Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School
Encyclopedia
| Columbia Grammar and Preparatory School | |
| Address | 5 West 93rd Street |
| Town | New York, New York, 10025 |
| Established | 1764 |
| Community | Urban |
| Type | Private (Independent) Principal: Dr. Richard Soghoian |
| Religion | Non-Sectarian |
| Students | Coeducational |
| Grades | Pre-Kindergarten to 12 |
| Total Enrollment | 1101 |
| Student/Faculty Ratio | 7:1 |
| Endowment | $22 M. |
| Nickname | Lions |
| Colors | Blue and White |
| Publication | Columbia Prep Journal, Olga, Flash, and Columbia Blue |
| Website | http://www.cgps.org |
Columbia Grammar and Preparatory School ("Columbia Prep", "CGPS", "Columbia") is the oldest non-sectarian private school
Private school
Private schools, also known as independent schools or nonstate schools, are not administered by local, state or national governments; thus, they retain the right to select their students and are funded in whole or in part by charging their students' tuition, rather than relying on mandatory...
in the United States, located on the Upper West Side
Upper West Side
The Upper West Side is a neighborhood in the borough of Manhattan, New York City, that lies between Central Park and the Hudson River and between West 59th Street and West 125th Street...
of Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
(5 West 93rd Street), in New York City, New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. It was founded in 1764 by Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
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.
The school was originally known as The Grammar School of King's College (relating to the former name of Columbia University), changing its name concurrently with the university during the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
to Columbia Grammar School, adding 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
Central Park West
Central Park West is an avenue that runs north-south in the New York City borough of Manhattan, in the United States....
. It originally consisted of one building, adding five brownstone
Brownstone
Brownstone is a brown Triassic or Jurassic sandstone which was once a popular building material. The term is also used in the United States to refer to a terraced house clad in this material.-Types:-Apostle Island brownstone:...
s 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 10 years, the average size of the graduating class has more than doubled from approximately 45 to approximately 110.
The current headmaster is Richard Soghoian, holding that position since 1981. Dr. Stanley Seidman was the grammar school director (resigned 2010). The current grammar school director is Simone Hristidis. Sue Kilmer is the prep school director.
History
Columbia Grammar School was founded in 1764, just ten years after the founding of Kings 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
Charles Anthon
Charles Anthon was an American classical scholar.-Life:After graduating with honors at Columbia College in 1815, he began the study of law, and in 1819 was admitted to the bar, but never practiced...
, 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 non-profit 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 1905 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 SchoolsNew York State Association of Independent Schools
The New York State Association of Independent Schools , founded in 1947, is an association of some 180 independent schools, ranging from nursery to high schools. In 2005, its member schools had approximately 65,000 students...
, the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
The Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools is a voluntary, peer-based, non-profit association dedicated to educational excellence and improvement through peer evaluation and accreditation...
, and the New York State Board of Regents.
The Campus
Columbia Grammar & Prep greatly expanded its physical plant after 1985. Three entirely new buildings and a fully renovated brownstoneTerraced house
In architecture and city planning, a terrace house, terrace, row house, linked house or townhouse is a style of medium-density housing that originated in Great Britain in the late 17th century, where a row of identical or mirror-image houses share side walls...
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 42500 square feet (3,948.4 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. However, due to the schools increasing size, the cafeteria has been unable to seat all the students and staff. This problem has led to a substantial increase in the number of students who choose to have lunch outside of school.
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. 5 new classrooms were also added.
Since then, many brownstones have been added, one entirely for offices, and a building detected to the arts. A walkway is to be built behind the multiple brownstones to make them easier to navigate. In 2009 Columbia 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 Ogilby
- Dr. Charles Anthon (served until 1864)
- Dr. Richard Soghoian (is the current and 13th headmaster)
Alumni
- Jeffrey ToobinJeffrey ToobinJeffrey Ross Toobin is an American lawyer, author, and legal analyst for CNN and The New Yorker.-Early life and education:...
