The Hewitt School is a private, independent K–12 girls' school on New York City's Upper East Side. Founded in 1920 by Caroline D. Hewitt, the school began as private kindergarten classes in a townhouse.
History
In 1908,
Caroline Danella Hewitt (1872 - 1961) came from Barford,
Warwickshire,
England,
United Kingdom to the United States as a private tutor to the prominent Hoffman family of Tuxedo Park, New York.
In 1920, after more than a decade in that position, and at the suggestion of the Hoffman family, Hewitt began private classes for children in a townhouse on the Upper East Side, establishing a small kindergarten for boys and girls located at the Mannes Music School. At this time, her school was referred to as Miss Hewitt's Classes.
In 1942, Hewitt retired and was succeeded by faculty member Charlotte Comfort.
In 1955, Miss Hewitt's Classes became The Hewitt School.
Campus
The Hewitt School is housed in four connected buildings on the Upper East Side of Manhattan.
The campus has evolved significantly since its founding. Initially housed in a brownstone at 68 East 79th Street to accommodate growing enrollment, the school moved in 1951 to its current location at 45 East 75th Street.
Heads of school
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Caroline D. Hewitt: 1920–1942
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Charlotte Comfort: 1942–circa 1960s
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Janet Mayer: 1969 - 1980
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Agathe Crouter: 1980 - 1990
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Mary Jane Yurchak: 1990 - 2000
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Linda MacMurray Gibbs: 2000 - 2010
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Joan Lonergan: 2010 - 2015
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Tara Christie Kinsey: 2015 - 2025
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Jennifer Zaccara: 2025 - current
The Hewitt School has a board of directors and a leadership team.
Academics
The school has three divisions: Lower School, Middle School, and Upper School.
Lower School (K - 4th Grade)
The Lower School at The Hewitt School serves
Primary school students from
kindergarten through
fourth grade, with a curriculum focusing on skills in literacy, mathematics, science, and social studies.
Instruction emphasizes writing as a process that involves brainstorming, drafting, revising, and publishing. Mathematics education focuses on hands-on learning, problem-solving, and building strong number sense and computational skills.
Students also engage in technology use, arts, physical education.
Middle School (5th - 8th Grade)
The
middle school at The Hewitt School encompasses
Fifth grade through
Eighth grade.
Upper School (9th - 12th Grade)
The
Secondary school at The Hewitt School serves high school girls in
Ninth grade through
Twelfth grade.
The Hewitt School provides STEM education, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics classes starting in the lower school. Other areas of focus are the foreign language program, the creative arts program,
Admissions
The school admits girls from kindergarten through 12th grade, with selectivity at the middle and upper school entry points. Admission decisions are based on a combination of academic records, teacher recommendations, standardized test scores (such as the SSAT or ISEE), interviews, and essays.
Student Life
The Hewitt School has approximately 475 students enrolled in its K-12 program.
Co-curricular activities
The Hewitt School offers a diverse range of extracurricular activities. Students can participate in various clubs such as debate, robotics, math Olympiad, sustainability initiatives, and student council, which encourage leadership, collaboration, and community engagement.
The school also hosts arts organizations including theater productions, choir, and visual arts exhibitions. Hewitt puts on several student productions each year, including an upper school play, middle and upper school musical, middle school play, and a series of music concerts.
Athletics programs include volleyball and other team sports, supporting physical fitness and teamwork.
There are specialized after-school classes in areas like 3D printing, coding, creative writing, and culinary arts.
Other opportunities include:
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Hewitt annually participates in New York City's Middle School Model Congress.
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Hewitt Robotics team
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Hewitt’s Signature Extended Inquiry (EI) program encourages students in grades 9-12 to deepen their understanding of subject material through independent research.
Center for Girls' Research and Leadership
The Center for Girls' Research and Leadership at The Hewitt School, formerly known as the Center for Gender and Ethical Leadership in Society, was established in October 2022. It is a hub for research and action aimed at fostering girls' leadership and addressing gender equity.
The Center collaborates with educators, scholars, and industry partners to develop research-informed practices and curricula that enhance girls' experiences in education and leadership development. It supports student and faculty research initiatives, including youth action research and capstone projects, encouraging students to investigate real-world challenges and create impact within their communities.
The Center's work emphasizes ethical leadership and social responsibility, providing tools and training for teachers across grade levels to cultivate leadership skills and awareness of gender-related barriers.
It is the only independent school in the United States with a research initiative dedicated to studying systemic change for girls and young women.
Memberships/Affiliations
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The National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS)
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The New York State Association of Independent Schools (NYSAIS)
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The Parents League of New York
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Independent School Admission Association of Greater New York (ISAAGNY)
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The International Coalition of Girls Schools
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Prep for Prep
External links
