Students are drawn equally from the Morningside Heights, Manhattan/Upper West Side/Harlem community and from the faculty and staff of the university.

The 13-story site (a mixed faculty housing and school building) was decided on in 2001 and construction started later that year.

Children of Columbia, faculty and staff are chosen through a mix of retention requirements, cross-department representation and a lottery.

After winning the lottery, parents can schedule a tour the school and children are invited for a 2-hour visit where they spend time in a kindergarten classroom with other applicants [3] However, the application process includes "...an assessment by The School to confirm it can serve the child.

",[4] which even for children who "win the lottery" or are otherwise guaranteed a slot through their department, can result in denial of admission for reasons relating to learning needs the School purports it cannot serve.