From its beginnings in 1896 as an all-girls academy, Calhoun has evolved into one of the heavy hitters on Manhattan’s independent education landscape and is considered a crown jewel of the Upper West Side.
With approximately 750 students in grades kindergarten through 12, the school self-reports a very low student-to-teacher ratio. Calhoun School operates on an open classroom principle, with interior spaces rearranged at will, and classes offered in STEM, language arts, media and social studies.
Upper grades require three years of world language instruction in French, Spanish or Mandarin. Thanks to the small class sizes, lessons are discussion-based.
Calhoun’s travertine-and-glass main building, originally designed as a four-story structure by Cyprian architect Costas Machlouzarides, but since expanded to nine floors, is famously known as the “TV school” for its distinctive shape.
Preschoolers through third grade students are educated in a renovated townhouse six blocks away, which is home to two theaters, a gym, and a rooftop garden. The main building is Calhoun’s main attraction, packed with amenities such as a performing arts center, three science labs, an art studio, a full-size gym and “green roof” learning center.
Calhoun offers a popular performing arts series, open to the public that includes concerts, dance, documentary films and lectures. A full roster of interscholastic athletics has fielded several dominant teams, with the girls' volleyball program winning ten straight New York City Athletic League tournament titles.
Calhoun School
Private Pre-K, Elementary, Middle, High School
|
Grade Pre-K-12
433 W End Ave,
New York, NY
730
Students
A+
School Details
Head of School
Steve Solnick
Student Teacher Ratio
6:1
Average SAT Score
1300
Average ACT Score
27
Average GPA
3.63
Annual Tuition
$63,500
Niche Grade
A+
A-
A-
A
A-
B
Source: Niche
Niche Grade Details
Academics
Average GPA
3.63
Teachers
Student Teacher Ratio
6:1
Teachers
108
Full Time Teachers
98
Part Time Teachers
10
College Prep
Average SAT
1300
Math
640
Verbal
660
Average ACT
27
Math
24
English
28
Reading
29
Science
26
Four-Year Matriculation Rate
100%
GreatSchools Rating Details
Student Diversity
Female
51.5%
Male
48.5%
White
61.3%
Two or more races
18.9%
Black
8.4%
Hispanic
6%
Asian or Pacific Islander
5.3%
Interested in learning more about homes nearby? Reach out to Armene Abbattista, an agent with experience near this school.
School Rankings
#30
Best HS for the Arts in New York
#52
Best Private K12 Schools in New York
#73
Best Private HS in New York
Specialty School Programs
Athletics Program
Colleges Students are Considering
Students are most interested in or go on to attend these colleges.
New York University
50 Students
Boston University
37 Students
Skidmore College
33 Students
Wesleyan University
29 Students
Syracuse University
27 Students
Tulane University
27 Students
University of Miami
26 Students
Brown University
24 Students
Northeastern University
22 Students
Tufts University
21 Students
What Students Want to Study
Niche users from this school are most interested in the following majors.
Psychology
44 Students
Business
35 Students
Biology
23 Students
Film and Video Studies
20 Students
Political Science and Government
19 Students
English
19 Students
Communications
17 Students
History
15 Students
Marketing
14 Students
Journalism
14 Students
This School’s Reviews
Niche Reviews
10/5/2021
My son started at Calhoun in the middle of the Pandemic and made a seamless transition. The entire team of teachers and staff welcomed him and the kids immediately welcomed him into many friend groups. It's a wonderful environment and he loves going and learning every single day. I want to go back to school just to go to Calhoun!
4/29/2021
I have had a wonderful academic experience at Calhoun. I have learned so much through my teachers and the curricula they develop. If I have any questions or concerns I know I can reach out and ask for help. Socially, my experience at Calhoun has not been great. It is a small school and I have not gotten along with most of the students. My teachers have supported me through these social challenges, though.
12/30/2020
Calhoun is a progressive school that works very closely with its students to develop their strengths and make eager learners. It is a school that varies in difficulty depending on the student.
