Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School

5 W 93rd St New York, NY 10025
www.cgps.org

Quick Facts (2026-27)

  • Top Ranked NY School
  • Grades: Prekindergarten-12
  • Enrollment: 1,167 students
  • Yearly Tuition: $69,560
  • Average class size: 14 students
  • Application Deadline: Nov. 15
  • Source: Verified school update
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Quick Facts (2026-27)

  • Top Ranked NY School
  • Grades: Prekindergarten-12
  • Enrollment: 1,167 students
  • Yearly Tuition: $69,560
  • Average class size: 14 students
  • Application Deadline: Nov. 15
  • Source: Verified school update

School Rankings

Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School ranks among the top 20% of private schools in New York for:

Category
Attribute
Student Body
Sports offered
School History

School Facts

Religious Affiliation
Grades Offered
Grades Prekindergarten-12
Students By Grade
Year Founded
1764
Last Day of School
Fri. Jun 11, 2027

Student Body

Total Students
1,167 students
Student Body Type
Co-ed
% Students of Color
33%
State avg.: 39%

Academic Profile

Total Classroom Teachers
275 teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
4:1
National avg.: 11:1
% Faculty w/Advanced Degree
82%
Average Class Size
14 students
Matriculation DataMatric. Data
Classroom Dress Code
Casual
Number of AP Courses
18 courses
List of Courses Offered
Advanced Courses
BiologyCalculus AB
Calculus BCChemistry
EnglishEnvironmental Science
French LanguageJapanese
LatinMusic Theory
PsychologySpanish Language
Spanish LiteratureStatistics
U.S. GovernmentU.S. History
World History

Tuition & Financial Aid

Admission Deadline
Nov. 15
Yearly Tuition Cost
% on Financial Aid
17%
Admissions Director
Billy Hawkey
Application URL

Extracurriculars

Total ExtracurricularsTotal Extra-curric.
74 extracurriculars
ExtracurricularsExtra-curric.
Club or Organization:
About IsraelActing Improv
Adv. FinanceAmnesty International
AnalyticsArt Club
Baking ClubBarbershop
Baseball ClubBlack Culture Club
Book ClubBusiness & Economics
CGPS Voices (Social Justice Magazine)Chess Team
Chinese CultureColumbia Blue (Newspaper)
Community ServiceComputer Science
CPJ (Columbia Prep Journal)CPTV (Columbia Prep TV)
Crochet for a CauseCulinary Club
Current Events ClubDays for Girls
Debate TeamEnvironmental Club
Fashion ClubFilm Appreciation
Food InsecurityFuture Business Leaders of America
Girls Who CodeGirls Who Play Chess
Healthy Mind and BodyHistory Olympiad
Innocence ProjectInnovate (Science Magazine)
Inside the BrainInvesting
Japanese Culture ClubLatin Club
Le Club de FrançaisLeading Community Engagement: Equity
MahjongMath Club
MeditationMock Trial
Model CongressModel UN
Multi-Ethnic Cultural Awareness (MECA)Philosophy Club
Preventing Gun ViolenceQSA (Queer-Straight Alliance)
Real EstateRobotics Team
Science OlympiadSpanish Appreciation
Sports DebateSports Website (The Lion's Roar)
Stagecraft ClubThe Globe (Language Magazine)
UNICEFWomen's Leadership
YearbookYoung Democrats
Young EntrepreneursYoung Republicans


Arts and Music Programs:
Adv. OrchestraBluenotes (A Cappella)
ChorusDance Ensemble
Jazz BandModern Band
OrchestraSounds of 7 (A Cappella)

School Notes

  • Established in 1764 and located in New York City, CGPS is the oldest nonsectarian independent school in the United States and a leader in student-centered learning, educating children in Pre-K through 12th grade.
  • CGPS nurtures each student's unique passions and talents inside and outside the classroom, unifying and inspiring members of its community, preparing them for the finest colleges and instilling in them the confidence, ethical values and sense of purpose to embrace challenges, to achieve their dreams and to improve the world.
  • Sample of notable school alumni/alumnae:
    • Murray Gell-Mann - Nobel Prize winner for the discovery of quarks and other subatomic particles
    • Rainer Weiss - Professor Emeritus at MIT and 2017 Nobel Prize winner (Physics)
    • Stephen Shore - photographer who pioneered the use of color in art photography
    • Herman Melville - author of Moby Dick
    • Lorenz Hart - lyricist and half of the Broadway songwriting team Rodgers and Hart
    • Ally Sheedy - actress known for her role of Allison Reynolds in The Breakfast Club
    • David Stearns - president of baseball operations for the New York Mets
    • The Safdie Brothers - filmmakers known for critically acclaimed films such as Uncut Gems and Good Time
Source: Verified school update

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School cost?
Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School's tuition is approximately $69,560 for private students.
Who are famous alumni from Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School?
Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School famous alumni include: Murray Gell-Mann, Rainer Weiss, Stephen Shore, Herman Melville, Lorenz Hart, Ally Sheedy, David Stearns and The Safdie Brothers.
What sports does Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School offer?
Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School offers 14 interscholastic sports: Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Golf, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Swimming, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball, Weightlifting and Winter Track. Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School is ranked as one of the top 20% of private schools in New York for most sports offered.
What is Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School's ranking?
Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School ranks among the top 20% of private schools in New York for: Largest student body, Most AP courses offered, Most sports offered, Most extracurriculars offered and Oldest founding date.
When is the application deadline for Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School?
The application deadline for Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School is Nov. 15.

School Reviews

  5.00 out of 5  (3 reviews)
5  
Such an amazing school! I had such a great time here.
- Posted by
5  
Fantastic community with great teachers, caring administrators, very well thought out extra curricular activities and genuine student body.
- Posted by
5  
I absolutely recommend this school for anybody. I will be graduating this year, having attended since kindergarten, and I'm very sad to be leaving. I have been exposed to every type of extracurricular including music, art, theater, and sports. If you find something that you love at CGPS, as I found sports, we have faculty with expertise that can take you to any level you wish to go to. I have received a world class education here, made friends that will last a lifetime, been privileged to learn from amazing teachers who are deeply passionate about what they teach, and so much more. I have grown up at CGPS, and now, having gotten into college early decision thanks to our wonderful college counselors, I am faced with the reality of having to leave next year. I urge everyone to consider CGPS for their child. You will find a community of caring individuals who care about helping your child and are committed to making sure they receive the best education possible, as I have for the past thirteen years.
- Posted by

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Did You Know?

The average private school tuition in New York, NY is $47,316 for elementary schools and $49,836 for high schools (read more about average private school tuition across the country).
The average acceptance rate in New York, NY is 58% (read more about average acceptance rates across the country).

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