About US

Cathedral High School, a Catholic college preparatory school of the Archdiocese of New York for ninth through twelfth grade young women of all faiths and cultures, forms with parents a community committed to excellence in education with opportunities for careers in the field of health care. 

For over 100 years Cathedral High School has offered the young women of  New York City  superb faculty and administrators who are genuinely committed to bringing out the best in each student and to working in partnership with parents to help students achieve their goals.

While students are constantly challenged to create foundations for lifelong learning and to develop the habits of mind essential to academic success, full attention is also given to the emotional, creative, social and spiritual aspects of each young woman.

History

Cathedral began in 1905 when it became obvious that young women should also have the chance for advanced learning that would open many career doors and enrich the human person. There were two faculty -- both Sisters of Charity -- and a student body of 28.  Even from the beginning, the school was known for excellence in academics 

                                  Members of the CHS Orchestra 1930

In 1924 Cathedral moved into a new building on Lexington Avenue that many of the Alumnae called “home” for decades. In 1925, because of the huge numbers who wanted a Cathedral education, the first of five Annexes was opened. 

By the 1950s, Cathedral was graduating classes as large as 850 students. This was our home until 1973 when we moved to the magnificent facility on First Avenue that we presently call “home.” 

The world has changed a great deal since the first CHS class graduated in 1909, a year in which  women could not vote, were denied access to many professions and rarely worked outside the home. Today's graduates can expect to achieve goals that would have seemed impossible for members of the Class of 1909. 

Yet there is one consistent thread that has tied all of these women of Cathedral together and that has been their dedication to academic excellence and commitment to service. 

In the 1940s Cathedralites sold bonds and bought jeeps and ambulances to bring relatives home from war sooner. Today in addition to a demanding course load, Cathedralites still make time to serve the poor, work with AIDS children, tutor, help the elderly and are present where there is poverty and need. 

Cathedral has always had a rich and diverse population that gave it a cosmopolitan atmosphere. This blend of cultures encourages students to appreciate the value and unique beauty of all people and attain a deeper appreciation and understanding of what it means to be a global citizen and to live in a global community.

Cathedral is a Catholic School

As a Catholic school, Cathedral High School seeks to center the school day and year on the person of Jesus Christ and the sacraments of the Church.  We begin each school year gathering at a Liturgy and asking for the guidance of the Holy Spirit. 

Each day begins with the celebration of the Mass, to which students and faculty are invited, in the school chapel.  This is followed by morning prayers with the entire student body asking God’s blessings on the day.

In the course of the year, the students gather for a Thanksgiving Mass, the May Mass honoring the Virgin Mary, and an Ash Wednesday service. Many of these services and our graduation ceremony take place at St. Patrick's Cathedral so that the entire Cathedral family can celebrate together.

In order to experience the Liturgy in a more intimate way, each student has the opportunity to prepare and participate in class Masses.

In preparation for Christmas and Easter, the students attend Penance services with the opportunity for private confession.  Confessions are also available on request at any time.

The religion classes, while respecting the different religious traditions represented among the student body, seek to impart not only religious knowledge but also insight into the impact the person of Jesus Christ should have in our lives.  

Students have said that Cathedral is a place that continues to sustain them - long after they have left to pursue higher levels of education

Since 1905 we have educated over 35,000 women. Today we continue to help students develop their own unique gifts as well as teaching them the skills to compete in a vast and ever changing global economy. At graduation the CHS student leaves us a highly skilled, literate young woman who is ready to attend competitive colleges and who possesses the moral strength to meet the challenges of the 21st century.

True to the spirit in which it was founded, Cathedral High School is a school with ties to a rich history and tradition, yet it has remained responsive to the changing needs of our times

Cathedral High School is NOT responsible for the content on any of the linked pages or subsequently linked pages throughout this website.  The content is NOT subject to our continuous review and can change frequently without our notice.