The Hewitt School NYC: Where Girls Grow Bold, Brilliant, and Unapologetically Themselves

Madd

08 May 2025 — 6 min read

Raising Voices, Shaping Futures: Inside The Hewitt School Experience

If you’ve ever wandered around Manhattan’s Upper East Side and noticed a stream of confident, joyful, tote-bag-carrying girls walking toward a cluster of beautiful old townhouses, chances are, you’ve stumbled across The Hewitt School. I recently went down a rabbit hole researching this fascinating K-12 all-girls school, and let me tell you — it’s so much more than a pretty building on East 75th Street.

Whether you’re just dipping your toes into the NYC private school madness (hi, welcome!) or looking to understand what makes Hewitt tick, here’s a full (and hopefully fun) guide to what makes this school such a standout.

A Quick History Lesson: Not Your Average Girls' School

Founded in 1920 by the visionary Caroline D. Hewitt — a woman ahead of her time — Hewitt set out to create a place where girls didn’t just learn, they thrived. Her belief? “It is the touch of life upon life that matters most in a school.” (Can we all pause and clap for that quote?)

Fast forward a century and Hewitt is still holding tight to that idea. This isn’t a school about rote memorization and test scores. It’s about connection, empathy, and leadership that feels real.

The Big Mission

Hewitt’s mission is bold and modern: “To inspire girls and young women to become game changers and ethical leaders who forge an equitable, sustainable, and joyous future.” Yes, I said “joyous.” That word alone tells you a lot about the vibe here.

They’ve boiled down their values into four powerful ideas: presence, empathy, research, and purpose. Teachers and students are all-in on those, and it shows in how the school is run and how the girls show up in the world.

Academics, But Make It Purpose-Driven

Let’s be honest. Academics are a big deal in NYC, and parents want to know: “Is my kid going to be challenged here?”

At Hewitt — absolutely. But maybe not in the way you think.

They ditched APs a few years back (gasp!), which raised some eyebrows. But instead of cramming for multiple-choice tests, students now do Extended Inquiry (EI) projects, which are research-based deep dives into topics they care about. Think: interdisciplinary learning meets independent thinking. And yes, the EI designation shows up on transcripts.

They’ve leaned hard into STEAM (that’s Science, Tech, Engineering, Arts, and Math) with robust robotics teams, maker spaces, and creative arts programs that push girls to take risks. And don’t worry — despite no APs, 100% of students go on to four-year colleges, and many end up at the Ivy League, NYU, Stanford, McGill, Emory.

So yes, it's academically strong. Just... different. Thoughtful. Less "grind," more "grow."

The City Is Their Classroom

One of the coolest things about Hewitt is how they literally treat NYC as part of the curriculum. The school’s strategic vision includes “Reimagining Location,” which means you’ll find Hewitt students doing fieldwork with the Billion Oyster Project, collaborating with downtown artists, or exploring social justice in real-world contexts.

There was even a big buzz around a new “Hewitt Downtown” campus that was supposed to open in 2023. As of early 2025, I couldn’t find proof that it actually opened, but the idea itself — a satellite innovation hub — speaks volumes about how Hewitt thinks differently.

A Community That Feels Like Family

If there’s one word that shows up again and again when people talk about Hewitt, it’s “warm.”

Families, teachers, and alums rave about how deeply the girls are known and cared for. There’s a 6:1 student-teacher ratio (you read that right), and faculty are described as top-notch — not just in terms of subject matter, but in how they connect with students.

It’s not rare to hear a student say, “I feel seen here.” And in a city where pressure can run sky-high, that counts for a lot.

Diversity, Equity, and All the Important Stuff

Hewitt isn’t just talking the talk on DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusivity, and Belonging) — they’ve woven it into the school culture.

There’s a Director of Equity and Community Life, curriculum that centers diverse voices, and vibrant student groups like the Black Student Union, Spectrum Alliance, and even Kaleidoscope, an affinity space for neurodiverse students. Cultural assemblies and dialogues are built into the year: think Diwali, Lunar New Year, Pride, and beyond.

