Welcome to Saint David’s Welcome to Saint David’s

ABOUT SAINT DAVID’S

Saint David's is an independent elementary school for boys of all faiths and backgrounds whose parents seek a school program rooted in its founding Catholic faith. Boys are admitted to Pre-Kindergarten through Grade Eight. The school is located at Twelve East Eighty-ninth Street in Manhattan.

Since its founding in 1951, Saint David's has graduated more than 2,200 students. They have gone on to the most competitive New York City secondary schools and regional boarding schools, and from there to ranking universities and colleges throughout the nation.

The school is accredited by the New York State Association of Independent Schools and is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools, subscribing to its Principles of Good Practice for admission of students. Saint David's also belongs to the Independent Schools Admissions Association of Greater New York. The school’s headmaster is Dr. P. David O’Halloran.

Philosophy



Our boys feel understood, welcomed, and valued – from the minute they walk through the door. We understand their energy and how to channel it; we are inspired by their insatiable curiosity.

  • Ultimate aspiration: "that they be good men."
  • Classical tradition of "balance in all things"
  • Four pillars: Academics, Arts, Athletics, and Spirituality

The School

  • Grades Pre-K through 8
  • 435 students and 133 faculty and staff
  • Exceptional faculty: 71% with advanced degrees; 76% with 10-plus years of teaching experience; 38% have been at Saint David's for 10-plus years
  • 6:1 student-faculty ratio
  • Facilities: Three Gymnasiums (one middle school regulation size), Performing Arts Center, Upper and Lower School Libraries, STEAM Suite, Three Lunchrooms, Learning Center
  • Robust After School and Summer programs with classes in a variety of disciplines
  • Tuition for 2023-2024  -  Pre-K: $39,215 Kindergarten through Grade 8: $58,800
  • Endowment: 74 funds valued at more than $70 million


Four Pillars

Academics



The most current educational research on how boys learn guides our program. Active learning experiences stimulate intellectual curiosity and promote critical thinking skills as students connect subject matter with real world context.

Educational partnerships allow our boys to extend their learning as they engage in experts in various fields of study. Signature units that our faculty co-teach with geneticists, astrophysicists, museum curators and professional musicians, inspire our boys with world class curriculum-driven interdisciplinary learning experiences.

Our program supports development of key skills for the future: critical thinking, public speaking and writing, collaboration, respect for difference in all its manifestations. Our School-wide Spanish immersion curriculum in Pre-K through Grade 8 promotes conversational proficiency and cultural competency; French and Latin programs are also offered.

Boys experience an extended campus through overnight experiences in Frost Valley, NY; Port Isobel Island, VA ; Washington, D.C.; Salamanca, Spain; and Rome, Assisi, and Florence, Italy.

Our boys develop into responsible lifelong learners who are reflective and respect differences.


Arts

By cultivating their "Critical Eye" and "Critical Mind," boys can critically evaluate the world around them. They learn to seek the truth, beauty, and, ultimately, the good. Art classes include painting, drawing, woodworking, and pottery. Music opportunities include First Orchestra (Grades 1 through 3), Philharmonic and Percussion Ensembles (Grades 4 through 8), Chamber Singers (Grades 4 through 8), Recorder Consorts (Grades 6 through 8), and opportunities for individual instruction. Boys in all grades participate in dramatic and musical performances.


Athletics

Boys play soccer, basketball, baseball, lacrosse, hockey, squash, cross country, tennis, track and field, flag football. We are a Member of the Manhattan Private Middle School League. Boys enjoy three on-site gyms, one middle school regulation size and a fitness facility. Our program stresses "skill and sportsmanship." Boys win with humility, lose with grace and always honor the game.


Spirituality

Boys reflect upon the moral and ethical in all aspects of their school day including Daily Chapels, with talks given by faculty, fellow classmates, and alumni.

Whether participating in visits to a local assisted living facility, fund-raising for schools in Ethiopia or the Gbowee Book Bag Project, or engaging in activities with autistic children at Manhattan Childrens Center, boys contribute to the greater good through meaningful community service programs. Catholic boys receive sacraments. Boys learn about worldwide religious traditions.

There is strong research-backed correlation between a spiritual dimension and mental health. Our community is composed of boys, families, and teachers of all faiths as well as those of no faith tradition. As a shared responsibility, we foster open-mindedness and a strong spirit of inclusion.


Our Faculty

Our Faculty take a collaborative teaching approach, share best practices for engaging boys and participate in ongoing professional development. They employ technology to make teaching and learning more effective and more efficient – never letting it diminish the imperative relationship between the teacher and student.