Calhoun School

Calhoun School

Private Pre-K, Elementary, Middle, High School | Grade Pre-K-12
433 W End Ave,  New York, NY
Upper West Side Neighborhood
4.5
3.9
730 Students
A+
Niche Grade
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.

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+
Academics
A
Teachers
A
College Prep
A+
Resources/Facilities
A
Clubs and Activities
B
Sports
Source: Niche
Niche Grades

Niche grades and rankings are calculated using dozens of public data sets and millions of reviews. Niche data scientists and user researchers rigorously analyze data and user opinions to assess the key aspects of K-12 Schools, Colleges, and Places to Live. Every month, millions of students and families use the Niche grades and report cards to find the right school or neighborhood.

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
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
Source: Niche

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 39 Students
Syracuse University 39 Students
Skidmore College 36 Students
Wesleyan University 32 Students
University of Miami 29 Students
Tulane University 29 Students
Brown University 28 Students
Northeastern University 24 Students
Tufts University 24 Students

What Students Want to Study

Niche users from this school are most interested in the following majors.
Psychology 47 Students
Business 37 Students
Biology 23 Students
Film and Video Studies 23 Students
English 21 Students
Political Science and Government 20 Students
Communications 19 Students
Marketing 16 Students
History 16 Students
Journalism 15 Students

This School’s Reviews

Niche Reviews
4.5 45 Reviews
5.0 Parent
9/28/2025
Things we appreciate most about Calhoun Lower School: The socio economic and cultural diversity of student body, Teachers, Admin and Staff. Willingness and ease by staff and Admin for accommodations. Our son has T1D. The school has been magnificent at incorporating nurse and parent involvement while managing. The message of kindness and individuality is important. Teachers and staff make an effort to know the names and something distinctive about all the students. There is a wonderful sense of community as a result and, in general, a great sense of respect between teachers and students. I don't think I've ever heard a teacher or administrator say, "we can't do that" in terms of what a student or parent wants or wants to know. We hear them say, "let's see how we can make this happen." Senior Administrators are ALWAYS willing to meet and answer questions / concerns. Amazing college prep and Parent Association from our experience thus far. We're very happy at Calhoun.
4.0 Sophomore
5/8/2023
good school for the most part. The people can get on your nerves but maybe i've just been there for too long.
5.0 Parent
11/20/2020
My daughter just started middle school in the middle of a pandemic and she loves it. She enjoys her classes, teachers and is getting to know her classmates. The kids are being taught and challenged and don't know it. They are engaged in their learning.
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GreatSchools Reviews
3.9 34 Reviews
5.0 student
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...
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1.0 parent
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...
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5.0 parent
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...
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5.0 parent
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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New York New York County New York 10024 Upper West Side
Calhoun School

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 3.63. Average standardized test scores include an SAT score of 1300 and an ACT score of 27. The average home value in this area is $1,841,453. 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.

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Living New York
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