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The Dalton School

PrivateUpper East Side
53 East 91st Street, New York, NY 10128
(212) 423-5463

Overview

Educational philosophy

Progressive / Play Based

Programs offered

K+

Annual tuition

$71K – $71K / yr

School continues

Through Grade 12

Total students

~1,330

Financial aid

Aid: $$$

Sibling & legacy

Upcoming:No upcoming admissions dates — check back soon

The Dalton School is a leading progressive K-12 independent day school on the Upper East Side, founded in 1919 by Helen Parkhurst and built around the Dalton Plan, which organizes learning through House, Assignment, and Lab. It enrolls roughly 1,330 students across three divisions on separate Carnegie Hill campuses, plus a dedicated athletic center. The program pairs rigorous academics and independent, contract-based study with deep arts, athletics, and global-studies offerings. Admission is need-blind to talent but selective, with Kindergarten, 6th, and 9th grades as the primary entry points.

Programs & Schedule

K & BeyondThrough Grade 12

Schedule

Monday – Friday

Extended hours

No

Tuition

$70,800 / yr

This school continues through Grade 12. Enrolled students progress without reapplying.

Admissions

Kindergarten (First Program) applications open.Aug 13
Application deadline (noon).Nov 13
Financial aid (new families, Clarity).Dec 1
Notification (ISAAGNY, via Ravenna).Feb 4
Reply within one week (ISAAGNY).Feb 11

Leadership

José M. De Jesús

MA in Educational Leadership & Administration (Columbia University); MA in History (Tufts University); BA in History (Wesleyan University); 20+ years of independent-school leadership; Head of School since 2022

Admissions contact

Tracy Lehman

fpadmissions@dalton.org

Culture & Community

Educational approach
Progressive / Play Based

Progressive. Founded in 1919 by Helen Parkhurst, Dalton is built around the Dalton Plan, a student-centered pedagogy organized into three elements: House (advising/community), Assignment (long-range independent contracts of study), and Lab (individualized conferences with teachers). Emphasis on academic rigor, independent thinking, and student responsibility.

GenderCo-ed
Cultural programs
MusicArt
Outdoor spaceOwn outdoor space ✓
Enrichment
Robust arts programming (theater with 28+ annual main-stage productions, visual arts, music ensembles), 75+ high-school clubs, athletics, world languages, Dalton Global Initiatives, and the Dalton Science Research Program.

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