Agile Learning Center
Where
is the school located?
Manhattan
Is
this the school your child attends now? *
Currently in the first year
Please
write a review of your experience.
The Agile Learning Center is a private K-12
school that two of my children have attended for years and which one is
currently attending for high school. It follows the educational methodology of
Self-Directed Education (https://www.self-directed.org/sde/), which allows for
children to directed their own learning through their own interests and at
their own pace. The New York City Agile Learning Center is the flagship school
of a network of schools using the same methodology worldwide
(https://agilelearningcenters.org/#map). My children have learned about their
own interests and passions, they have learned how to negotiate and get along
with others, how to take other people's needs and desires into consideration,
how to remain curious learners even into high school. In short: my children
literally love to go to their school. They are intelligent, capable, socially
well-adjusted, and just as academically capable as a child who has gone through
conventional school while retaining their own dignity, sense of self worth, and
keeping an understanding of who they are. Much of this I attribute to their
school's belief in children's rights as autonomous individuals. The school has
handled Covid-19 as well as any school can ask to do so. They have both online
offerings as well as outdoor, in-person small group opportunities. They have a
clear guideline for how to move forward both should the virus continue to
recede or to come back in larger numbers. I feel safe and comfortable with my
children attending their school. The school is on a sliding scale tuition and
emphasizes an anti-oppressive mission, looking to liberate all marginalized
people (including children).
If
you want to share more about how classes are handled virtually at this school
now or last term, please do so here.
As with all classes at their school, they
are optional, small, and individualized to the learners involved. Each Monday
the school collectively participates in a "Set the Week" meeting by
coming up with a schedule of classes that the students want to attend, and then
they meet on Zoom. Each day there is a reflection period and at the end of the
week there is a time to look more broadly at what classes are offered and what
people are interested in learning.
Would
your child consider this school LGBTQ friendly?
Yes
Would
you recommend this school to other parents for their children? *
Yes
Please
add some details related to your answer to your answer to the recommendation
question here. *
This school is truly a community. It is a
beautiful place that looks individually at each child and truly helps them grow
in a healthy manner that supports their individual needs and desires while also
learning to care for their community and the world at large. I could not more
highly recommend this school.
What
is the ONE piece of advice you would give people who are looking for the right
school to help them choose the one that is the best fit for them/their
family. *
A school that uses *trust* rather than
*fear* as their methodology will raise a happy, confident, creative and always
curious individual.
______________________________
High School of Art and Design
What is the name of the specific program in that school that your child is attending or did attend in the past year?
animation
Is this the school your child attends now? *
yes, now and for the last year or more
Please write a review of your experience.
so hard to get a handle on anything during covid, I think the art classes are fantatstic but the academics could be a bit more rigorous
If you want to share more about how classes are handled virtually at this school now or last term, please do so here.
i think they did ok. They started having some kids come 3 days a week to school last year if they wanted too. My child chose to do so. I think its always better in person but my child is still not very connected to this school since the whole covid thing really messed the socialization up
If you have a child who receives special education services and would like to comment on that, please do so here.
no but my child suffers from severe anxiety and may have to change schools because of it. He did make honor roll though
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ friendly?
Yes
Would you recommend this school to other parents for their children? *
Maybe
Other:
Please add some details related to your answer to your answer to the recommendation question here. *
I really dont know enough about the school and because of covid - to give it a fair review is difficult. The art teachers are super fantastic though and the community seems very accepting and diverse
What is the ONE piece of advice you would give people who are looking for the right school to help them choose the one that is the best fit for them/their family. *
make sure you visit as much as you can and speak to as many parents or students that went there
__________
HS of Art & Design
Where is the school located?
Manhattan
Is this the school your child attends now? *
Currently in the first year
\
Please write a review of your experience.
The principal seems very engaged. He answers parents' questions and seems to understand our concerns.
If you have a child who receives special education services and would like to comment on that, please do so here.
Mr Familia is the vice principal of special ed services. He's very responsive to emails, and was very patient with us, which is really impressive since over 30% of the students have IEPs or 504s.
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ friendly?
Yes
Would you recommend this school to other parents for their children? *
Yes
Please add some details related to your answer to your answer to the recommendation question here. *
The school is focused solely on visual arts, so a lot of the kids (like mine) are shy geeky artists. Bullying doesn't seem to be a huge issue.
What is the ONE piece of advice you would give people who are looking for the right school to help them choose the one that is the best fit for them/their family. *
Don't have your kid coached/trained/prepped. If the school is right for them, they'll be right for the school just as they are.
________________________________________
High School of Art and Design
What is the name of the specific program in that school that your child is attending or did attend in the past year?
Cartooning
Where is the school located? (City or Borough is enough, we don't need a full street address) *
Manhattan
Is this the school your child attends now? *
yes, now and for the last year or more
Please write a review of your experience.
