Columbia Families

How Do I Express Interest in Admissions?

If you work at Columbia University or are being recruited for employment at Columbia University, please contact our school's Admissions Office at admissions@theschool.columbia.edu or complete the inquiry form here.

Who is Eligible to Apply?

To apply, at least one parent/guardian must be a Columbia University full-time Officer of Instruction, Research, the Libraries, or Administration and qualify for the PTS (Primary Tuition Scholarship) benefit; and live or plan on living within the five boroughs of New York City upon enrollment
Members of Columbia University bargaining units can apply through the neighborhood lottery process if they reside in New York City Public School District 3 or 5.
Adjunct professors, students, certain post docs, and affiliates of Teachers College and Barnard College are ineligible to apply even if they live in District 3 or 5. However, please see the bullet above if you are a member of a Columbia bargaining unit who falls into any of these groups. Visiting officers may be eligible to apply in certain circumstances; please contact us for more information.
Applicant CU-affiliated families must live in one of the five boroughs of New York City; they may start the application process before moving to New York City, but must establish residency at the time of matriculation. Residency must be confirmed by CU Human Resources and the Office of the Provost.
Students applying to Kindergarten for the 2024-25 school year must turn five by August 31, 2024.
The School does not require any educational testing (ERBs, etc.) for admission.
The School does not have an application fee.

How Are Acceptances Determined?

Admissions criteria are administered by the Office of the Provost. Group 1, admitted first, is officers of instruction of professorial rank; Group 2 is officers of instruction of other ranks, officers of the libraries and research, and teachers at the K-8 School; Group 3 is officers of administration.
Lotteries are held by the Office of the Provost within each Group if there are more applicants than available seats.

Admissions Timeline

Please contact the Admissions Office at admissions@theschool.columbia.edu for information on our admissions process.
Applications are sent via email beginning mid-October. Application receipt does not guarantee a space.
The inquiry deadline for 2024-25 is December 1, 2023.
For all applicants, the process includes a child visit and an internal assessment by The School to confirm it can serve the child.
Notifications are sent in early February 2024.
Signed contracts and deposits are due by noon on February 16, 2024. Children may be placed on our waitlist to be offered admission if additional spaces become available. The waitlist stays active only until the start of the school year, and does not automatically carry over to the next year. Families must reapply if they wish to be in the next year’s application cycle.

Columbia Families

How Do I Express Interest in Admissions?

Who is Eligible to Apply?

How Are Acceptances Determined?

Admissions Timeline

The School at Columbia University