SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549


FORM 8-A/A

FOR REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF SECURITIES
PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR 12(g) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

THE MCGRAW-HILL COMPANIES, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                    New York                        13-1026995
    ----------------------------------------      ---------------
    (State of Incorporation or Organization)       (IRS Employer
                                                  Identification
                                                       No.)

1221 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York        10020
-----------------------------------------------   ---------------
   (Address of principal executive offices)         (Zip Code)

    If this form relates to the       If this form relates to
    registration of a class of        the registration of a
    securities pursuant to            class of securities
    Section 12(b) of the              pursuant to Section
    Exchange Act and is               12(g) of the Exchange
    effective pursuant to             Act and is effective
    General Instruction A.(c),        pursuant to General
    please check the following        Instruction A.(d),
    box.  [x]                         please check the
                                      following box.  [  ]

(If applicable)

Securities Act registration statement file number to which this form

relates: ________________
         (If applicable)

       Title of Each Class         Name of Each Exchange on Which
       to be so Registered         Each Class is to be Registered
       -------------------         ------------------------------

 Preferred Share Purchase Rights   New York Stock Exchange, Inc.
                                       Pacific Exchange, Inc.

Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:


(Title of Class)

Item 1. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED.

Reference is hereby made to the Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. (the "COMPANY") with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 3, 1998, as subsequently amended, relating to the Rights Agreement by and between the Company and The Bank of New York ("BONY"), successor to Mellon Investor Services, LLC, in turn successor to ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C., dated as of July 29, 1998 (the "RIGHTS AGREEMENT"). Such Forms 8-A and 8-A/A are hereby incorporated by reference.

On July 27, 2005, the Board of Directors of the Company adopted a resolution approving an amendment to the Rights Agreement to change the Final Expiration Date (as defined therein) of the Rights (as defined therein) from August 14, 2008 to August 10, 2005. The Company and BONY subsequently executed an amendment to the Rights Agreement, dated as of July 27, 2005 (the "Amendment"), to so accelerate the Final Expiration Date.

The foregoing summary of the Amendment is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Amendment, which is filed as Exhibit 99.5 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 2.  EXHIBITS.

           EXHIBIT   DESCRIPTION
           NO.

           4.1       Rights Agreement, dated as of July 29, 1998, between The
                     McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. and ChaseMellon Shareholder
                     Services, L.L.C. which includes the form of Right
                     Certificate as Exhibit A and the Summary of Rights to
                     Purchase Preferred Shares as Exhibit B. (Incorporated by
                     reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Registration
                     Statement on Form 8-A filed on August 3, 1998).

           99.1      Press release, dated as of July 29, 1998, issued by the
                     Company. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the
                     Company's Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed on
                     August 3, 1998).

           99.2      Certificate of Adjustment delivered by the Company to
                     ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C., as Rights Agent,
                     on March 8, 1999.  (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit
                     99.2 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form 8-A
                     filed on March 8, 1999).

                                       -2-

           99.3      Amendment to Rights Agreement, dated as of February 1,
                     2005, by and between The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. and
                     The Bank of New York.  (Incorporated by reference to
                     Exhibit 99.3 to the Company's Registration Statement on
                     Form 8-A filed on February 3, 2005).

           99.4      Certificate of Adjustment delivered by the Company to The
                     Bank of New York, as Rights Agent, on May 17, 2005.
                     (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.4 to the Company's
                     Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed on May 17, 2005).

           99.5      Amendment to Rights Agreement, dated as of July 27, 2005,
                     by and between The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. and The
                     Bank of New York, as Rights Agent.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

THE MCGRAW-HILL COMPANIES, INC.
(Registrant)

                               By  /S/ SCOTT L. BENNETT
                                   --------------------
                                   Scott L. Bennett
                                   Senior Vice President and Secretary


Dated:  August 3, 2005

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THE MCGRAW-HILL COMPANIES, INC.

           Registration Statement on Form 8-A/A

                       EXHIBIT INDEX

EXHIBIT   DESCRIPTION
NO.

4.1       Rights Agreement, dated as of July 29, 1998, between The
          McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. and ChaseMellon Shareholder
          Services, L.L.C. which includes the form of Right
          Certificate as Exhibit A and the Summary of Rights to
          Purchase Preferred Shares as Exhibit B.  (Incorporated by
          reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Registration
          Statement on Form 8-A filed on August 3,1998).

99.1      Press release, dated as of July 29, 1998, issued by the
          Company. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the
          Company's Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed on
          August 3, 1998).

99.2      Certificate of Adjustment delivered by the Company to
          ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C., as Rights Agent,
          on March 8, 1999.  (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit
          99.2 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form 8-A
          filed on March 8, 1999).

99.3      Amendment to Rights Agreement, dated as of February 1,
          2005, by and between The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. and
          The Bank of New York.  (Incorporated by reference to
          Exhibit 99.3 to the Company's Registration Statement on
          Form 8-A filed on February 3, 2005).

99.4      Certificate of Adjustment delivered by the Company to The
          Bank of New York, as Rights Agent, on May 17, 2005.
          (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.4 to the Company's
          Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed on May 17, 2005).

99.5      Amendment to Rights Agreement, dated as of July 27, 2005,
          by and between The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. and The
          Bank of New York, as Rights Agent.

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EXHIBIT 99.5

AMENDMENT TO RIGHTS AGREEMENT

AMENDMENT, dated as of July 27, 2005 (this "Amendment"), to the Rights Agreement (the "Rights Agreement"), dated as of July 19, 1998, between The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. (the "Company") and The Bank of New York (the "Rights Agent"), as successor rights agent to Mellon Investor Services, LLC, in turn successor to ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, LLC.

Pursuant to Section 27 of the Rights Agreement, prior to any person becoming an Acquiring Person, as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement, the Company may amend any provision of the Rights Agreement. All acts and things necessary to make this Amendment a valid agreement, enforceable according to its terms, have been done and performed, and the execution and delivery of this Amendment by the Company and the Rights Agent have been in all respects duly authorized by the Company and the Rights Agent.

In consideration of the foregoing and the mutual agreements set forth herein, the parties agree as follows:

1. The Rights Agreement is hereby modified and amended by changing the date set forth in Section 7(a) (defined as the "Final Expiration Date") from "August 14, 2008" to "August 10, 2005."

2. The Exhibits to the Rights Agreement shall be restated to reflect this Amendment, including all necessary conforming changes.

3. This Amendment shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York and for all purposes shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of such State applicable to contracts to be made and performed entirely within such State.

4. This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed an original and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. Terms not defined in this Amendment shall, unless the context otherwise requires, have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Rights Agreement.

5. Except as expressly set forth herein, this Amendment shall not by implication or otherwise alter, modify, amend or in any way affect any of the terms, conditions, obligations, covenants or agreements contained in the Rights Agreement, all of which are ratified and affirmed in all respects and shall continue in full force and effect.


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be duly executed and attested, all as of the date and year first written above.

Attest:                             THE MCGRAW-HILL COMPANIES, INC.

By: /S/ SCOTT L. BENNETT            By: /S/ KENNETH M.VITTOR
    --------------------                --------------------
    Name: Scott L. Bennett              Name: Kenneth M. Vittor
    Title: Sr. VP, Assoc. Gen.          Title: EVP & General Counsel
    Counsel & Secretary

Attest:                             THE BANK OF NEW YORK
                                    (As Rights Agent)

By: /S/ ANNETTE HOGAN               By: /S/ MAGGIE SULLIVAN
    -----------------                   -------------------
    Name: Annette Hogan                 Name: Maggie Sullivan
    Title: Assistant VP                 Title: Vice President

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