My kids went to a prep school where there were some international boarders (lived with families or small group homes) but most of the kids lived within TWO HOURS! We only lived about 15 minutes away but I dropped them on my way to work and picked them up on my way home, so they were at school from about 7:30 to 6. It was in California so most kids couldn’t drive other kids until their senior year (when they were 17.5 years old). Several kids commuted from San Diego or LA (school in Orange Cty) by train.
My nephew’s high school involved a 30 to 45 minute commute at the best of times, and 7 in the morning is NOT the best time. It is the first school to cancel due to weather because so many kids come from so far and they go to school in car pools with kids driving. Kids in NYC often commute an hour by subway.
I don’t think a 45 minute commute is unusual for a private school in a city.