- Legal analyst for CNNCNNCable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States... - Murray Gell-MannMurray Gell-MannMurray Gell-Mann is an American physicist and linguist who received the 1969 Nobel Prize in physics for his work on the theory of elementary particles...
(valedictorian) - Nobel PrizeNobel PrizeThe Nobel Prizes are annual international awards bestowed by Scandinavian committees in recognition of cultural and scientific advances. The will of the Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, established the prizes in 1895...
winner for the discovery of quarks and other subatomic particles. - Sarah Michelle GellarSarah Michelle GellarSarah Michelle Prinze , known professionally by her birth name of Sarah Michelle Gellar , is an American actress, singer and executive producer...
- Actress (attended through 8th grade) - Herman MelvilleHerman MelvilleHerman Melville was an American novelist, short story writer, essayist, and poet. He is best known for his novel Moby-Dick and the posthumous novella Billy Budd....
- Author of Moby-DickMoby-DickMoby-Dick; or, The Whale, was written by American author Herman Melville and first published in 1851. It is considered by some to be a Great American Novel and a treasure of world literature. The story tells the adventures of wandering sailor Ishmael, and his voyage on the whaleship Pequod,...
(attended through 6th grade) - John PodhoretzJohn PodhoretzJohn Podhoretz is an American neoconservative columnist for the New York Post, the editor of Commentary magazine, the author of several books on politics, and a former presidential speechwriter.-Life and career:...
- Political columnist and film critic - Gary WinickGary WinickGary Winick was an American film director and producer who directed films such as Tadpole and 13 Going on 30...
- Director of Tadpole (film)Tadpole (film)Tadpole is a 2002 American romantic comedy film directed by Gary Winick and written by Heather McGowan and Niels Mueller. It stars Sigourney Weaver, Bebe Neuwirth, Aaron Stanford, John Ritter, Robert Iler, and Kate Mara.-Plot:...
, 13 Going on 3013 Going on 3013 Going on 30 is a 2004 American romantic comedy fantasy film starring Jennifer Garner and Mark Ruffalo. It has a similar premise to the classic short story Rip Van Winkle, in which a young person falls asleep and wakes up many years later as an older person...
, Charlotte's Web (2006 film)Charlotte's Web (2006 film)Charlotte's Web is a 2006 American live-action/computer-animated feature film, based on the popular book of the same name by E. B. White. It is directed by Gary Winick and produced by Paramount Pictures, Walden Media, The K Entertainment Company, and Nickelodeon Movies... - Marvin TerbanMarvin TerbanMarvin Terban is an American children's book author. Called a "master of children's wordplay" by ALA Booklist and "Mr. English for Kids" by the Children's Book-of-the-Month Club, he has written over 35 books for young readers, most of them about the English language...
- (Not Alumni) Latin and grammar teacher at CGPS. Writer of several grammar books. Some have even sold over 1 million copies. - Rod Thorn - President of the Philadelphia 76ersPhiladelphia 76ersThe Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...
(attended through 8th grade) - Ally SheedyAlly SheedyAlexandra Elizabeth "Ally" Sheedy is an American film and stage actress, as well as the author of two books. She is best known for her roles in the Brat Pack films The Breakfast Club and St. Elmo's Fire.-Early life:...
- Actress known for her role of Allison Reynolds in the The Breakfast ClubThe Breakfast ClubThe Breakfast Club is a 1985 American teen drama film written and directed by John Hughes. The storyline follows five teenagers as they spend a Saturday in detention together and come to realize that they are all deeper than their respective stereotypes.-Plot:The plot follows five students at... - Lorenz HartLorenz HartLorenz "Larry" Milton Hart was the lyricist half of the famed Broadway songwriting team Rodgers and Hart...
- Composer who worked with Richard Rogers - Noel Ashman - film producer/club owner
- Soren AndersSoren AndersSoren Anders is an American composer, singer, record producer and instrumentalist from southern Illinois. He is the creator of the multi-award winning band Shimmerplanet.- Early life :...
