Is CATHEDRAL HIGH SCHOOL a good school?

Published quality ratings aren't available for CATHEDRAL HIGH SCHOOL yet on Motley. It's a private school serving grades 9 to 12 in East Harlem (South).

What grades does CATHEDRAL HIGH SCHOOL serve?

CATHEDRAL HIGH SCHOOL serves grades 9 to 12.

How do students get into CATHEDRAL HIGH SCHOOL?

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

Is CATHEDRAL HIGH SCHOOL public, charter, or private?

CATHEDRAL HIGH SCHOOL is a private school.

What neighborhood is CATHEDRAL HIGH SCHOOL in?

CATHEDRAL HIGH SCHOOL is in East Harlem (South), Manhattan.

CATHEDRAL HIGH SCHOOL

At a Glance

An all-girls Catholic college prep with deep East Harlem roots

Best suited for

Families — including those from the surrounding immigrant and working-class communities — looking for a Catholic, all-girls, college-preparatory secondary school with a clear mission, structured pathways into STEM and healthcare, and a tuition level that is comparatively reasonable for Manhattan private education.

What stands out

All-girls environment — one of the few Catholic all-girls college-prep options in Manhattan
STEM Academy focused on Design & Engineering Technology
Medical Gateways Academy, a dedicated pathway for students interested in healthcare careers
Over a century of continuous history under the Sisters of Charity, founded in 1905
Flat $13,000 tuition for 2025-2026 — relatively accessible for a private Manhattan secondary school
Advanced Placement coursework alongside a college-preparatory curriculum
Dual accreditation through Middle States and the NY State Board of Regents

Things to consider

Single-sex Catholic school — a strong fit for families who specifically want an all-girls environment, but a non-starter for those who don't
16:1 student-teacher ratio is solid but not intimate; this is a school of nearly 500 students, not a small seminar-style program
Parent reviews rate the school 3.81 out of 5 — many families praise the supportive, rigorous environment, but recurring concerns include administrative responsiveness and staff turnover
Roman Catholic identity is central to the mission; families should expect religion woven into the school day
Located in East Harlem rather than a traditionally 'private school' corridor — worth visiting to gauge commute and fit

Identity

Catholic College-Preparatory Education Emphasizing The Development Of Mind, Body, And Spirit. The School Was Founded To Educate Daughters Of Immigrant Communities And Continues That Mission Today, Pairing Rigorous Academics With Character Formation Rooted In Catholic Tradition.

An all-girls Roman Catholic secondary school with a college-preparatory focus, sponsored by the Sisters of Charity and serving roughly 489 students in grades 9-12. The school is accredited by the Middle States Association and the NY State Board of Regents.

Community

High — The Student Body Is Predominantly Hispanic And Black, With Meaningful Representation Across Other Groups, And Tracks Closely With The Demographics Of The Surrounding Community.

A medium-sized all-girls secondary community with a 16:1 student-teacher ratio and a student body that closely mirrors the surrounding neighborhood: about 62% Hispanic, 21% Black, with smaller Asian, multiracial, White, and Native American populations. The diversity index of 0.63 reflects a genuinely mixed community rather than a homogenous one.

Neighborhood

East Harlem (South)

Cathedral sits on East 97th Street in the southern part of East Harlem, a neighborhood where the median household income is around $44,000, about three in ten residents live below the poverty line, and roughly 38% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These census figures describe a working-class, largely immigrant community — the very population the school was founded to serve in 1905.

Three subway options are within easy reach: the 96 St (6) stop is about a 2-minute walk, the 96 St (Q) is roughly 6 minutes, and the 103 St (6) is about 7 minutes away. For families commuting from elsewhere in Manhattan or the Bronx, the 6 line is essentially at the doorstep.

Notable Programs

STEM Academy (Design & Engineering Technology)Medical Gateways AcademyAdvanced Placement coursesCollege preparatory curriculum

What Parents Are Saying

Mixed reviews (3.81/5 rating from 295 reviews); positive feedback about a supportive and academically rigorous environment, but some concerns about administrative issues and staff turnover

Synthesized from public parent reviews · Apr 2026

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Frequently Asked Questions

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