Admissions FAQs

A Caedmon student is unique! Each child brings a sense of whimsy and rigor to work and play, and their individuality is encouraged here. Based on the teachings of Maria Montessori to let the child lead, Caedmon students are instilled with a sense of independence early on, which fosters a sense of confidence, and inquisitiveness.

Taking the teachings of Maria Montessori, we’ve created an Early Childhood Montessori program for our youngest students, where curiosity and independence bloom. Children interact with beautiful materials to refine their tactile understanding of the world around them, while engaging in the five areas of a Montessori classroom: Practical Life, Sensorial, Mathematics, Language Arts, and Cultural Arts with time for imaginative play, block building, reading, art, social studies, science, discovery, music, and play. The Montessori principles of independent and group work where students are the drivers of their success and Progressive curricula, permeate throughout our Elementary program, from Kindergarten through Fifth grade, thus fostering the development of confident, driven, collaborative, and creative children in our Progressive Montessori approach. 

A major component of the Montessori philosophy is that children from various age groups interact together in one classroom. Our Early Childhood classes combine three and four-year-old children, and our Mixed-Age Elementary classroom combines children in First and Second grade students. Older students are proud to act as role models; younger ones feel supported and gain confidence about the challenges ahead.

Caedmon’s Fifth-grade graduates are accepted into and attend some of the most prominent independent and public middle schools in NYC. Our Head of School partners with families of graduating students to see that each child is placed into a school that best suits his or her social intelligence and learning style. More information about our graduates.

In New York City, sixth grade is the next major point of entry for new students after Kindergarten and therefore, our graduates have a wide array of schools to consider for middle school. We’ve built strong relationships with our ongoing schools over the years, and Directors of Admissions are extremely impressed with candidates from Caedmon.

Parents engage in parent-teacher conferences with their child’s homeroom teacher twice per academic year. In addition to conferences, in-depth report cards are mailed out twice a year, which detail each child’s progress based on a number of competencies, skills, characteristics, and practices. Teachers are also frequently in touch with families via email and phone, and parents are welcome to request appointments to discuss a child’s progress as necessary.

Caedmon is proud of its rich, engaging, and ever-evolving After School program. Among the most robust in the city, we offer an array of sports, art, cooking, language, science, engineering, and music classes. The majority of these experiences are led by current Caedmon teachers, complemented by talented professionals from beyond our school community.

Time and again, we are told by ongoing schools how confident, collaborative, and poised Caedmon alumni are. It is not unusual to hear former students enthusiastically sharing their knowledge of coding, foreign policy, basketball stats, or the latest exhibit at the Met. Our students go off into the world having built life-long friendships in our courtyard and hallways, armed with the enduring sense of inquisitiveness and curiosity that defines a Montessori education.

The Caedmon School is one of the only schools in NYC that spans the full arc of early childhood, serving students from 1.8 - 10 years of age. While embracing each child as an individual and allowing them to lead and discover, students at Caedmon are also given opportunities to assume authentic leadership roles and develop an age-appropriate sophistication—a genuine sense of agency that is not commonly found in traditional K–12 environments.

Caedmon is committed to equity, diversity, and community, ensuring that all students and their families feel a true sense of belonging. In our warm, down-to-earth, and respectful environment, status and hierarchy take a back seat to connection and care. We value children as leaders and view parents as partners throughout this crucial and momentous journey toward adolescence.

No, we are not a Catholic school; however, because of the building’s historical connection to St. Monica’s Church on 79th Street, Roman Catholic religion class from Kindergarten through Fifth grade is available if families request this instruction for their children.