Articulate, Confident, Responsible Citizens of the World

Celebrating 125 Years!


Dear Cathedral Community,
 
In 1901, Bishop Henry Codman Potter founded a small boarding school for the boys who sang in the choir of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. One hundred twenty-five years later, The Cathedral School is a vibrant, coeducational, Episcopal K–8 day school for children of all faiths, and it is still the home of the choristers who sing in the largest Gothic cathedral in the world.
 
Throughout the 2026–2027 school year, we invite every member of our community, including students, families, alumni, faculty, staff, and friends, to celebrate this remarkable milestone with us. Together, we will honor the people and traditions that shaped Cathedral, share stories across generations, and look ahead to the next chapter of our school.
 
Much has changed since our founding, yet what matters most has remained constant: a passionate commitment to academic excellence and to developing articulate, confident, responsible citizens of the world. Our students still learn on the 11-acre Cathedral Close, still gather for family-style meals, and still carry forward the values that generations before them have cherished.
 
Thank you for being part of this story. We hope you will explore our history, share your memories, and join us in celebration throughout the year.
 
With gratitude,
 
Erica Corbin
Head of School

Explore 125 years of Cathedral history! From our founding as a choir school in 1901 to the coeducational K–8 community we are today, journey through the people, places, and moments that shaped our school on our interactive 125th Anniversary Timeline.

Anniversary Year at a Glance

January 25, 2027: 125 Day!

March 5, 2027: 125th Anniversary Celebration

Check back often for more events to be announced throughout the year!

Share Your Memories

Are you a Cathedral alum, past parent, or former faculty or staff member? We want to hear from you! Help us celebrate 125 years by sharing your favorite Cathedral memories, stories, and photos.
 
To share a memory or update your contact information, please click here!

Give in Honor of 125

For 125 years, the generosity of our community has made a Cathedral education possible. Celebrate this milestone with a gift in honor of our 125th anniversary.
 
To make a gift, please click here! To learn about other ways to support Cathedral, visit Ways to Give.

Questions?

Please contact the Advancement Office with any questions about our 125th anniversary celebrations.
 

125 Years of The Cathedral School

From a small choir school founded in 1901 to one of New York City's most beloved independent schools, The Cathedral School has shaped generations of young minds in the shadow of the world's largest Gothic cathedral. Read on to discover some of the milestones that made us who we are today.


1901: A Choir School Is Born

Founded by Bishop Henry Codman Potter
 
The Choir School of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine opened as a boarding school for the boys who sang in the Cathedral Church choir. It was originally located in Guild Hall (now known as Synod Hall) on the Cathedral Close.


1913: A Home of Our Own

The present school building opens
 
Our current building was constructed to house 45 resident Choristers, who received musical training from the Master of Choristers and a general education under the Headmaster. In return for substantial endowments that covered all school costs, the Choristers sang two services each Sunday and four to five evensongs during the week.


1964: Opening Our Doors

Cathedral becomes a day school
 
The Dean of the Cathedral declared that the school would become a day school and admit non-singing boys, an idea that had been discussed since 1928. At a time when school integration was being challenged, The Cathedral School became one of the most substantially integrated independent schools in the country.


1974: A New Era

Cathedral welcomes its first female students
 
Bishop Paul Moore and Head of School Canon Harold Ransom Landon ushered in coeducation as Cathedral admitted its first female students, growing into the independent, coeducational, Episcopal K–8 day school for children of all faiths that we know today.


Today: Rooted in Tradition, Looking Ahead

Under the leadership of Head of School Erica Corbin
 
Through the societal changes of the 20th century and the technological changes of the 21st, Cathedral has embraced innovation while holding fast to its core traditions, and it continues to provide the children's choir for the Cathedral of St. John the Divine.
 

Traditions That Endure

What has remained constant since 1901 is our passionate commitment to academic excellence and to developing articulate, confident, responsible citizens of the world. Many of the traditions that generations of Cathedral students have cherished are still part of daily life today:
 
  • Students learn, play, and explore across the 11-acre Cathedral Close.
  • Students and teachers gather for family-style lunches
  • Cathedral Choristers sing in the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, the largest Gothic cathedral in the United States.
  • Lower School students come together every Friday morning for assembly.
  • The community gathers for Evensong
  • Before Commencement, each 8th grader receives a personalized bookplate from their teachers.

Celebrate With Us

Throughout the 2026–2027 school year, students, families, alumni, faculty, and friends will come together to mark our 125th anniversary through special events, classroom celebrations, and opportunities to reconnect.
 
125th Anniversary Celebration
Friday, March 5, 2027
More details coming soon!
 
Please check this page and the Newsroom for the latest updates.

Explore Our History

Dive deeper into the people and places that have shaped The Cathedral School over the past 125 years:
 
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