Columbia Secondary School: Top STEM School in New York NY (2026 List)

About Columbia Secondary School

Columbia Secondary School is a public school for grades 6-12 in the New York City Public School system. The school has about 422 pupils and a pupil-teacher ratio of around 13 to 1. Columbia Secondary School has a rigorous academic program with an emphasis on science, math, and engineering and offers Advanced Placement courses and exams with an 81% participation rate. Minority enrollment is 73% and 46% of students are economically disadvantaged. Math proficiency is 91%, Reading proficiency is 95%. Average district spending per student. Columbia Secondary School is located in Morningside Heights and has a partnership with Columbia University offering access to university resources, research opportunities, and a collaborative learning environment. The college counseling program prepares students for the SAT and ACT. Columbia Secondary School is ranked as one of the highest-performing schools for STEM-focused instruction and college readiness, and it is one of the best high school in New York.

Academic Performance

Subject Proficiency

Mathematics 91%

Reading 95%

State average proficiency is 91% in Math and 95% in Reading.

56

Full-time Teachers

13 : 1

Student-Teacher Ratio

718

Total Students

$82249

Avg. Teacher Salary

Student Demographics

White 27.16%

Asian 10.86%

Hispanic 35.79%

Black 20.61%

Two+ Races 4.74%

Native Am. 0.42%

White

27.16%

Asian

10.86%

Hispanic

35.79%

Black

20.61%

Two+ Races

4.74%

Native Am.

0.42%

Gender Distribution

Total Students: 718

46.24%

332 Female

53.76%

386 Male

Student Population

718 Students

With a student-teacher ratio of 13 : 1

Minority Enrollment

25%

Percentage of minority students

Students per Counselor

348 : 1

Student to counselor ratio

Columbia Secondary School Contact Information

Address

425 W 123RD ST, NEW YORK, NY, 10027

View on Map

Phone

(212) 666-1278

Call Now

Website

http://www.columbiasecondary.org

Recent News & Updates

New Playground Name

We are so excited to announce the name of our new playground! Following a school-wide and Robinson community vote we narrowed a large list of names down to four. Since our students will be using the playground on a daily basis, we gave them the final vote! 476.....

School Timings

Regular School Hours

All Grades: 8:00 AM to 2:26 PM

Early Dismissal Days

Dismissal Time: 12:15 PM

Note: Doors open at 7:45 AM for student arrival. Please refer to the school calendar for specific early dismissal dates.

After School Activities

Information coming soon

School Session Dates

September to June

School session starts in September 1st week and ends in June 3rd week. For exact dates, please contact the school.

Remarkable Alumni

Being Updated

Map

Latest News

As part of the school’s ongoing partnership with Columbia University, Columbia Secondary School students have recently had expanded STEM and research-based learning opportunities. The school has added more academic workshops and advanced science, math and analytical writing courses to help students get ready for college. Students have also participated in enrichment programs, research presentations, and collaborative projects that link classroom learning to real-world applications. These programs continue to give students a rich exposure to university-style academics and interdisciplinary learning experiences.

FAQ

Q1. What does Columbia Secondary School do to make the learning environment better?

Ans. Respect, working together, and being responsible make sure that the school culture is safe, welcoming, and open to everyone.

Q2. Are there ways to get better at school?

Ans. Yes, advanced classes and projects make students work hard in school and think for themselves.

Q3. Are college entrance exams conducted here?

Ans. Students can take the SAT and ACT tests on-site or through programs that work together.

Q4. Does Columbia Secondary School help students think of new things?

Ans. Yes, students can find out more about art, music, and new projects that will help them be more creative.

Q5. What kind of school experience do students get at Columbia Secondary School?

Ans. Columbia Secondary School has a full curriculum that includes academics, extracurricular activities, and chances for personal growth.

Games & Extracurricular Activities

Sports

Soccer Club Grades 1-3 | Mon/Wed 3:30-4:30pm
Basketball Grades 2-4 | Tue/Thu 3:30-4:45pm
Track & Field Grades 3-5 | Fri 3:30-5:00pm

Arts

Art Club Grades K-2 | Mon 3:00-4:00pm
Drama Club Grades 3-5 | Wed 3:30-5:00pm
Choir Grades 2-5 | Thu 3:15-4:15pm

Clubs

Chess Club Grades 2-5 | Fri 3:15-4:15pm
Garden Club All Grades | Tue 3:15-4:00pm
Robotics Club Grades 3-5 | Thu 3:30-5:00pm

Note: Schedules may change during school holidays. Please contact School for exact Schedule.

Summer Suggested Reading

Horn Book Selections

Vocabulary.com +3 Horn Book +3 What to Read to Your Kids +3

ML

Maggie Lou, Firefox

by Arnolda Dufour Bowes

PS

The Puppets of Spelhorst

by Kate DiCamillo

MLV

The Mona Lisa Vanishes

by Nicholas Day

Vocabulary.com Top Picks

Penguin Random House +10 Vocabulary.com +10 Wikipedia +10

F

Frindle

by Andrew Clements

WR

The Wild Robot

by Peter Brown

JGP

James and the Giant Peach

by Roald Dahl

Penguin Random House Features

Horn Book +2 Penguin Random House +2 The Guardian +2

SLB

The Secret Language of Birds

by Lynne Kelly

S

The Swifts: A Dictionary of Scoundrels

by Beth Lincoln

Free Robotics and Stem In-person Workshop in Your Neighbourhood for 7-14 Years Tech Enthusiasts.

Local kids are transforming ideas into real-world.

See the projects happening right in your neighborhood

What Parents Say