Associate Director of Admissions (Early Childhood through Grade 6)
Calhoun School Inc, California, MO, United States
Education Level4 Year DegreeCategoryEducation## DescriptionThe 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**#### **Admissions & Recruitment (EC–Grade 6)*** **Primary Liaison:** Serve as the primary point of contact for all prospective families from Early Childhood through Grade 6.* **Application Management:** Oversee the full lifecycle of the application process, including campus visits, parent interviews, and the collection of supplemental materials.* **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.
+ Clear understanding of Montessori pedagogy and ability to articulate the benefits and advantages of early childhood and lower elementary Montessori structure.* **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.* **Relationship Management:** Foster and nurture strategic relationships with preschools and sending schools to promote and grow application volume and to promote strong yield outcomes.* **Yield Management:** Deliver expected application and yield outcomes, monitoring show-rates and general engagement levels for the EC-Grade 6 cohort.* **Events & Outreach:** Support admissions and retention events, greet families, and ensure the overall impact of each event is realized.**Retention & Data Analysis*** **Transitional & Retention Support:** Lead retention-focused activities (specifically for the EC to Kindergarten transition and Grades 4–6) to stabilize enrollment.* **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.* **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).## Qualifications### QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED* Experience: Proven experience in admissions or fundraising, preferably within a PS-12 independent school setting.* Data Literacy: Strong comfort with data analysis and the ability to use data to understand and interpret market trends.* Communication: Exceptional ability to communicate professionally and persuasively with students, faculty, and administration across a broad age range.* Analytical Skills: High proficiency with spreadsheets and database manipulation (Finalsite preferred).* 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.* Education: Bachelor’s degree required.### SUCCESS FACTORS/JOB COMPETENCIES* Innovative Thinking: Ability to create "out of the box" events that resonate with modern NYC families.* Relationship Building: Natural ability to foster trust with preschool directors, sending school coordinators, and educational consultants.* Strategic Time Management: Ability to organize and manage multiple priorities across several grade levels.### PHYSICAL DEMANDS/WORK REQUIREMENTS* Physical: Ability to walk up stairs, stand, sit, and carry admissions materials up to 10 pounds.* Time: Requires occasional evening and weekend work for admissions events and community outreach. #J-18808-Ljbffr
+ Clear understanding of Montessori pedagogy and ability to articulate the benefits and advantages of early childhood and lower elementary Montessori structure.* **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.* **Relationship Management:** Foster and nurture strategic relationships with preschools and sending schools to promote and grow application volume and to promote strong yield outcomes.* **Yield Management:** Deliver expected application and yield outcomes, monitoring show-rates and general engagement levels for the EC-Grade 6 cohort.* **Events & Outreach:** Support admissions and retention events, greet families, and ensure the overall impact of each event is realized.**Retention & Data Analysis*** **Transitional & Retention Support:** Lead retention-focused activities (specifically for the EC to Kindergarten transition and Grades 4–6) to stabilize enrollment.* **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.* **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).## Qualifications### QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED* Experience: Proven experience in admissions or fundraising, preferably within a PS-12 independent school setting.* Data Literacy: Strong comfort with data analysis and the ability to use data to understand and interpret market trends.* Communication: Exceptional ability to communicate professionally and persuasively with students, faculty, and administration across a broad age range.* Analytical Skills: High proficiency with spreadsheets and database manipulation (Finalsite preferred).* 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.* Education: Bachelor’s degree required.### SUCCESS FACTORS/JOB COMPETENCIES* Innovative Thinking: Ability to create "out of the box" events that resonate with modern NYC families.* Relationship Building: Natural ability to foster trust with preschool directors, sending school coordinators, and educational consultants.* Strategic Time Management: Ability to organize and manage multiple priorities across several grade levels.### PHYSICAL DEMANDS/WORK REQUIREMENTS* Physical: Ability to walk up stairs, stand, sit, and carry admissions materials up to 10 pounds.* Time: Requires occasional evening and weekend work for admissions events and community outreach. #J-18808-Ljbffr