School Profile
2225 Westchester Avenue
Rye, New York 10580
Telephone 914-967-5622
Fax 914-967-6476
CEEB Code: 334-972
School Administration
Ann Sullivan, Head of School
Colm MacMahon, Head of Upper School
Julie Crane, Head of Middle School
Joli Moniz, Director of Admission
John Pizzi Jr., Director of Athletics
Amber Hill, Director of College Counseling and Guidance
School of the Holy Child is an independent, Catholic, college preparatory school for young women founded by the Society of the Holy Child Jesus in 1904. In the educational tradition of its founder Cornelia Connelly, Holy Child seeks to foster and develop individuals capable of assuming responsibility for their own learning and growth, aware of their own value, and willing to involve themselves in service to others. Originally located in New York City, School of the Holy Child moved to its present location on seventeen acres in the Westchester County community of Rye in 1957. Rye is situated on Long Island Sound, twenty-five miles northeast of New York City.
Staffed by a dedicated group of 71 full and part-time faculty, staff and administrators, four with Doctorate degrees and 55 percent with Masters degrees, the school offers a challenging, college preparatory curriculum in the humanities, sciences and arts with a strong co-curricular program to develop women of conscience and action.
Accreditation and Memberships: School of the Holy Child is accredited by the New York State Association of Independent Schools (NYSAIS). Additional memberships include the National Association of Independent Schools, National Catholic Education Association, Fairchester Girls Athletic Association and the College Board.
Entrance: Admission is selective and based on prior academic record, standardized test results, recommendations, a personal interview, and a full day visit. School of the Holy Child welcomes young women of all faiths, races and backgrounds.
Students: Enrollment for grades 5-12 is 342. The student body is comprised of students from 50 communities in Westchester County, NY; Fairfield County, CT; and New York City. The faculty-student ratio is 1:9 and average class size is 14 students.
Academic Program: SHC is on a trimester system, with examinations held at the end of the second trimester. The school does not rank its students but does provide a grade distribution by subject area. SHC does not use block scheduling.
Graduation Requirements: Four years of English, Physical Education and Theology; three years of Mathematics, Social Studies, Modern or Classical Language (with two years to be taken during High School), Science (including two years of a lab science); and one year of Fine Arts. A class in Life Skills and 100 hours of Community Service are also required.
Grading Policy: Grades are calculated as follows. (Physical Education and Guidance/Life Skills grades are not included in a student's GPA):
A+: 97-100, 4.33 A: 93-96, 4.00 A-: 90-92, 3.68
B+: 87-89, 3.33 B: 83-86, 3.00 B-: 80-82, 2.68
C+: 77-79, 2.33 C: 73-76, 2.00 C-: 70-72, 1.68
D+: 67-69, 1.33 D: 63-66, 1.00 D-: 60-62, .68
F : Below 60, .00
Honor Roll: Students are eligible for the following honors:
- Cornelian Scholar: A average with no grade lower than an A-
- First Honors: A- average with no grade below B+
- Second Honors: B+ average with no grade below a B
National Honor Society: Students are selected for the National Honor Society in the spring of their junior year based on scholarship (3.67 cumulative GPA), leadership, service (significantly more than the required 25 hours per year), and character.
Advanced Courses: 14 Advanced Placement courses are offered in Art History, Biology, AB Calculus, BC Calculus, English Literature, European History, French Language, Government and Politics, Latin, Music Theory, Spanish Language, Spanish Literature, Studio Art, and U.S. History. Grades for these courses receive an extra .33 points in calculating GPA. Modern European History and Chemistry II are designated honors courses, but do not receive extra points.
Athletics: All students must participate in SHC's athletic program for the entire school year through either team membership or physical education classes. SHC fields varsity teams in the following sports: basketball, cross country, field hockey, lacrosse, soccer, softball, squash, swimming, tennis, track, volleyball. With Athletic Department approval, a few students fulfill the requirement in independent sports such as gymnastics, horseback riding, crew, and ice hockey.
Special Opportunities: Students are encouraged to participate in school exchanges. These include international programs such as School Year Abroad and St. Stephen's School in Rome, domestic programs such as the Rocky Mountain Semester, or to attend classes at another Holy Child school in the U.S. or abroad.
Senior Independent Study Project: During the course of their senior year, students are required to explore and prepare for a two-week internship or hands-on experience in a field of interest. The completed project is presented to the faculty during the last two weeks of the school year.
Post-Secondary Schooling of Graduates: 100 percent of seniors are accepted to four-year colleges and universities.
