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
3.62
Annual Tuition
$63,500
Niche Grade
A+
A
A
A+
A
B
Source: Niche
Niche Grade Details
Academics
Average GPA
3.62
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
53.1%
Male
46.9%
White
54.5%
Hispanic
15.9%
Black
13.5%
Two or more races
9.4%
Asian
6.2%
Native American
<1%
School Rankings
#26
Best HS for the Arts in New York
#48
Best Private K12 Schools in New York
#66
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
55 Students
Boston University
38 Students
Syracuse University
36 Students
Skidmore College
34 Students
University of Miami
30 Students
Wesleyan University
29 Students
Tulane University
28 Students
Brown University
27 Students
Northeastern University
24 Students
American University
22 Students
What Students Want to Study
Niche users from this school are most interested in the following majors.
Psychology
45 Students
Business
34 Students
Biology
24 Students
Film and Video Studies
22 Students
Political Science and Government
19 Students
Communications
19 Students
English
19 Students
Marketing
15 Students
History
15 Students
Journalism
15 Students
This School’s Reviews
Niche Reviews
5/16/2025
We joined Calhoun in 2021 when our son was in kindergarten and our daughter was in 2nd grade. We have grown to love the diverse Calhoun community and more importantly, our kids come home happy everyday.
1/11/2024
I've been going to Calhoun for many many years, and I love it. It's a bright, supportive environment that accepts everyone. There are so many classes you can take, we have everything, from the art of birding to Forensic Science. I can only recommend it.
4/28/2022
I love being at Calhoun. It's culture and inclusiveness is what makes this school unique. I've been at Calhoun since 9th grade. It wasn't easy to make friends but I can definitely say that now in senior year I did make friends that I will continue to speak to throughout college. The teachers are very personable and understanding which is something that other schools lack. Calhoun is a very big culture school. Athletics is something we pride ourselves in and takes part in many of the students lives. Sports has shaped us as people. Calhoun is a school where the kids are open-minded and from the 3's are preparing us how to be independent. Calhoun also does a great job in getting us ready for college.
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...
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$330K - $3M Price Range
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59 Total Sales
1 Near This School
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43 Total Sales
35 Near This School
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Map
Explore this Neighborhood
List Price Range
$495K - $14.8M
Homes For Sale
470
Average Home Value
$1,775,440
Median Lot Size
1,742 Sq Ft
% Renters
64%
Average Household Income
$160,420
% of College Grads
81.4%
Median Age
47
Average House Size
2,668 Sq Ft
% Commercial Property
86.1%
Homes for Sale
$938,000
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- 2 Baths
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Coldwell Banker, Jersey City
(201) 890-5648
$325,000
- 2 Beds
- 1.5 Baths
- 234 Columbia Ave
- Unit 19
- New 19 days ago
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(201) 379-2648
Homes for Rent
$3,200 per month
- 1 Bed
- 1.5 Baths
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Keller Williams Village Square Realty
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$3,150 per month
- 2 Beds
- 2 Baths
- 520 Cliff St
- Unit 215
- Fairview, NJ
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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
Morningside Heights
NYC's college town with condos and historic homes
Calhoun School is a private school for students in grades Pre-K-12 located at 433 W End Ave in New York, NY. Annual tuition is $63,500. The school has a total enrollment of 730 and maintains a student-teacher ratio of 6:1. Calhoun School has received feedback and ratings, with a Niche grade of A+. The average GPA is 3.62. Average standardized test scores include an SAT score of 1300 and an ACT score of 27. The average home value in this area is $1,775,440. Discover additional schools in the area, like Parkside School, Manhattan Star Academy, Dwight School, and more. Learn more about what New York has to offer, and browse homes for sale and for rent near Calhoun School.