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 High School (CHS) was established by the Sisters of Charity in 1905 under the aegis of Cardinal Archbishop John Farley to educate the daughters of immigrants in New York City. The school began with just two faculty—both Sisters of Charity—and a student body of 28. From the beginning, Cathedral had a reputation for excellence in academics and character formation.

In 1924, Cathedral moved into a new building on Lexington Avenue and 51st Street. The following year, due to the high interest in a Cathedral education, the first of five Annexes located around Manhattan and the Bronx was opened.

By the 1950s, Cathedral was graduating classes as large as 850 students. In 1973, the original school building was sold by the Archdiocese of New York, and Cathedral High School moved to 350 East 56th Street inside of the brand-new Terence Cardinal Cooke Building that we called home for fifty years. In the summer of 2023, as the Archdiocese prepared to sell 1011 1st Avenue, Cathedral High School 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 had not yet been granted the right to vote, rarely had the opportunity to pursue higher education, and rarely worked outside the home. Today, Cathedral graduates have goals and dreams that would have seemed impossible for members of the Class of 1909.

One consistent thread that has tied all of these women of Cathedral together and that has been their faith in God, their perseverance in the face of challenges, dedication to academic excellence, and commitment to service.

Cathedral has always been blessed with a student body which represented many cultures, reflecting the diversity and culture richness of our great city and thus lending our school a cosmopolitan atmosphere. This blend of cultures encourages students to appreciate the beauty of the world God has created, and the unique dignity of every human person.

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