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Our Insights

What’s Special

Free Columbia University classes; courses in engineering and philosophy

The Downside

Far more applicants than seats

Columbia Secondary School for Math, Science and Engineering (CSS) is an academically challenging and ethnically diverse school founded with the backing of Columbia University. Qualified high school juniors and seniors may take courses at Columbia University for free.

Students in all grades study engineering and philosophy, which offer the opportunity for imaginative projects as well as a solid academic foundation for college, says Principal Miriam Nightengale.

In an engineering project, students built a solar-powered chicken coop in a vacant lot a few blocks from the school. The design problem they solved: how to keep the water used to feed the chickens from freezing in the winter. In philosophy, they read Plato, Aristotle, Adam Smith and John Maynard Keynes; they ponder ethical questions and learn how to construct a logical argument.

Our graduates tell us these are the most useful classes when they get to college, says Nightengale, who taught math at Brooklyn Tech and was the principal of the High School for Law, Advocacy and Community Justice before arriving at CSS.

Most students start in the 6th grade and stay through 12th. Sixth-graders study Latin; 7th-graders begin Spanish. By the end of middle school, students complete high school-level Regents classes in earth science, U.S. history and algebra, which puts them on track to tackle lots of college-level coursework before graduation.

Instruction in middle school blends traditional and progressive teaching methods. Math drills and grammar instruction help shore up basic skills, but there's also a lot of hands-on learning and inventive projects. 

For example, students incorporated Fibonnaci numbers—a sequence of numbers named after the 13th century Italian mathematician—into art projects depicting spirals in nature. Math becomes not just a tool for problem-solving, but an aesthetically pleasing discipline.

 

Juniors and seniors may take courses at Columbia University tailored to their skills and interests. Course options, which vary by semester, have included calculus, linear algebra, psychology, sociology, computer science, chemistry, and a history class on the Roman Empire. Students may also take Advanced Placement courses in biology, English, physics and Spanish.

Elective classes and extracurricular activities are varied but low on sports; they include biking, architecture, musical theater, organic gardening, neuroscience, student newspaper and underwater robotics.

The school has an unusually well-staffed college office, with two full-time counselors and one part-time counselor. Graduates have been admitted top-notch private colleges and universities including Columbia, New York University, Yale, MIT, and Rice; large public universities including UCLA, University of Michigan and SUNY schools; and smaller liberal arts colleges such as Middlebury, St. Olafs, Goucher and Clark.

The school occupies the top three floors of a five-story elementary school building, which also houses KIPP STAR Charter Middle School and PS 125. The building is designed for a younger population, so space is a little cramped and the hallways are narrow, although high school students do have lockers. CSS shares the gymnasiums, cafeteria, auditorium, indoor pool and outdoor yard with other schools in the building. Kids wear a uniform of jeans and polo shirts (light blue in middle, dark blue in high school).

SPECIAL EDUCATION: The school has only a few children with special needs. It has Integrated Co-Teaching (ICT) and self-contained classes in select grades, varying from year to year. (Laura Zingmond, February 2014; Clara Hemphill, May 2017)

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School Stats

Citywide Average Key
This school is Better Near Worse than the citywide average
Citywide Average Key
This school is Better Near Worse than the citywide average

Is this school safe and well-run?

From the 2020-21 NYC School Survey

How many students say they feel safe in the hallways, bathrooms and locker rooms?
81%
81% Citywide Average
How many students think bullying happens most or all of the time at this school?
68%
52% Citywide Average
How many teachers say the principal is an effective manager?
68%
78% Citywide Average

From the 2019-20 NY State Report Card

How many students were suspended?
0%
2% Citywide Average

From this school's most recent Quality Review Report

Are teachers effective?

From the 2021-22 School Quality Guide

How many teachers have 3 or more years of experience teaching?
92%
80% Citywide Average
Years of principal experience at this school
0.1

How do students perform academically?

From the New York State 2022-2023 Assessment Database

How many middle school students scored 3-4 on the state math exam?
66%
42% Citywide Average
How many middle school students scored 3-4 on the state reading exam?
79%
51% Citywide Average

From the 2021-22 School Quality Guide

How many 8th-graders earn high school credit?
93%
60% Citywide Average
How many students graduate in 4 years?
97%
91% Citywide Average

Who does this school serve?

From the 2022-23 Demographic Snapshot

Enrollment
692
Asian
8%
Black
22%
Hispanic
35%
White
28%
Other
9%
Free or reduced priced lunch
45%
Students with disabilities
22%
English language learners
1%

From the 2021-22 School Quality Guide

Average daily attendance
90%
86% Citywide Average
How many students miss 18 or more days of school?
32%
45% Citywide Average

From the 2020 School Directories

Uniforms required?
No

How does this school serve special populations?

From the 2021-22 School Quality Guide

How many students with disabilities graduate in 4 years?
93%
85% Citywide Average

From the New York State 2022-2023 Assessment Database

How many English language learners scored 3-4 on the state math exam?
0%
7% Citywide Average
For more information about our data sources, see About Our Data · More DOE statistics for this school

Programs & Admissions

From the 2024 High School Directory

Columbia Secondary School (A15A)

Admissions Method: Screened

Offerings

From the 2024 High School Directory

Language Courses

French, Latin, Russian, Spanish

Advanced Courses

Algebra II (Advanced Math), AP Biology, AP Calculus AB, AP Computer Science A, AP English Language and Composition, AP English Literature and Composition, AP Psychology, AP Spanish Language and Culture, Calculus (Advanced Math), Calculus (College Course [Credited]), Chemistry (Advanced Science), Comp Sci/Math Tech (College Course [Credited]), Math (College Course [Credited]), Math (College Course [Uncredited]), Science (Advanced Placement), Science (College Course [Uncredited]), Social Studies (College Course [Credited]), World Languages (Advanced World Languages)

Boys PSAL teams

Basketball, Cross Country, Rugby, Soccer

Girls PSAL teams

Basketball, Cross Country, Rugby, Soccer, Volleyball

Read about admissions, academics, and more at this school on NYCDOE’s MySchools

NYC Department of Education: MySchools

Contact & Location

Location

425 West 123 Street
Manhattan NY 10027

Trains: 1 Line to 116th St-Columbia University; A Line, B Line, C Line, D Line to 125th St

Buses: M10, M100, M101, M104, M11, M116, M125, M2, M3, M4, M5, M60-SBS, M7


Contact

Principal: Vikram Arora

Parent Coordinator: Andi Vayda

Website

Other Details

Shared campus? Yes

This school shares its building with PS 125 and KIPP STAR Charter Middle School

Uniforms required? No
Metal detectors? No

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