- (Not Alumni) Music teacher at CGPS member of the bands The Staves and Shimmer Planet. - The Postelles - Indie rock band, whose members attended Columbia Prep.
- Steve RossSteve RossSteve Ross may refer to:* Steve Ross , American movie mogul* Stephen Ross , British politician* Stephen Ross , American economist...
- Former CEO of Time WarnerTime WarnerTime Warner is one of the world's largest media companies, headquartered in the Time Warner Center in New York City. Formerly two separate companies, Warner Communications, Inc... - David Wolper - Television Producer, RootsRoots (TV miniseries)Roots is a 1977 American television miniseries based on Alex Haley's fictional novel Roots: The Saga of an American Family. Roots received 36 Emmy Award nominations, winning nine. It also won a Golden Globe and a Peabody Award. It received unprecedented Nielsen ratings with the finale still...
and Willy Wonka & the Chocolate FactoryWilly Wonka & the Chocolate FactoryWilly Wonka & the Chocolate Factory is a 1971 musical film adaptation of the 1964 novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl, directed by Mel Stuart, and starring Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka. The film tells the story of Charlie Bucket as he receives a golden ticket and visits Willy... - Hamilton HoltHamilton HoltHamilton Holt was an American educator, editor, author and politician.-Editor:...
- Former president of Rollins CollegeRollins CollegeRollins College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college located in Winter Park, Florida , along the shores of Lake Virginia.... - John Erskine (educator)John Erskine (educator)John Erskine was a U.S. educator and author, born in New York City and raised in Weehawken, New Jersey. He graduated from Columbia University ....
- Professor at Columbia UniversityColumbia UniversityColumbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the... - Felix Adler (Society for Ethical Culture) - Jewish Leader who founded the Ethical CultureEthical CultureThe Ethical movement, also referred to as the Ethical Culture movement or simply Ethical Culture, is an ethical, educational, and religious movement that is usually traced back to Felix Adler...
movement. - Oscar StrausOscar StrausOscar Straus may refer to:*Oscar Straus , Viennese composer of operettas*Oscar Straus , United States Secretary of Commerce and Labor from 1906 to 1909...
- United States Secretary of Commerce and Labor under Theodore RooseveltTheodore RooseveltTheodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
Sports
Columbia Prep provides a wide range of high-quality athletics facilities intended for use by the entire student population. The north gymnasium houses both the volleyball and basketball courts. The south gymnasium houses volleyball and basketball courts, as well as a modern weight room with both cardiovascular and weight training machines. Across the street from the main gym is Columbia's swimming pool in addition to a smaller gymnasium.Apart from on campus facilities, the Columbia Prep lions utilize many other athletic facilities in the New York metropolitan area. Randall's Island, Riverbank State Park, Roosevelt Island, Van Cortlandt Park, Central Park, The Columbus Tennis Center, Seawane Country Club and Tam O'Shanter Country Club are among the many complexes where the soccer, baseball, track, X country, and golf teams practice and compete.
Sports Teams
- Boys Varsity Soccer
- Girls Varsity Soccer
- Girls Varsity Volleyball
- Girls J.V. Volleyball
- Boys And Girls X Country
- Girls Varsity Swimming
- Girls Varsity Basketball
- Girls J.V. Basketball
- Boys 7/8 Basketball B
- Boys 7/8 Basketball A
- Boys Freshman Basketball
- Boys J.V. Basketball
- Boys J.V. Soccer
- Boys J.V. Baseball
- Boys Varsity Basketball
- Varsity Ice Hockey
- Girls Varsity Softball
- Boys Varsity Baseball
- Boys Varsity Tennis
- Girls Varsity Tennis
- Boys And Girls Varsity Spring Track
- Varsity Golf
External links
40.790244°N 73.966893°W