At a Glance
A Small, Progressive Elementary School Where Every Child Gets Real Attention
Families on the Upper West Side looking for a small, progressive elementary school where children are known as individuals. Ideal for parents who prioritize diversity, social-emotional development, and hands-on learning over traditional academic rigor — and who want a genuinely intimate school community.
- Tiny class sizes with a 5.8:1 student-teacher ratio — among the lowest in the city
- Progressive, nonsectarian philosophy with emphasis on social-emotional learning
- Meaningful diversity for the Upper West Side — nearly half students of color
- Pre-k through 5th grade all under one roof — easy transition for growing families
- Upper West Side location in one of NYC's most family-friendly neighborhoods
- Private school tuition is a significant investment — you'll want to confirm current costs
- The school is small by design, which means limited slots and potentially a selective admissions process
- Safety scores in the neighborhood are lower than average (24/100), though this reflects crime statistics rather than the school itself
- As a progressive school, the academic approach is less traditional — if you want a rigorous, structured curriculum, this may not be the fit
A small, nonsectarian progressive school serving pre-k through 5th grade on the Upper West Side, with an unusually low student-teacher ratio that creates genuinely personal attention for each child.
The student body is notably diverse for the Upper West Side, with about 45% students of color and a diversity index of 0.73 — meaningfully more diverse than many nearby private schools that skew heavily white.
Calhoun sits in the heart of the Upper West Side, a neighborhood synonymous with family life in Manhattan — tree-lined streets, Riverside Park nearby, and every amenity a family could need within walking distance. The area has a family density score of 98 out of 100.
Extremely walkable with excellent transit access — you can likely get here without a car, and the neighborhood is loaded with restaurants, shops, and parks.
Notable Programs
What Parents Are Saying
Parents describe Calhoun as inclusive with individualized learning, diverse student population, caring community, and great teachers. Multiple reviews praise the progressive approach, academic rigor through experiential learning, and strong sense of community. Most parents highly recommend the school.
Synthesized from public parent reviews · Apr 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is CALHOUN SCHOOL a good school?
- Published quality ratings aren't available for CALHOUN SCHOOL yet on Motley. It's a private school serving grades Pre-K to 5 in Upper West Side (Central).
- What grades does CALHOUN SCHOOL serve?
- CALHOUN SCHOOL serves grades Pre-K to 5.
- How do students get into CALHOUN SCHOOL?
- CALHOUN SCHOOL runs its own private admissions process — typically an application, a visit, and sometimes testing.
- Is CALHOUN SCHOOL public, charter, or private?
- CALHOUN SCHOOL is a private school.
- What neighborhood is CALHOUN SCHOOL in?
- CALHOUN SCHOOL is in Upper West Side (Central), Manhattan.
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