Collegiate is a K-12 independent boys’ school, led by Head of School Bodie Brizendine, located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. We are a small school of 673 students housed in one building, giving us a unique sense of community and camaraderie.Students travel through 3 divisions, Lower (K-4), Middle (5-8) and Upper (9-12). Our student/teacher ratio is 6:1, with over 76% of our faculty having advanced degrees, allowing for close relationships and excellent, engaging teaching. 

Our school was founded in 1628. Over the years it has moved around the city, with our last location of over 125 years being at 77th Street and Broadway. We moved into our new facility at 301 Freedom Place South and 61st Street in 2018. Our building, designed and built exclusively for our use, provides students with state-of-the-art classrooms, a 40,000-book library, three gymnasiums, a full theater and a blackbox, along with two outdoor spaces.  

All our work is driven by our statement of beliefs and our values.

 

We believe that we are at our best when all members of the school community conduct themselves with respect, kindness, and integrity.

We believe that the traditions and values of this old but not old-fashioned school can inspire boys to develop their individual capacities for personal and academic excellence.

We believe that boys learn best when they are members of a diverse and just community that fosters purposeful and spirited engagement, inquiry, and collaboration in academics, athletics, and the arts.

We believe that a liberal arts education committed to diligent and discerning scholarship prepares students to be citizens who act with conscience, courage, and compassion. 

History & Tradition

Part of something greater than himself . . .

We value, celebrate, examine, and learn from our history and traditions and appreciate that our School is old, yet not old-fashioned. We build upon our history to help our boys understand the legacy they carry and the brotherhood they enter into.

Knowing one’s place in history is especially important during periods of rapid change.  Our boys will be entering a world that will require constant learning, relearning, and use of new and evolving skills.  At Collegiate, we acknowledge and embrace the traditions of the past, while embracing the change to come.  We believe this will allow our boys to thrive in the future. 

Culture & Community

The bonds of a brotherhood that last a lifetime . . .

Everyone walking through Collegiate’s red doors deserves to say, “This is my community and here I am known, valued, and loved.”   

We know that a community of care, belonging, and exemplary character is the best environment for preparing our boys to lead the change, innovation, and growth that will bring a brighter future for all. We are intentional about building and sustaining a culture founded upon the sharing of ideas with civility and camaraderie in pursuit of a common purpose.

Boys’ Education

A community that values and cultivates the joys of boyhood

We are a proud boys’ school. We believe boys’ education allows our boys to become their authentic selves as their growth can be focused on the unique ways boys learn and develop. We celebrate boys, harnessing their energy on their journey of learning and discovering new possibilities. 

We nurture the brotherhood that develops among our boys as they grow up together. The bonds they form are strong and permeated with kindness and caring.  Our boys explore together what it means to be a good man, one who understands strong relationships, is comfortable with his emotions, and can lead with confidence, fairness, and empathy.   

Academic Excellence

A rigorous preparation for a lifetime of learning . . .

We are committed to academic excellence and the highest standards of scholarship ensuring our boys reach their greatest potential. Our faculty celebrate rigorous yet purposeful work, and personal growth and academic success are nurtured and supported.

Our teachers ensure our students feel safe and supported to take risks, fail gracefully, and try again, stretching their learning in creative and innovative ways.  As the boys develop executive functioning and advanced academic skills, they become independent and ambitious scholars who understand how to think critically and develop opinions and goals.

At Collegiate, respect and trust are at the heart of what we hold dear: for our school, each other, and ourselves. We are committed to integrity in all that we do, recognizing the dignity and value of our students, faculty and staff, parents, and alumni. Kindness, empathy, and responsibility for each other’s physical and emotional well-being guide our everyday work together.

Here, academic rigor goes hand-in-hand with our commitment to building strong character, and we all have a role in that partnership. We celebrate our achievements and connections, valuing curiosity, good faith in others, and humility. Recognizing that we all make mistakes, there is power in acknowledging them, holding ourselves and each other accountable and, most important, learning from them.

As members of this extraordinary community, each one of us is a steward of our legacy and our future. Being part of Collegiate is both a privilege and an obligation: our collective membership is a shared responsibility, larger than ourselves and yet intricately connected to our individual commitments.