We have been very happy with this school, especially now that it has an energetic new principal with whom we are very impressed. The principal clearly cares about the students, solicits their feedback, and treats them with respect. Here are additional good things for us. Almost all of the teachers have been committed, inspiring, and communicative (although we have had one clunker each year). All of the teachers have been great about communicating with us at parent teacher conferences. The integration of visual arts classes in the curriculum has been wonderful, and the quality of the arts classes is college level. The principal has been very forthcoming (including holding 5 town halls over the summer!) about how the school would protect students and teachers and how they would handle remote and blended learning during COVID. The school is ethnically and economically diverse. My LGBTQ kid feels comfortable there. The building is relatively new with lots of windows and cool glass murals designed by Art Spiegelman. Here are the cons. There aren't that many academic electives (although there are several AP classes), and right now there is only one foreign language (Spanish). The academic programs are straightforward, and the variety in course electives happens in the art classes. After freshman year students "major" in an art discipline (e.g., cartooning, photography) and it's hard to take classes across different art programs. The kids go deep in one visual arts subject and I wish they could choose from any of the arts courses. Because of the demographics, the school isn't flush with PTA money like some schools are, and doesn't have some of the extras (like school trips). It's a little intimidating for some kids to be among so many other talented artists.
If you want to share more about how classes are handled virtually at this school now or last term, please do so here.
I've been surprised by how much synchronous learning my child is receiving. Most of his school day is with live teaching. The principal responded to student complaints from last spring that kids were overloaded by the amount of remote school and homework by radically cutting the amount of homework.
Has or did your child use the school's college office?
Not yet
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ friendly?
Yes
Would you recommend this school to other parents for their children? *
Yes
Please add some details related to your answer to your answer to the recommendation question here. *
I would highly recommend it for any student who loves visual arts.
What is the ONE piece of advice you would give people who are looking for the right school to help them choose the one that is the best fit for them/their family. *
I think there are lots of great schools and I'd try to reduce the incredible anxiety associated with this system by focusing on the fact that your kid would probably do well in many different schools.
_______________
Art and Design High School
What is the name of the specific program in that school that your child is attending or did attend in the past year?
Fashion Design
Where is the school located?
Manhattan
Is this the school your child attends now? *
yes, now and for the last year or more
Please write a review of your experience.
My daughter is currently in her Senior year at Art & Design HS. With all of the challenges our city and the schools have faced during the pandemic, I am incredibly pleased and impressed with how Art & Design -- specifically its Principal Max Re-Seguira -- has handled the transition to virtual learning. He has lead our school, the staff, the students, and all of the families through these difficult times with transparency, critical thinking and equity at the forefront of all decision making.
Has or did your child use the school's college office?
We will be using the school's college office this year.
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ friendly?
Yes
Would you recommend this school to other parents for their children? *
Yes
Please add some details related to your answer to your answer to the recommendation question here. *
I highly recommend Art & Design HS because of its strong organizational leadership and its commitment to all students, families and the arts.
What is the ONE piece of advice you would give people who are looking for the right school to help them choose the one that is the best fit for them/their family. *
Understand what your values are as a family and choose the school that best aligns with them - diversity, equity, anti-racism, arts, academics, etc...
_____________
Art and Design High school
What is the name of the specific program in
that school that your child is attending or did attend in the past year?
Photography
Where is the school located
Manhattan
Is this the school your child attends
now? *
yes, now and for the last year or more
Please write a review of your experience.
The art and design staff and administrators
are student centric. The focus at the school is on helping kids succeed. During
online learning last spring the teachers were live with my daughter everyday.
They held a zoom parent teacher conference and every teacher showed up to give
a narrative and answer questions. The school is diverse in all aspects and my
daughter has learned not only about art and activism, social justice but also
about NYC. She’s met kids from every borough and travels all over to meet up
with them. She’s taken several AP courses as well as has been in ICT classes at
A&D. They strongly encourage kids to do art internships and help them apply
for internships/jobs. Lastly the new principal is intelligent and warm. Overall
a great art school and great high school.
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ
friendly?
Yes
Would you recommend this school to other parents for their children? *
Yes
Please add some details related to your answer to your answer to the recommendation question here. *
If your child likes graphic arts,
photography or film this is the best high school.
What is the ONE piece of advice you would
give people who are looking for the right school to help them choose the one
that is the best fit for them/their family. *
Forget what other people are choosing just focus on what feels right for your kid
_________
Bard
Queens
Is this the school your child attends
now? *
Currently in the first year
Please write a review of your experience.
My daughter has only been at this school for
a week or two, but so far, it's been great. The teachers are dynamic and
engaged, the learning is creative and varied, there's an emphasis on forming a
safe atmosphere were students can speak and learn together.
If you want to share more about how classes
are handled virtually at this school now or last term, please do so here.
