Is CARDINAL SPELLMAN HIGH SCHOOL a good school?

Published quality ratings aren't available for CARDINAL SPELLMAN HIGH SCHOOL yet on Motley. It's a private school serving grades 9 to 12 in Eastchester-Edenwald-Baychester.

What grades does CARDINAL SPELLMAN HIGH SCHOOL serve?

CARDINAL SPELLMAN HIGH SCHOOL serves grades 9 to 12.

How do students get into CARDINAL SPELLMAN HIGH SCHOOL?

CARDINAL SPELLMAN HIGH SCHOOL runs its own private admissions process — typically an application, a visit, and sometimes testing.

Is CARDINAL SPELLMAN HIGH SCHOOL public, charter, or private?

CARDINAL SPELLMAN HIGH SCHOOL is a private school.

What neighborhood is CARDINAL SPELLMAN HIGH SCHOOL in?

CARDINAL SPELLMAN HIGH SCHOOL is in Eastchester-Edenwald-Baychester, Bronx.

CARDINAL SPELLMAN HIGH SCHOOL

At a Glance

A large, faith-centered Bronx Catholic prep where 'Follow God' meets college-track rigor

Best suited for

Catholic or faith-oriented families in or near the Bronx who want a college-prep education with explicit spiritual formation, students who thrive in larger school environments with lots of teams and clubs to choose from, and families looking for an AP-rich Catholic high school at a more accessible tuition than many Manhattan or Westchester alternatives.

What stands out

Faith-centered identity built around the 'Sequere Deum' motto, not just a religion requirement
Honors-at-Entrance program that places students into advanced coursework from day one
20+ AP courses — a broader AP catalog than most Catholic high schools of this size
Virtual High School Collaborative membership, which expands course options beyond what the building alone can offer
30 sports teams and 50+ clubs — extracurricular breadth that's unusual for the tuition level

Things to consider

At 1,118 students, this is a large school; families looking for a tight-knit, small-school feel may find it impersonal
16.9:1 student-teacher ratio is solid but not intimate — most core classes will be in the 20s
Parent reviews are mixed: praise for teachers who go the extra mile and college prep, with some recent concerns about academic standards
Bronx location means a 5-train commute for most non-driving families — convenience depends heavily on where you live
Tuition is flat at $18,650 with no published sibling or parish discounts in this data; worth asking the admissions office about financial aid and parish rates

Identity

The School'S Motto, 'Sequere Deum' ('Follow God'), Is The Through-Line: Academics Are Rigorous And College-Oriented, But They Sit Inside A Faith Framework Where Character, Service, And Spiritual Growth Are Explicitly Part Of The Education, Not Add-Ons.

Catholic, coed, college preparatory. Spellman frames itself around faith formation, personal potential, pursuit of truth, and developing caring citizens and followers of Jesus Christ — a traditional Catholic educational identity rather than a progressive or secular one.

Community

High — Student Body Is Meaningfully Mixed, With Black And Hispanic Students Each Making Up Roughly 40% Of Enrollment, Alongside White, Asian, Multiracial, And Native American Representation.

A large, commuter-style Catholic high school that draws from across the borough and beyond. With roughly 1,118 students and a 16.9:1 student-teacher ratio, Spellman has the feel of a sizable institution where most teachers know a lot of kids but no one knows every kid the way a smaller school would.

Neighborhood

Eastchester-Edenwald-Baychester

The school sits in the Eastchester-Edenwald-Baychester area of the Bronx, a working- and middle-class residential neighborhood where median household income is around $70,700 and about a quarter of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. It is a neighborhood where many families rely on public transit rather than dropping kids off by car.

The 5 train is the line families will live on here. Baychester Av (5) is about a 7-minute walk and Eastchester-Dyre Av (5) about a 13-minute walk — workable for self-sufficient teens, but a real commute from most other parts of the city.

Notable Programs

Virtual High School CollaborativeHonors-at-Entrance program20+ AP College level courses30 sports teams50+ clubs and activities

What Parents Are Saying

Mixed reviews highlight academic rigor, helpful teachers who offer extra credit, and strong college preparation; alumni note valuable networking opportunities with successful graduates; some concerns about school location and recent academic standards

Synthesized from public parent reviews · Apr 2026

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is CARDINAL SPELLMAN HIGH SCHOOL a good school?: Published quality ratings aren't available for CARDINAL SPELLMAN HIGH SCHOOL yet on Motley. It's a private school serving grades 9 to 12 in Eastchester-Edenwald-Baychester.
What grades does CARDINAL SPELLMAN HIGH SCHOOL serve?: CARDINAL SPELLMAN HIGH SCHOOL serves grades 9 to 12.
How do students get into CARDINAL SPELLMAN HIGH SCHOOL?: CARDINAL SPELLMAN HIGH SCHOOL runs its own private admissions process — typically an application, a visit, and sometimes testing.
Is CARDINAL SPELLMAN HIGH SCHOOL public, charter, or private?: CARDINAL SPELLMAN HIGH SCHOOL is a private school.
What neighborhood is CARDINAL SPELLMAN HIGH SCHOOL in?: CARDINAL SPELLMAN HIGH SCHOOL is in Eastchester-Edenwald-Baychester, Bronx.