Columbia Secondary School

Columbia Secondary School, serving grades 6-12, is highly regarded for its rigorous academic focus on math, science, engineering, and critical thinking, consistently ranking among New York's top high schools. Students benefit from a unique partnership with Columbia University, offering opportunities for college-level coursework. The school boasts exceptional academic outcomes, with ELA and Math proficiency rates well above citywide medians, and a very high percentage of students in accelerated coursework. High school students achieve strong graduation rates and college enrollment figures, both exceeding citywide benchmarks. The curriculum includes a distinctive middle-to-high school engineering sequence and a seven-year philosophy program, emphasizing hands-on, inventive learning. Parents often praise the quality of teachers, the breadth of the curriculum, and the school's diverse cultural events. While fostering a strong sense of community, some students describe the environment as competitive and intense, with calls for enhanced mental health support and more inclusive extracurricular options. Concerns have also been raised regarding administrative communication and support for teachers.