GreatSchools Reviews
11/27/2024
I have been at Calhoun for almost 11 years. The teachers are great. They care a lot about whether the students understand the material rather than just whether they pass. Since Calhoun is so small, the community is very close and care for each other. On the other hand, Calhoun's diversity needs to i...
3/12/2024
Despite its location and high fees, Calhoun disappointingly underperforms in crucial areas such as academic rigor, diversity, and extracurricular offerings. The curriculum feels outdated and fails to challenge students intellectually, lacking in modern pedagogical techniques that foster critical thi...
9/26/2023
Our family has had an amazing experience at Calhoun. Our daughter has been here for six years, and is now entering middle school. We have seen firsthand how our daughter has been met, nurtured and challenged to grow in a vibrant, engaging environment. The cross-curricular approach and the environmen...
11/20/2022
Coming out of preschool, we applied to 15 independent schools. If I knew now what I knew then, we would have only applied to Calhoun. We have consistently received constructive feedback during our parent-teacher conferences, and we feel that the teachers/administrators/staff and our family have a pa...
Agents Specializing Near This School
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Armene Abbattista
Armene Abbattista
Keller Williams Prosperity Realty
(862) 881-4487
123 Total Sales
1 Near This School
$700,000 Price
-
Corey Jones
Corey Jones
COLDWELL BANKER RESIDENTIAL BROKERAGE
(908) 680-0076
106 Total Sales
1 Near This School
$725,000 Price
-
FRANCINE Lauri
FRANCINE Lauri
CORCORAN SAWYER SMITH
(862) 298-5313
53 Total Sales
1 Near This School
$715,000 Price
-
Alexander Mecum
Alexander Mecum
Compass
(866) 986-7954
2 Total Sales
1 Near This School
$586,000 Price
-
Eugenia Foxworth
Eugenia Foxworth
Foxworth Realty Inc
(888) 308-2429
18 Total Sales
1 Near This School
$249,000 Price
-
Christopher Connor
Christopher Connor
Compass
(551) 213-6697
25 Total Sales
21 Near This School
$190K - $2.8M Price Range
Map
About Upper West Side
List Price Range
$469K - $14.5M
Homes For Sale
549
Average Home Value
$1,746,173
Median Lot Size
1,742 Sq Ft
% Renters
64%
Household Income
$160,420
% of College Grads
81.4%
Median Age
47
Average House Size
2,724 Sq Ft
% Commercial Property
87.5%
Homes for Sale
Homes for Rent
-
-
$5,500 per month
- 3 Beds
- 2 Baths
- 81 Jefferson St
- Unit 2
- Hoboken, NJ
Charming 3-Bedroom Rental in Prime Hoboken Location?Min 1 - 2 year lease requested. Located on a picturesque, tree-lined street in the heart of Hoboken, this spacious second-floor unit is part of a beautifully maintained brick building that blends classic curb appeal with modern comfort.Inside, you'...
Edwin KalinkaKELLER WILLIAMS METROPOLITAN(973) 670-8338 -
Additional Schools in the Area
Public Schools shown may be Choice Schools
Choice Schools
Choice schools may not serve this home. Please check the school district website to see all schools serving this home.
Parks in this Area
St Gregory's Playground
- Basketball
- Playground
Riverside Park
W 87th Street Park & Garden
- Picnic Area
- Playground
Tecumseh Playground
- Basketball
- Picnic Area
- Soccer
Straus Park
- Trails
Playground Eighty Nine LXXXIX
- Playground
Sol Bloom Playground
- Basketball
- Picnic Area
- Playground
Central Park
Theodore Roosevelt Park
- Dog Park
- Picnic Area
- Trails
Additional Neighborhoods in this Area
Manhattan Valley
Rehabbed lowrises and prewar buildings with Central Park next door
Morningside Heights
NYC's college town with condos and historic homes
Upper East Side
Stately architecture and world-class museums near Central Park
Lincoln Square
Convenient cosmopolitan living rich with culture
Carnegie Hill
Quiet streets, Central Park adjacent and old-school local businesses
Metropolitan Hill
An Upper East Side neighborhood named for its world-famous museum