The Calhoun School, a leading progressive, independent, coeducational day school in Manhattan, seeks a full-time Associate Director of Admissions (Early Childhood – Grade 6) to begin in July 2026.
The Associate Director of Admissions (Early Childhood – Grade 6) leads the recruitment, admissions, and retention processes for Calhoun current and prospective families from Early Childhood through Grade 6. A key focus of this role is supporting the critical transitional years of early childhood - Kindergarten and grades 4-6, ensuring a seamless experience that reinforces student retention and drives new enrollment. The Associate Director must be a champion of the value of a Calhoun PS-12 education and cultivate deep relationships with key educational partners across New York City.
Essential Functions & Responsibilities
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Primary Liaison: Serve as the primary point of contact for all prospective families from Early Childhood through Grade 6.
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Application Management: Oversee the full lifecycle of the application process, including campus visits, parent interviews, and the collection of supplemental materials.
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Mission Advocacy: Articulate the distinct benefits of Calhoun’s PS-12 model, highlighting the advantages of internal progression from Lower to Middle School versus entering in Grades 5 or 6.
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Clear understanding of Montessori pedagogy and ability to articulate the benefits and advantages of early childhood and lower elementary Montessori structure.
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Community Outreach: Identify and attend community-based outreach events—including school fairs, neighborhood festivals, and individual school visits—to optimize brand exposure and broaden the reach of the Calhoun community.
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Relationship Management: Foster and nurture strategic relationships with preschools and sending schools to promote and grow application volume and to promote strong yield outcomes.
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Yield Management: Deliver expected application and yield outcomes, monitoring show-rates and general engagement levels for the EC-Grade 6 cohort.
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Events & Outreach: Support admissions and retention events, greet families, and ensure the overall impact of each event is realized.
Retention & Data Analysis
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Transitional & Retention Support: Lead retention-focused activities (specifically for the EC to Kindergarten transition and Grades 4–6) to stabilize enrollment.
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Retention Coordination: Serve as the Lower School and early Middle School representative on the Institutional Retention Team, coordinating activities such as homeroom and advisory meetings and community events.
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Data-Informed Strategy: Utilize enrollment and demographic data for NYC and independent schools to interpret trends and inform retention and recruitment strategies.
Innovation & Programming: Design and execute fresh, exciting experiences and events for current and prospective families that reflect current demographic and enrollment trends (ie Cougar Society Student Ambassador Program).
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Experience: Proven experience in admissions or fundraising, preferably within a PS-12 independent school setting.
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Data Literacy: Strong comfort with data analysis and the ability to use data to understand and interpret market trends.
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Communication: Exceptional ability to communicate professionally and persuasively with students, faculty, and administration across a broad age range.
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Analytical Skills: High proficiency with spreadsheets and database manipulation (Finalsite preferred).
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Commitment to Belonging: Demonstrated experience supporting institutional inclusion work; ability to understand multiple perspectives and life experiences. Vehement support for Calhoun’s core identity as a socioeconomically diverse school of and for New Yorkers.
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Education: Bachelor’s degree required.
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Innovative Thinking: Ability to create "out of the box" events that resonate with modern NYC families.
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Relationship Building: Natural ability to foster trust with preschool directors, sending school coordinators, and educational consultants.
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Strategic Time Management: Ability to organize and manage multiple priorities across several grade levels.
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Physical: Ability to walk up stairs, stand, sit, and carry admissions materials up to 10 pounds.
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Time: Requires occasional evening and weekend work for admissions events and community outreach.
