Tuition

Investing in your child's future.


Thank you for considering Calhoun for your child's education. For most of our families, investing in an independent school education is a significant choice that requires careful planning. As you learn more about Calhoun, you'll meet students and graduates who are confident, creative thinkers, well-prepared for the challenges ahead of them. A Calhoun education is an investment in the lives of young people who are well-equipped to make a transformative impact on the world around them.

Calhoun believes that economic diversity enriches the educational experiences of all our students. We look forward to working with you to determine the best path forward for your child's future.

Tuition & Fees, 2020-21

Calhoun's inclusive tuition covers all materials, books and required school trips. It also includes lunch for 3rd—12th graders. (Parents send lunch for full-day 3's and 4's. In K—2nd grade, families can opt into a lunch plan provided by Red Rabbit at an additional cost.)

  • 3's (half-day): $27,290
  • 3's (full-day): $30,400
  • 4's: $38,800
  • Kindergarten, 1st & 2nd Grades: $52,600
  • 3rd–12th Grades: $54,680

Other Fees

  • Parents Association dues, $100 per family

Financial Aid

In order to make education more affordable to families, Calhoun has a strong commitment to providing need-based financial aid for Kindergarten through 12th grade students. While we strive to meet our families' financial needs, we are unable to provide assistance for all eligible families. 

Read more about financial aid and how to apply.

Payment Plan Options

Families may pay tuition and fees in one of three ways:

  • One-Payment Plan: Tuition is due in full on June 1.
  • 50/50 Plan: Tuition is paid in two installments: 50 percent by June 1 and the other 50 percent by January 1. 
  • 12-Month Payment Plan: Tuition is due each month beginning on March 1, with the final installment due February 1. 

For all three plans, parents may opt for a direct debit option. For more information about payment please contact Andrew Hume, Director of Enrollment, 212-497-6511. 

Hear from Calhoun community members

Christy Kong

Teacher and parent Christy Kong shares how strong relationships between teachers and students enhance the learning experience for Little Calhouners and help to build the foundation for academic success.

Erika Brinzac '10

Current teacher and Calhoun alum Erika Brinzac '10 shares how Calhoun educators place children at the center of their learning, keeping them invested as they make new discoveries in the classroom. 

Shnieka Johnson

Hear from Calhoun teacher and parent Shnieka Johnson about what makes students excited about coming to school every day and how teachers keep children engaged in the classroom throughout their time at Calhoun. 

Hanh Livingston

Calhoun Parent

“What Calhoun wants kids to do is to grow in a way that makes sense to them, not in a way that someone else has decided makes sense…As I watch [my children] I’m constantly thinking, ‘I wish I went to Calhoun.’”

Khadijah Rahim '20

Upper School Student

“At this school they really teach you to take hold of the opportunities given to you and run with them. Coming into Calhoun I realized, there’s more out there, I’m not limited to this little box. I’m thankful that I chose Calhoun.”

Zak Wegweiser '17

Graduation Speaker
Brown University

In his graduation speech, Zak Wegweiser shared how Calhoun gave him the freedom to think without walls. “Calhoun mirrors the inherent ability to break down walls in real life.”

Delsa Lopez '17

Graduation Speaker
Williams College 

“Calhoun gives you a home, no matter who you were when you entered…every person graduating today has matured into a young adult who will conquer the world beyond 81st and West End Ave.”

Gabby Chapman '17

Upper School Student
Princeton University

Gabby found her love of all things STEM while at Calhoun. “Our school really encourages you to do what you’re passionate about. For girls, [that means that] if you are passionate about science, you can learn more about it and go into that field, and not feel afraid or judged.”

Seth Melnick '05

NYC Marketing Manager, Lyft
Named to the Silicon Alley 100 in 2015
BA, Columbia University

“I think Calhoun more than anything gave me a boldness for learning…I was able to take that to Columbia and not be afraid to go on an unbeaten path in my career. The biggest way that Calhoun prepared me for that rigorous academic environment was by removing that fear of learning.”

Katherine Tineo-Komatso '05

LMSW, Social Worker, Village Care
BA, Brown University
MS, Columbia School of Social Work

Through the courses and extracurricular opportunities at Calhoun, Katherine was able to explore her identity, discover her passions and develop her creativity. “Calhoun was a space where I was allowed to explore myself.”

Dale Allsopp '91

Finance Manager, Google 
BA, Wesleyan
MBA, Wharton 

Dale attributes the confidence and entrepreneurial spirit that has allowed him to succeed at Google to the academic experience he had at Calhoun. “When I see myself now, so comfortable in an unstructured environment, I think it’s a direct correlation to my time at Calhoun. I developed a lot of confidence here.”

Emma Newman '14

Commencement Speaker/Thespian
Muhlenberg College 

“The main message I take away from Calhoun’s mission boils down to the power and possibility hidden within these three simple nouns: inspiration, passion, and curiosity.”

Max Marcus '07

Hofstra NS-LIJ School of Medicine
BA, Vassar College

“Calhoun taught me to be a critical thinker, which is something I’ve carried with me through college and beyond.”

Jordan Peele '97

Director, Writer, Actor
Sarah Lawrence College 

Jordan Peele ’97, an Oscar-winning director, comedian, writer and actor, returned to Calhoun to talk to students about his career path and how he found his voice in comedy.

Julie Presten '15

Fashion Designer/Entrepreneur 
Univ. of Wisconsin

“I couldn’t have done this without Calhoun’s pathways to pursue independent studies. I don’t know of any other school that would have allowed a student to follow his or her dream as much as Calhoun has allowed me to pursue mine."

Xander Green '09

Composer, Lyricist, Teacher
BA, NYU 

Xander could have never predicted his career as a writer of musical theater, but the freedom he experienced at Calhoun to explore a variety subjects led him down this path. “A lot of what Calhoun is about is discovering things that you didn’t necessarily know you liked.”