Student Population school will target

Special Populations                                                                                                                                                    CSS will target academically talented children from upper Manhattan (north of 96th St.) who have an interest and aptitude in science, math and engineering. Our admissions catchment area includes large black, Hispanic and central African populations residing in Harlem and Washington Heights which currently have limited access to academically rigorous middle and high schools and who are largely locked out of the specialized high schools (like Bronx Science). CSS will provide these at-risk -gifted children with a highly focused, early college education in association with Columbia University's vast academic and cultural resources.                                                                                                                                                                          A significant number of our applicant pool will have Spanish or French Creole as their primary language and will thus be likely classified as ELL. We intend to develop an after school and Saturday academy programs that provide individualized and small group support these students as they transition into the school's English instruction program. In the case of the native Spanish speakers, a Spanish language program designed to support the continued development of the language will be available and will lead to college courses in the Spanish Department at Columbia University.    Students with special education needs will be handled appropriately as per their IEP, with special consultation available from Special Education faculty at Teachers College.