Trisha Shetty (Editor)

Columbia Grammar and Preparatory School

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
Religious affiliation(s)
  
Nonsectarian

Grades
  
pre-kindergarten–12

Phone
  
+1 212-749-6200

Founded
  
1764

Established
  
1764

Gender
  
Coeducational

Number of students
  
1,290

Colors
  
Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School

Type
  
Private, Day, College-Prep

Headmaster
  
Dr. Richard J. Soghoian

Address
  
5 W 93rd St, New York, NY 10025, USA

Athletics conferences
  
Accreditations
  
New York State Association of Independent Schools, Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools

Similar
  
Trinity School, Trevor Day School, The Dalton School, Brearley School, Collegiate School

Case study acoustic intervention at columbia grammar and preparatory school


Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School ("Columbia Grammar", "Columbia Prep", "CGPS", "Columbia") is one of the oldest nonsectarian private schools in the United States, located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan (5 West 93rd Street), in New York City, New York. It was founded in 1764 by Columbia University in order to properly prepare incoming freshmen in the fields of English, Greek, and Latin grammar. By 1865, the school had grown substantially and was no longer connected to the university.

Contents

The school was originally known as The Grammar School of King's College (King's College was the original name of Columbia University). The school changed its name concurrently with the university during the American Revolution to Columbia Grammar School, and added the word preparatory in 1978. While grammar and preparatory have differing connotations, the entire school is known by its full name.

The school has existed in several locations over the centuries. In 1906, the school moved to its current location on 93rd Street, off Central Park West. It originally consisted of one building, and expanded by adding five brownstones through the merger of the adjacent Leonard School for Girls in 1950. A building across the street was built in 1984, followed by two more in 1997 and 2001. Furthermore, an administration building was recently added to the school. In the past 20 years, the average size of the graduating class has more than doubled from approximately 45 to approximately 125.

The current headmaster, Dr. Richard Soghoian, has held the position since 1981. Dr. Stanley Seidman was the grammar school director until his resignation in 2010; the current grammar school director is Simone Hristidis. Sue Kilmer is the current prep school director. The school serves grades Prekindergarten to 12 and offers a rigorous, comprehensive college preparatory curriculum.

As with other prestigious New York schools, tuition at Columbia Grammar School is expensive. In 2012, the New York Times cited a figure of $38,340 for a Grade 12 student.

Current tuition for the 2016-2017 academic year for 12th grade is listed on their website at $47,540.

History

Columbia Grammar School was founded in 1764, just ten years after the founding of King's College (later Columbia University). Originally established as a boys' preparatory school for the college, it functioned for one hundred years under the direct auspices of the college.

One of the most illustrious headmasters during that period was Dr. Charles Anthon, one of America's earliest and most distinguished classical scholars. During his tenure the grammar school provided over half the students to Columbia College's freshman class.

In 1864, when Dr. Anthon retired as headmaster, the trustees of Columbia College terminated their relationship with the grammar school and the school became a proprietary institution, only achieving its nonprofit status in 1941.

In 1937, the Leonard School for Girls was founded, using several interconnected brownstones on West 94th Street (now part of the lower school). The school joined with the grammar school in 1956 to become a coed institution.

As only the 13th headmaster in the school's long history, Dr. Richard Soghoian has guided the physical expansion of the school from its 1906 home at 5 West 93rd Street to the present complex, which includes two high school buildings and an additional brownstone joined to the grammar school buildings.

Accreditation

Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School is a fully independent, non-sectarian school governed by a board of trustees composed of alumni and parents. The school is accredited by the New York State Association of Independent Schools, the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, and the New York State Board of Regents.

The school is a member of the Independent School Admissions Association of New York (ISAAGNY).

Campus

Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School greatly expanded its physical plant after 1985. Three entirely new buildings and a fully renovated brownstone have, together with the existing buildings, added academic facilities as well as two new theaters, several computer labs, a variety of art studios and space for a growing music program. The Grammar School is located in a series of five interconnecting brownstones on the tree-shaded 94th Street, just off Central Park, and the original Columbia Grammar School building (1905) at 5 West 93rd Street. In addition to classrooms, these house two libraries, two art studios, a gymnasium, swimming pool, two music studios, a science lab, a computer lab, and the Grammar School cafeteria.

