3:05pm
School Website: https://www.kaufmanmusiccenter.org/sms/
NYCDOE Website: https://www.myschools.nyc/en/schools/high-school/03M859/
Quality Snapshot: View snapshot
Building Access Profile: View profile
School Leader: Katherine Banucci-Smith (kbanuccismith@schools.nyc.gov)
Parent Coordinator: Lisa Stump (lstump@schools.nyc.gov)
Respect for All Liaison: Patricia Skelly (pskelly@schools.nyc.gov)
Sexual Harassment Prevention Liaison: Patricia Skelly (pskelly@schools.nyc.gov)
504 Coordinator: Patricia Skelly (pskelly@schools.nyc.gov)
504 Coordinator: Liza Dupler (ldupler@schools.nyc.gov)
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About
SMS is a public school for musically gifted students. The school admits 50 students per grade and combines rigorous academics with intensive music study. The school is a partnership between Kaufman Music Center and the NYCDOE. Our mission is to develop students who have the skills, competencies, and knowledge necessary for successful 21st Century music careers. The 21st Century musician can analyze, compose, and perform music at the highest level, has a strong sense of one's own artistic voice, and is fluent in current music technologies. They possess strong academic knowledge, skills, and habits, and is also community-minded, inventive, and resourceful. Special Music School has two campuses. The HS is located at 122 Amsterdam Avenue.
Reports: School Budget | PTA Financials | Room Utilization
Teachers with more than 3 years of experience: 75%
Other Features: Paid Internships, Program(s) with 1 SWD Applicant Per Seat, Program(s) with 3+ GE Applicants Per Seat
School Features:
Audition Offered
School whose primary location is co-located with another school
Guidance Counselors
Upcoming Events
November 6, 2025 @ 10:00 am Special Music School High School Small Group Tour 
- November 13, 2025 @ 10:00 am Special Music School High School Small Group Tour
- November 18, 2025 @ 10:00 am Special Music School High School Small Group Tour
- November 25, 2025 @ 10:00 am Special Music School High School Small Group Tour
- December 2, 2025 @ 10:00 am Special Music School High School Small Group Tour
AP Courses, Languages, Sports, Art
This school is part of a PSAL team comprised of the following schools:
High School for Law, Advocacy and Community Justice (03M492)
High School of Arts and Technology (03M494)
Manhattan / Hunter Science High School (03M541)
Maxine Greene High School for Imaginative Inquiry, The (03M299)
Special Music School (03M859)
Urban Assembly School for Media Studies, The (03M307)
Program Details
Performing Arts
We offer students the opportunity to major in Instrumental Music, Voice, or Composition. Students receive approximately 10 hours of music instruction throughout the week. Professional musicians lead large ensembles, chamber groups, and private study. Students work with visiting artists through master classes. Upperclassmen choose from a variety of interest-based electives including Orchestral Conducting, Entrepreneurship, Recording and Production, Jazz History and Theory.
- (Group 1) Continuing 8th graders
- (Group 2) New York City residents
School Student & Admissions Statistics
Total Offers
This data was gathered from various NYC DOE reports: https://infohub.nyced.org/reports/students-and-schools/school-quality/information-and-data-overview
Survey Summary & Data (2024-25)
Note: Yellow bars indicate city-wide averages for the associated category
Academic Summary & Data (2023-24)
Unknown 10.20%
School Demographics (2024-25)
Female 52.60%
Black 5.60%
Hispanic 16.00%
White 38.60%
Other 19.50%
Other 41.70%
This data was gathered from the NYC DOE's demographic snapshots: https://infohub.nyced.org/reports/students-and-schools/school-quality/information-and-data-overview
IEP Statistics (2023-24)
This data was gathered from the NYC DOE's yearly quality reports: https://infohub.nyced.org/reports/students-and-schools/school-quality/school-quality-reports-and-resources
Special Education Programs & Services (2024-25)
| Program | Fully Receiving | Partially Receiving | Not Receiving |
| Integrated Co-Teaching Services | <=5 (?) | 24 (92%) | <=5 (?) |
| SETSS | <=5 (?) | <=5 (?) | 0 (0%) |
| Service | Fully Receiving | Partially Receiving | Not Receiving |
| Counseling Services | >5 (96%) | N/A (N/A) | <=5 (4%) |
| Hearing Education Services | <=5 (100%) | N/A (N/A) | 0 (0%) |
| Occupational Therapy | <=5 (100%) | N/A (N/A) | 0 (0%) |
| Speech-Language Therapy | 12 (100%) | N/A (N/A) | 0 (0%) |
| Transportation | Number Receiving |
| Curb to School | <=5 (100%) |
| Stop to School | 0 (0%) |
| Unassigned | 0 (0%) |
This data was gathered from the NYC DOE's Special Education Reports: https://infohub.nyced.org/reports/government-reports/special-education-reports