The Special Music School (“SMS”) is a unique public school on the Upper West Side in New York City for K-12 musically gifted students. SMS is run as a partnership with the Department of Education and the Kaufman Music Center, providing both public and private funding for musical studies. SMS can be a great choice for musically inclined students. This article gives an overview of the Special Music School admissions process and also offers an overview of the school itself so students and parents can evaluate if it is a good fit.