Pfau Cochran Vertetis Amala is investigating claims on behalf of families whose children may have been abused by Eric Cato, the former principal of KIPP Washington Heights Middle School in Manhattan. Cato was indicted by a Manhattan grand jury on eight counts, including sexual abuse and endangering the welfare of a child, following his arrest by the NYPD on August 12, 2026.

According to the Manhattan District Attorney’s office and court documents, Cato is accused of abusing at least two students who attended KIPP Washington Heights Middle School during his tenure as principal, between October 2024 and March 2026. The indictment states his youngest alleged victim was under 13 years old. Cato is also charged with endangering the welfare of a third student. He has not entered a plea, and his attorney has not issued a public response. As with any pending criminal case, the charges against Cato are allegations at this stage, not a finding of guilt.

Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg said his office and the NYPD continue to investigate and are asking anyone with information to come forward. A KIPP NYC spokesperson confirmed Cato is no longer with the school and said staff are focused on student privacy and safety.

Cato was arraigned and entered a plea of not guilty. The case is proceeding toward trial, and no trial date has been set.

This is not the first abuse allegation tied to KIPP Washington Heights Middle School. In December 2021, a science teacher at the school, Cesar Sanchez, was arrested and charged with sexually abusing and grooming a female student over several years. That case led to the firing of the school’s then-principal for failing to act on warning signs, and Cato was appointed to lead the school in 2022 in the aftermath. Families and advocates may reasonably ask what oversight KIPP NYC had in place in the years between these two cases, and whether earlier warning signs were missed.

When a school administrator is entrusted with the safety of children and is accused of abusing that position, the school and its operating network may bear legal responsibility alongside the individual accused. Institutional abuse claims can examine what a school knew, what it was told, and what it did or failed to do to protect students. Families of children who attended KIPP Washington Heights Middle School during Cato’s tenure, or during the earlier Sanchez case, may have grounds for a civil claim separate from the criminal case.

A civil claim does not depend on the outcome of the criminal case. Families can pursue accountability and compensation regardless of whether Cato is convicted, and there’s no need to wait for the criminal case to conclude before speaking with an attorney.

You do not need to wait for the criminal case to resolve to speak with an attorney. PCVA represents survivors of institutional child sexual abuse across Washington and New York and offers confidential, no-cost consultations. If you believe your child, or a child you know, may have been affected, we encourage you to reach out.

These are allegations. Cato has pleaded not guilty, and the criminal case will determine what, if anything, is proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

Families with information relevant to the criminal investigation can also contact the NYPD Sex Crimes Hotline at 212-267-7273.