The school began its expansion in 1984 with the construction of a new preparatory school at 4 West 93rd, containing a full-sized gymnasium, three science labs, state-of-the art computer lab, library, three music studios, and nine classrooms.

In 1996, 36 West 93rd Street was completed, adding 42,500 square feet (3,950 m2) of space to the physical plant. This building, which goes through from 93rd to 92nd Street, has two computer labs, five art studios, library, science labs, and classrooms for grades 5 and 6, a fully equipped theater, and a large cafeteria.

In September 2001 a major addition was added onto the high school containing yet another full-sized gym, a state-of-the-art theater, and three floors of classrooms and science labs. Five new classrooms were also added.

Since then, many brownstones have been added, one entirely for offices, and a building dedicated to the arts. A walkway has been built behind the multiple brownstones to make them easier to navigate. In 2009, CGPS purchased several new brownstones, one entirely for the kindergarten, another for a science building, and one for administrative offices. Two new levels are being constructed in the 5th and 6th grade building. The prep school also added a new level to its library.

Headmasters

  • John David Ogilby (1829-1830)
  • Dr. Charles Anthon (served until 1864)
  • George W. Bacon and Richard S. Bacon
  • Benjamin H. Campbell
  • Frederic A. Alden
  • James W. Stern
  • Dr. Richard Soghoian (is the current and 13th headmaster). Dr. Soghoian became headmaster in 1981. He is the author of the book Mind the Gap! An Insider's Irreverent Look at Private School Finances and Management—With a Lesson for Government and Industry, Too!" (2012).
  • Alumni

  • Pete Levin - Owner of famed East Village bar Professor Thom's and long time SNL cue card guy
  • Jeffrey Toobin - Legal analyst for CNN
  • Murray Gell-Mann (valedictorian) - Nobel Prize winner for the discovery of quarks and other subatomic particles.
  • Sarah Michelle Gellar - Actress (attended through 8th grade)
  • Herman Melville - Author of Moby-Dick (attended through 6th grade)
  • Robert Ray Hamilton - Former New York State Senator and great-grandson of Alexander Hamilton
  • George Templeton Strong - Noted American diarist and lawyer
  • John Podhoretz - Political columnist and film critic
  • Gary Winick - Director of Tadpole, 13 Going on 30, and Charlotte's Web (2006 version)
  • Marvin Terban - (Not alumnus) Latin and grammar teacher at CGPS. Writer of several grammar books.
  • Rod Thorn - President of the Philadelphia 76ers (attended through 8th grade)
  • Ally Sheedy - Actress known for her role of Allison Reynolds in The Breakfast Club
  • Lorenz Hart - Lyricist who worked with Richard Rogers
  • Noel Ashman - film producer/club owner
  • Soren Anders - (Not Alumnus) Music teacher at CGPS member of the bands The Staves and Shimmer Planet.
  • The Postelles - Indie rock band, whose members attended Columbia Prep.
  • Steve Ross - Former CEO of Time Warner
  • David Wolper - Television Producer, Roots and Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
  • Hamilton Holt - Former president of Rollins College
  • John Erskine (educator) - Professor at Columbia University
  • Felix Adler (Society for Ethical Culture) - Jewish leader who founded the Ethical Culture movement.
  • Oscar Straus - United States Secretary of Commerce and Labor under Theodore Roosevelt
  • Scott Goldstein - Television and film writer, producer and director
  • Joe DiRosa - Owner of the New York Artist Series, L. A. Artist Series and Miami Artist Series.
  • Josh Fox - Filmmaker (HBO documentaries Gasland, Gasland Part II), theatre director, founder of International Wow Company.
  • David Stearns - General Manager of the Milwaukee Brewers.]
  • Barron Trump - son of Donald Trump, 45th President of the United States
  • References

    Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School Wikipedia