Contact Us
General Inquiries:
hsp@theschool.columbia.edu
hsp@theschool.columbia.edu
212-851-4211
Andrew Barber, Manager of High School Placement
Academics
High School Placement
The High School Placement Office at The School at Columbia University has a successful record of helping students gain admission to schools that meet their academic, social and emotional needs. In consultation with advisors and teachers, the high school placement team offers families and students individualized guidance through the high school application process. They encourage students to look at public, independent, and parochial schools, and create tailored lists of recommended options for each student to consider.
The process begins in Grade 7, when students start a weekly Life Skills course that helps them craft essays, practice interview skills, and prepare portfolios. Rigorous test preparation courses, included in school tuition, are offered to all Grade 7 students. Families meet regularly with HSP Office staff throughout the year to prepare materials and establish priorities. In the fall of Grade 8, families and students begin attending school open houses and visiting schools, and meeting with high school admissions counselors who present at The School. By the end of the calendar year, with the step-by-step assistance of the HSP Office, all applications are submitted and families await decisions in the spring.
Program Attributes
List of 3 items.
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Personalized assessment and guidance
The School considers a student’s academic and extracurricular strengths based on grade-level and one-on-one meetings, in addition to criteria such as test scores and classroom grades. The School’s integrated curriculum across 11 disciplines (dance, educational technology, literacy and English, mathematics, music, science, social and emotional learning, social studies, Spanish, visual art, and wellness) enables HSP staff and advisors to regularly observe students through many different lenses, forming well-rounded assessments and better matching students to high schools where they will thrive. -
Strong relationships with New York City schools
The School has experience with many different high school options in the city and region, partnering with families in the specific application processes. Alumni attend a wide variety of excellent high schools, cementing a strong reputation for The School and its graduates. -
Alumni connections
The School’s alumni community numbers more than 300 graduates, who return regularly to The School to offer advice and guidance to Grade 7 and 8 students about the application process and transition to high school.
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