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THE CALHOUN SCHOOL INC

NEW YORK, NY · EIN 131623919 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE B24Z · Education · Large ($10M-$50M) · calhoun.org
revenue
$38.2M
expenses
$43.6M
net assets
$28.3M
employees
254
volunteers
150
program ratio
75%
mission · from form 990

THE CALHOUN SCHOOL IS A PROGRESSIVE, INDEPENDENT, COEDUCATIONAL, COLLEGE PREPARATORY SCHOOL WITH STUDENTS RANGING FROM THREE YEAR OLDS TO TWELFTH GRADE.

profile · synthesized from sources

The Calhoun School is a progressive, independent, coeducational college preparatory school in New York City serving students from age three through 12th grade. The school emphasizes intellectual curiosity, creativity, and community, with a strong focus on diversity, equity, and belonging. Its educational model integrates academic rigor with social-emotional development, student-led initiatives, and interdisciplinary learning.

named programs · 5 · from sources

What they call their work

Alumni of Color Network (ACN) Celebration
Annual event honoring community, belonging, and equity, featuring recognition of student leaders, faculty contributors, and graduating seniors of color
Egg Drop
Annual 7th-grade engineering challenge where students design protective contraptions for raw eggs dropped from the seventh floor, integrating physics, creativity, and problem-solving
Girls’ Adventures in Math (GAIM)
Team-based math competition for Lower and Middle School girls that promotes collaborative problem-solving and mathematical reasoning
Spring Session
Student-driven Upper School program offering interdisciplinary courses designed and led by students and faculty, such as "Music Production 101," "Philosophy of Drawing," and "Field to Museum: Cretaceous Explorations"
Upper School Theater Productions
Student-led theatrical performances such as "Alice by Heart," integrating storytelling, music, and technical production to explore themes of resilience and identity
activities · 5 groups

What they do

  • Cultural Exchange and Community Integration Events 1 activity
    • Community Building and Diversity, Equity, and Belonging Programs
      Hosts community events and recognition ceremonies that celebrate diversity and belonging, including the Alumni of Color Network Celebration and the recognition of graduating seniors of color, and supports student leadership in diversity and accountability initiatives.
  • Horticultural Education and Community Gardening 1 activity
    • Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability Activities
      Engages students in environmental stewardship through rooftop greenspaces where vegetables are grown for community use and student-led activities such as planting, mulching, and creating upcycled artwork.
  • Project-Based Learning Programs 1 activity
    • Experiential and Interdisciplinary Learning Programs
      Offers inquiry-based, interdisciplinary courses and experiential learning opportunities, including student-led courses during Spring Session and hands-on projects such as the 7th-grade engineering challenge and egg drop competition.
  • Independent and Charter K-12 Schools 1 activity
    • Progressive K–12 College Preparatory Education
      Operates as a progressive, independent, coeducational school serving students from age three through twelfth grade, with a focus on college preparation and the development of authentic leadership grounded in curiosity, kindness, and excellence.
  • Youth Theater Arts Education 1 activity
    • Student-Led Arts and Performance Initiatives
      Supports student-created and performed theatrical productions, including full-scale musicals like "Alice by Heart" and original performances by third graders inspired by major musicals, integrating acting, music, and storytelling.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$38.21M
Contributions & grants$2.40M6%
Program service revenue$34.98M92%
Investment income$832K2%
Other revenue$-4K
expenses
Total expenses$43.59M
Program expenses75%
Admin / overhead24%
Fundraising2%
Salaries & benefits$21.57M
Grants paid out$11.57M
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$84.64M
Cash$589K
Investments$20.63M
Liabilities$56.30M
Net assets$28.33M
Liquid reserves5.8 mo
7 years on record · 2018–2024 · YoY revenue -6.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 8
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
CELESTE HERRERA HEAD OF SCHOOL (AS OF 07/24) 40 $410K
STEVEN SOLNICK FORMER HOS (UNTIL 06/24) 0 $410K
VICTOR CATANO CFO (UNTIL 12/24) 40 $402K
LISA BIANCHI MERRIT CO-DIRECTOR OF COLLEGE COUNSELING 40 $251K
MARY MCCARTY DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT 40 $249K
DANIEL ISQUITH DIRECTOR OF UPPER SCHOOL 40 $226K
APRIL THOMPSON DIRECTOR OF LOWER SCHOOL 40 $209K
ANDREA SOLOMON-GUTIERREZ DIRECTOR OF MIDDLE SCHOOL 40 $191K
board members · 16
  • ALEXEI NICHOLS — TRUSTEE
  • ALISON ROTHSCHILD — TRUSTEE
  • AMY PASQUARIELLO — TRUSTEE
  • ANDREA HSU — TRUSTEE
  • ANDREW MERELIS — TRUSTEE
  • ANU KUMAR — TRUSTEE
  • COURTNEY WOLFF — TRUSTEE
  • CRIS STAUFFER — TRUSTEE
  • DAVE LEVIN — VICE CHAIR (AS OF 07/24)
  • DAVID WOLFSON — TRUSTEE
  • ERIC POTOKER — LIFE TRUSTEE (AS OF 07/24)
  • JAMES GLASGOW — TRUSTEE
  • JEREMY BARBER — TRUSTEE
  • JEREMY HITZIG — TRUSTEE
  • JOAN WALROND — TRUSTEE
  • JOHN WANG — BOARD CHAIR
relationships · 3

Who they work with

  • Alumni of Color Network Network — Internal community network that connects Calhoun alumni of color and supports belonging, equity, and intergenerational connection.
  • Broadway Bound Kids Partner — Collaborates with Calhoun to provide musical theater education for third graders.
  • Girls’ Adventures in Math Partner — Partnered with Girls’ Adventures in Math (GAIM) for a team-based math competition.
strategies · 4

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Arts-Integrated and Collaborative Pedagogy
    methodology: arts_integrated_learning
    By using theatrical storytelling, musical theater, and collaborative problem-solving as learning vehicles, the school deepens emotional and intellectual engagement because artistic and team-based formats enable students to explore complex human and academic themes in relatable, creative ways.
  • Equity and Community Integration as Foundational to Learning
    methodology: equity_integrated_community_building
    By embedding diversity, equity, belonging, and social justice into the academic and cultural fabric of the school, the organization develops socially aware, empathetic citizens because students learn to navigate and contribute to a just community through sustained engagement and institutional modeling.
  • Interdivisional and Mentorship-Based Community Learning
    methodology: intergenerational_mentorship_model
    By connecting older and younger students through shared activities, the school strengthens school-wide community and nurtures leadership and belonging because intergenerational relationships foster empathy, responsibility, and continuity in school culture.
  • Progressive, Student-Centered Education with Inquiry and Project-Based Learning
    methodology: student_centered_progressive_education
    By centering student curiosity, empathy, and initiative within a progressive educational framework, the school fosters deeper engagement and meaningful learning because students are more motivated and intellectually invested when they lead and inquire. This is operationalized through inquiry-based and project-based learning, where original questions and hands-on challenges drive interdisciplinary understanding and problem-solving.