There is no school in New York City like The Cathedral School.
With the greenery, gardens, and artwork of a miniature Central Park, The Cathedral School is a surprising oasis in Manhattan. Within the lush and peaceful acres of our Morningside Heights campus, home to three iconic peacocks, we cultivate our students’ natural curiosity into a passion for lifelong learning. We believe in a vigorous academic program that blends innovation and tradition, from the 3rd grade’s sophisticated STEAM projects to the robust Latin program in our Upper School. From kindergarten through 8th Grade, our wholehearted faculty challenge and support Cathedral students as they develop into inventive thinkers, discerning scholars, and culturally responsive leaders.
While maintaining the classic beauty of our Collegiate Gothic-style building, our learning spaces have expanded to meet the modern needs of our scholastic community. Our Expansion Project, completed in 2019, provided 12,000 square feet of new and renovated spaces for research and collaboration, including an Innovation Lab and a natural light-filled Library and Media Center. This beneficial additional footage allowed the school to continue to safely operate in person, with appropriate social distance, throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Originating as an Episcopal choir school for boys, today’s Cathedral School maintains its partnership with The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine while actively welcoming children of all genders and all faiths. We honor each child in our community as a whole person, with respect for their individuality and worth. As many institutions grapple with quickly shifting their culture, pedagogy, and curriculum to meet a deepened call for civil rights and the dismantling of inequity, Cathedral is a school that knows this work intimately and authentically. Our community has historically welcomed a variety of races, religions, and socio-economic statuses, and as such, Cathedral is a leader and model for independent schools in one of the most diverse cities in the nation.
For our students, participation in our nationally-known Identity Curriculum allows them to recognize and respect identities, cultures, and the wonder of human diversity. Cathedral students develop the empathy and courage needed to analyze societal structures and become responsible and informed citizens. Upper School students build leadership skills, giving them conviction and deep reserves of resilience to use as they enter their high school years. As secondary schools and higher education institutions amplify their interest in students who have a firm understanding of self-identity and respect for others, Cathedral graduates stand out. At every level, their Cathedral foundation shines through.
I thank you for taking the time to learn more about our tremendous school. You can take a virtual tour, watch videos highlighting our vibrant and diverse community, and take a close look at daily academic life through our curriculum guide. A family chooses Cathedral as the place where their child will be honored and truly known, and I invite you to know the wonder of a Cathedral School experience.