Of course, like many schools, the work is ongoing. The school’s diversity grade on Niche is a “B,” and some reviews mention the need for continued growth to make sure every student feels truly included. But overall, the intention — and action — is clear.

Arts, Sports, and All the Other Things That Make School Fun

Let’s talk extracurriculars, because school should also be about joy and exploration.

At Hewitt, the options are plentiful and student-led. Clubs like Girls Who Code, Model UN, Debate Club, and the literary magazine Venturer show the intellectual range. Meanwhile, arts get serious love — with school plays, visual arts exhibits, and courses that encourage creative risk-taking.

And yes, athletics are alive and kicking too. Soccer, rowing, volleyball, tennis, and more are offered. Teams use off-site facilities (welcome to NYC), but they’re competitive and well-supported. Some athletes even go on to D1 college teams.

Hewitt’s Glow-Up: What’s New and What’s Next

The last few years have been big for Hewitt. Here are a few highlights:

A $250,000 grant from the Edward E. Ford Foundation to support educational leadership and innovation (yes, that’s a lot of zeros).
A financial literacy partnership with Bernstein Private Wealth Management (can they extend this to adults, please?).
An exciting research center on gender and ethical leadership.
The Robotics team made it to the VEX World Championships.
A beautiful rooftop playdeck and memorial garden renovation on the main campus.
Oh, and did I mention they’re building a team of researchers, including an actual "Learning and Innovation Researcher"? Yep. That’s a job title now.

Big Changes at the Top

After nearly a decade at the helm, beloved Head of School Dr. Tara Christie Kinsey is stepping down. In July 2025, Dr. Jennifer Zaccara will take over as the ninth Head of School.

Leadership transitions are always big deals in private schools, but the vibe here seems optimistic. There’s already a strong foundation — and a clear sense of where the school wants to go next.

What People Are Saying (The Real Tea)

So what’s the word on the street (and in the reviews)?

The good:

"Hewitt is magical. My daughter is thriving."
"Teachers care. Deeply."
"She’s being challenged, but not overwhelmed."
"My daughter is not just a student at Hewitt — she’s herself at Hewitt. They know her quirks, her gifts, her passions. I don’t think she would’ve had that experience anywhere else.”
“Middle school is hard. Hewitt didn’t pretend it wasn’t. They met her with empathy and gave her space to grow — now she’s confident, curious, and leads with kindness.”
The faculty is the heart and soul of the school. My daughter had a math teacher who stayed after school every day to help her prep for her EI project. Who does that?”
She was shy and soft-spoken when she started. This year she starred in the school play and designed the set. I give 99% of the credit to the theater director.”
“My daughter produced a 15-page paper on women in politics by age 16. She presented it like a pro. That’s the kind of rigor I want for her.”
“She used to whisper. Now she moderates school panels and speaks at assembly. The school didn’t change who she is — they helped her become more her.”
“She’s not just doing well academically — she’s thriving as a person. She talks about fairness, justice, and how she can make a difference. That’s the Hewitt effect.”

The caveats:

Some folks say the academics aren’t quite as intense as other top-tier NYC schools (like Chapin or Brearley).
Others want to see more consistent follow-through on DEIB goals.
A few still wonder: What happened to that downtown campus?

But overall, the consensus is pretty glowing — Hewitt is a place where girls blossom, not burn out.

Final Thoughts

So, after combing through rankings, reviews, school reports, and alumni chatter, what do I think of The Hewitt School?

It’s special. Like, really special.

It’s not trying to be every other NYC prep school. It’s charting its own path — one that values ethics, research, collaboration, and heart. If you're the kind of parent who dreams of your daughter growing up to be bold, kind, and unshakably herself — Hewitt might just be your place.

Is it perfect? No school is. But it’s clear that this one is working hard to be great in the ways that matter most.

Thanks for coming along on this journey with me. If you’re touring NYC schools this year — don’t skip Hewitt. Bring a notebook, ask about Extended Inquiry, and see if your daughter lights up when she walks through those townhouse doors.

Because at the end of the day, that’s what matters most.