Officials at the elite Dalton School sent students home early yesterday after a classmate jumped to his death, officials said.
The 17-year-old junior apparently leapt through a window of the empty 11th-floor dance studio and landed on the sidewalk below.
The 11 a.m. tragedy was witnessed by a group of fourth-graders playing on East 89th Street, which had been closed for their recess.
School security guards quickly ushered the students inside.
The teen’s mother – who lives just a few blocks away – rushed to the scene and broke down.
The student did not leave a note, police sources said, but investigators believed it was a suicide.
“The Dalton School community is deeply saddened by today’s tragedy, which involved the death of a beloved 11th-grade student,” the school said in a statement. “Our thoughts and sympathies go out to the family.”
The student was an athlete who played on the school’s football, basketball and track teams, as well as competing on the wrestling team. He was also a member of the school’s Math Olympiad team and received a silver maxima cum laude award in the 2007 National Latin exams.
Some students said the teen had been noticeably depressed recently.
“He has been very depressed. People were talking about him having a breakdown last week,” said one student, who asked not to be identified.
The boy’s younger brother also attends the prestigious school.