Overview
Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School provides a college-preparatory education with a strong emphasis on art, music, and drama as part of a structured liberal-arts and sciences curriculum. Its program covers English, languages, math, science, social studies, physical education, technology, and the fine arts, aiming to develop students’ intellectual potential for college and beyond while also building good character and a sense of social responsibility. The school differentiates itself by integrating arts and performing arts with rigorous academics and by treating character development and citizenship as essential parts of education, not afterthoughts. Its goal is to prepare students for higher education and responsible, engaged lives in society.
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Simplify's take
What believers are saying
- More than 1,000 families attended fall open houses on October 23, 2026.
- CGPS hired Julia Tinalli on October 23, 2026 to strengthen philanthropy.
- New security director Adam Gagan and expanded safety measures support parent confidence.
What critics are saying
- 2026-27 tuition reached $69,560, squeezing families and narrowing the applicant pool.
- The November 15, 2026 admissions deadline intensifies competition with rival Manhattan independents.
- Strategic and capital projects depend on fundraising; a philanthropy miss delays programs and campus upgrades.
What makes Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School unique
- CGPS combines PreK-12 continuity with selective entry across every grade.
- Its Upper West Side location and 1,167-student scale support dense extracurricular access.
- Stanford-MIT alumni-led AI programming differentiates CGPS from traditional Manhattan prep schools.
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