challenged to be bold and it was, deciding to acquire the townhouse. Now, even though it wasn’ t part of the strategic plan, serendipitously, Saint David’ s was able to regain specialized instruction space( five classrooms) lost after it increased all Upper School grades from two large to three smaller sections following the pandemic.
As Saint David’ s School approached its 75th anniversary with TBI up and running( with the help of the jumpstart), socioeconomic diversity defined, and 15 E 88 acquired, the school galvanized, after a series of comprehensive listening tours and feasibility studies, its newest strategic plan and launched a $ 30 million, four-year campaign— INSPIRE. DEEPEN. PREPARE. The Campaign for Our Boys and Their Teachers— to honor its founding mission while preparing deliberately for the future. Rooted in the enduring aspiration ut viri boni sint, the campaign builds on decades of innovation, growth, and fidelity to faith-based, all-boy, mission-driven education.
Throughout its history, Saint David’ s has adapted boldly to changing times while remaining steadfast in its purpose: to educate boys through rigorous academics, moral introspection, and critical inquiry. The campaign continues this tradition by investing strategically in the two forces that most directly shape boys’ lives at school: their teachers and their learning environment. The campaign is organized around three interdependent priorities:
INSPIRE: Invest in Teachers
As mentioned above, Saint David’ s seeks to attract, develop, and retain exceptional faculty by endowing the Teaching Boys Initiative( TBI) and strengthening faculty compensation. TBI embeds research-informed best practices into professional development, focusing on how boys learn best— particularly the central role of strong, trusting teacher – student relationships. By supporting teachers as reflective practitioners and ensuring competitive compensation in a challenging labor market, the school safeguards instructional excellence while reducing long-term pressure on tuition. These investments position Saint David’ s as a leader in boys’ education and sustain a faculty culture grounded in inquiry, growth, and mission.
DEEPEN: Broaden Access and Belonging
Consistent with its moral and educational commitments, Saint David’ s aims to deepen socioeconomic diversity and ensure that every boy experiences belonging and community. By expanding financial aid and outreach efforts, the school seeks to reflect the diversity of New York City and foster empathy, cultural understanding, and generosity of spirit in all students. Increased access strengthens both individual formation and the collective life of the school.
PREPARE: Design for the Future
With the acquisition of its fourth and final Cutting townhouse, Saint David’ s now occupies a contiguous 122,000-square-foot campus— creating a rare opportunity to reimagine learning spaces for the 21st century. Campaign investments will optimize instructional areas, support smaller class sizes, expand specialized learning spaces, and enhance outdoor play for younger boys. These improvements sustain reduced student – faculty ratios, strengthen relational teaching, and ensure that physical spaces support boys’ academic, emotional, and social development.
Together, these priorities advance a unified vision: a school that inspires outstanding teachers, deepens community, and prepares boys to thrive in a rapidly changing world. As Saint David’ s enters its next chapter, the campaign represents both gratitude for past generosity and a confident invitation to invest in a future shaped by purpose, excellence, and care for boys at a formative stage of their lives.
As has been the school’ s true tradition since her founding 75 years ago, it is the passion, commitment, and vision of this entire community— faculty, staff, alums, parents, friends and most importantly boys— that propels her ever forward. The people are the school and on her 75th anniversary she currently numbers some 440 boys, 380 families, 130 faculty and staff, some 2,374 graduates, and six buildings … a long way from those humble beginnings.
The final lines of the school’ s Alma Mater read:“ Fons, praeceptor / Praecipue / Nutrix beata / O Alma Mater / Sancti David lude,” which loosely translated speak to the school as a teacher of us all, a blessed mother to all who pass through her embrace … and if the past is any indication of the future, the school’ s fountain of knowledge and her loving embrace will widen and brighten. Saint David’ s is on the move; her best days lie ahead.
With this newest strategic initiative and its associated campaign, Saint David’ s endowments will be in excess of $ 100 million; her campus now expanded and consolidated at 89th Street, her teachers and staff competitively compensated and their professional growth and development invested in; her program challenging, dynamic, and integrated with the city, and her boys thriving. Saint David’ s is well-positioned for a robust and successful second quarter of the 21st century, and like her namesake, ready for the challenges that lie ahead as she blazes an even brighter trail to 2051, her 100th anniversary. Are you ready for the ride? Excelsior. •
Dr. David O’ Halloran is Headmaster of Saint David’ s School.
22 • Saint David’ s Magazine • 75th Anniversary Edition