About Cathedral

Since 1905, Cathedral High School has provided a transformative Catholic education to the young women of New York City: an education that challenges them to fulfill their academic potential, inspires them to lead and serve their communities, and imbues them with a deep sense of their own human dignity. 

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.

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 350 East 56th Street inside of the Terence Cardinal Cooke Building that we called "home" for fifty years. In the summer of 2023, we relocated to our present location at 116 East 97th Street.

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 High School is accredited by the Middle States Association of Secondary Schools. Our Certificate affirms that Cathedral High School:

• Provides high-quality educational experiences for students
• Meets its responsibilities to the profession of education
• Complies with standards established by the Commission on Secondary Schools