FAQs

We have approximately 1200 students from PreK through Grade 12. As a co-educational school, we have an equal number of males and females enrolled.

The current Student:Teacher ratio school-wide is 6:1.

Applications are available September 1 and are accepted until our deadline of November 30.

The application fee is $75 but is waived if your family is applying for financial assistance.

We begin at the Pre-K level. Students must be four years old before September 1.

A kindergarten applicant must be five years old before September 1.

Standardized testing (ISEE or SSAT) is required for grades 2-12. 

Need-based financial assistance is available. Please contact Robyn Gaines, Bursar, at rgaines@cgps.org with any questions you may have. 

We offer both in-person and virtual Open Houses in the fall. Our Open House programs provide parents with a comprehensive experience to learn about the educational and extra-curricular offerings at CGPS as well as an opportunity to meet school administrators, faculty and students. 

Yes, we offer spring tours for pre-kindergarten and kindergarten applicants in April and May. Please contact Janet Barrett at admission@cgps.org or 212.749.6200 x261 with any questions you may have.

Sibling, legacy and faculty/staff applicants are given special consideration during the admissions process. In accordance with ISAAGNY guidelines, we offer early notification for these applicants. Please see "What's CGPS's Sibling & Legacy Policy" below for more detailed information.

Columbia Grammar School was founded in 1764, just ten years after the founding of King’s College, which later became Columbia College, now part of Columbia University. Originally established as a boys’ preparatory school for Kings College, Columbia Grammar School functioned for 100 years under the direct auspices of the college. In 1864, the trustees of Columbia College terminated their relationship with Columbia Grammar School, and the School became a proprietary institution, achieving its non-profit status in 1941.

In 1956, we welcomed more students into our community when we merged with the neighboring Leonard School for Girls and became a co-educational institution. Leonard’s interconnected brownstones on West 94th Street are home today to our Pre-K through second grade students.

In 1969, the School’s name was officially changed to Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School. Shortly thereafter, we began a tremendous physical expansion project, which today is now the largest campus in Manhattan, educating nearly 1,300 students from Pre-K to Grade 12.

In 2014, we proudly celebrated our 250th anniversary as one of the oldest independent schools in the United States. In 2017, Dr. William M. Donohue was appointed as only the 14th Head of School in the School’s history.

Our graduates go on to some of the top colleges and universities both in the United States and abroad. Please visit our College Counseling page for a comprehensive matriculation list. 

The transportation options available to our Grammar and Middle School families:

1.    Private Bus Service (Grades Pre-K to 7)

Our private bus service provider is Mario’s Transportation. Mario’s rates are $6,000.00 round-trip and $3,800.00 one-way. In addition to door-to-door service, Mario’s can drop off at religious school or other after school activity. This is provided that it does not significantly alter the route and/or drop-off times for other students. They will also accommodate play dates with some restrictions. Please give Mario’s advance notice if there is an alternate drop-off or play date.

Please contact Mario’s if you are interested in private service. They will need adequate time to plan and test routes. Mario’s Transportation can be reached at 718.748.4100 and at mariotrans@aol.com. Their forms can be downloaded below or from their website (mariostransportation.com).

2.    Kid Car

Kid Car is a child-friendly car service founded in 2007 with trained and vetted drivers. Kid Car can be engaged for door-to-door pick up and drop off. They can also be used for post-dismissal transport, be it the after-school program or extended day. You can see what they have to offer at kidcar.net or contact the proprietor directly at topher@kidcar.net.

3.    Public Bus Service (Grade K-6)

Consolidated Bus is a free public bus service, which is available to eligible students. There are two morning and two afternoon routes. The a.m. and p.m. East Side buses are M1174 and M9081. The a.m. and p.m. West Side buses are M1050 and M9313. The routes as listed will likely be in place at the beginning of the 2019-2020 school year. The routes can be downloaded below.  

Pick-ups and drop-offs by Consolidated are generally at the far corner through the stoplight. Check the route to get a sense of the direction the bus is traveling in.

PLEASE READ - IMPORTANT

The Office of Pupil Transportation operates under a “Parent Not at Home” policy with regard to afternoon drop-offs. Simply stated, a driver can drop off a child without an adult present to receive him or her. However, students can choose to remain on the bus and be returned to CGPS. We urge anyone using public busing to develop a contingency plan in the event that someone is not there to greet the bus. The policy can be downloaded below.

Lastly, Consolidated does not accommodate play dates.

If your child is registered for the current school year and you want to continue, do nothing and your service will carry over to the next. Contact the Transportation Coordinator if you are interested in first time service.

4.   MetroCards

Children using private transportation may be eligible for a MetroCard but children using Consolidated Bus are not. Unless otherwise instructed, MetroCards will be re-issued to students who received them in the past.

Please be advised that Pre-K students are not eligible for the public bus or a MetroCard. 

ERB Admissions Testing:  https://www.erblearn.org/parents/admissions-testing
SSAT Testing: https://ssat.org//
School & Student Services: https://www.solutionsbysss.com/parents
NAIS: https://www.nais.org/
ISAAGNY: https://www.isaagny.org/
NYSAIS: https://www.nysais.org/

CGPS is first and foremost a family school. We believe in keeping our loyal and supportive families and alumni in the CGPS community, provided that we can best serve the holistic needs of the applicant.

CGPS has a long-standing sibling policy that demonstrates our commitment to families within our school community. If your child is eligible to apply for the 2023-24 school year we are offering siblings of currently enrolled students the opportunity to apply for the Early Decision option for Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten.

It is only through this Early Decision process that preferential consideration is given. We will notify families of the Early Admission Decision in December. If you do not choose the Early Decision option, your child will be placed in the general pool of applicants to be notified in February and March. 

Please complete the application, accessible from your parent portal, and submit it by Monday, October 3, 2022. Once the student information and family information is completed, please contact Allie Shartle ashartle@cgps.org for scheduling.

Official notification dates are determined by ISAAGNY.