About

Welcome to The School at Columbia University

What makes a great school? After many years of working in both public and independent schools, I’m convinced that the quality of relationships is critically important.  Children who feel that they are known and understood are better learners. Teachers who feel that their individual strengths and needs are honored do a better job. Curriculum that finds many places to weave and connect is more meaningful. Parents who feel that their opinions are carefully considered are generally more satisfied and supportive. It is our greatest joy to sort through the complexities of each child’s learning profile and temperament. It is one in which the collective intelligence of the families and the school will be called upon to calibrate what makes the most sense for each child.

As we carve out our niche, we hope to be known for the way we care about and for our children. We hope to be known for our innovative integrated curriculum. We hope to be known as a community with a kind of diversity that is often coveted and rarely attained. We want to be both elegant and scrappy, intellectual and pragmatic.

Our faculty is wonderfully diverse. This diversity promotes deep conversation about how children learn and what we want our graduates to know and be able to do. We talk about the tools that will serve them well and how best to increase the repertoire of those skills. We know that excellent teachers are hard to find, and that no two great teachers are alike. Our faculty hiring process is thorough and inclusive. That’s why we have attracted the talented professionals who work here.

This school is unique. It is both a neighborhood school and an independent school—with the promise and challenges of each. The university’s unprecedented commitment of resources and institutional support have made this one of the most exciting schools in the United States—located in one of the world’s most exciting cities.

Annette Raphel
Head of School

For a lovely tribute to The School, read Jeffrey Sach's speech to the Class of 2009 click here.