Ethical Culture Fieldston School (ECFS) vs. Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School

The Ethical Culture Fieldston School offers a world-class progressive education in Pre-K through 12th Grade at two historic campuses in Manhattan and the Bronx.

The core of our educational program is the study and practice of ethics, which prepares and compels us to take care of our world, ourselves, and each other. At ECFS, we don`t teach students what to think, what to question, or what to explore - but how to think, how to question, and how to explore.

Our tenets of progressive education focus on the whole child, ensuring that education is responsive, relevant, experiential, and playful, among other traits.

With an enduring commitment to excellence, equity, and inclusion, we inspire a diverse and joyful community of passionate learners, critical thinkers, and ethical individuals who aim to make the world more humane and just.

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 in a rigorous but relaxed learning environment, 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.