Teachers are accessible, creative and
involved. Has classes 9-3 with a couple breaks.
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ
friendly?
Yes
Would you recommend this school to other
parents for their children? *
Yes
Please add some details related to your
answer to your answer to the recommendation question here. *
Emphasis on thinking and participating with
others over learning route material.
What is the ONE piece of advice you would
give people who are looking for the right school to help them choose the one
that is the best fit for them/their family. *
Talk to parents whose children go there. Tours can be not in-depth enough.
_____
BHSEC-Manhattan (Bard High School Early
College Manhattan
Where
is the school located?
Manhattan, Houston and the East River
Is
this the school your child attends now? *
yes, now and for
the last year or more
Please
write a review of your experience.
The Special Ed Program is special. They
start with a Special Ed Open House. They allow extra time on the screening
tests. Then if the student is matched, there is a Special Ed Orientation.
Besides related services, they have SETTS and ICT classes and also an Academic
Resource Center (ARC). The ARC is a room where every special ed teacher has
their desk and are available when they aren't teaching. There is a conference
table and several computers for the kids to work at. The seminar style classes
are great for my dyslexic kid where he can hear viewpoints not just from the
professors, but also from the other kids.
If
you want to share more about how classes are handled virtually at this school
now or last term, please do so here.
The school is running like three schools in
parallel. There is an A group twice a week, a B group twice a week and fully
remote group. For those that come to school, they get the most academic
subjects at school and the arts and phys ed at home.
If
you have a child who receives special education services and would like to
comment on that, please do so here.
see above
Has
or did your child use the school's college office?
Friends appreciate the college office We
are just getting to learn about it with our 10th graders.
Would
your child consider this school LGBTQ friendly?
Yes
Would
you recommend this school to other parents for their children? *
Yes
Please
add some details related to your answer to your answer to the recommendation
question here. *
Schools need to be the most appropriate,
not the "best" This was the most appropriate for my kid.
What
is the ONE piece of advice you would give people who are looking for the right
school to help them choose the one that is the best fit for them/their
family. *
Listen to current teachers/school staff for their advice about how your kid learns. Listen carefully and make sure it makes sense to you.
_____________________
Bard Manhattan
Manhattan
Is this the school your
child attends now? *
yes, now and for the last year or more
Please write a review of
your experience.
I
wrote a rave review when my son was a freshman but have a much more moderate
view of the school now. I now think this school is great for a very specific
type of kid - self-motivated, needs little support, and whose extra-curricular
interests lie largely in the academic & social justice realms. Positives:
Academics: The classes really are impressive - they learn tons, read a lot of
great literature & academic writing, and have to write serious analytical
papers & lab reports (although they don't get much feedback so don't
necessarily become strong writers). Other than math, which seems to have some
real gaps, Bard provides a very rigorous and substantive education. College
Office: Fantastic - felt like a private school. Overall leadership &
Organization: They take their responsibility of giving our kids an education
very seriously. The transition to remote & then hybrid in the fall was a
testimony to the leadership and was incredibly impressive. I feel my son has
continued to learn tons & has no learning loss. Negative:..My son had
health issues that gave him learning disabilities and at the end of 10th grade
got an IEP. It suddenly it became very important to have a school that kept me
updated on how my son was doing and that was absolutely not happening. I had to
become a crazy parent constantly reaching out to the teachers/advisors/IEP
people and even principal to get info/help/support. There was no
"pupilpath" type program to give me visability into what was
happening (e.g. weeks of missed assignments, missing first classes because of
latenesses, etc) and despite my repeated & even desperate requests to be kept
infomed, info was basically not forthcoming until it was too late (e.g. the
report card arrived) I think this lack of communication is pretty normal for a
public school (I have several friends who have recounted very similar
situations), but I think what makes Bard slightly different is that this lack
of communication is combined with super tough grading. The school admin &
SPED staff cared and really did try their best, but there were a few teachers
who were pretty hard-ass & even kind of ruthless — e.g., they combined
really unforgiving grading with a striking lack of feedback/support/investment
in students' success. In the end, my son made it through with a lot of private
tutoring and ended up getting into a college he is thrilled about. But I really
feel like it was a "private-public" partnership and took a tremendous
amount of work on my part. So long and short, for those of you with kids who
are super academic & very clearly have academics (e.g. they love research,
or languages, or literature, etc) as their primary interest & are very
self- motivated, Bard can be great. For other high performing kids, consider
carefully as it can be discouraging - a tutor with decades of experience with
NYC kids from across private/public schools told me she found Bard uniquely
harsh in terms of grading.
If you want to share more
about how classes are handled virtually at this school now or last term, please
do so here.
Bard
has been great with remote in terms of making sure kids continue to learn tons
- they had 2x a week live classes already in the spring and it felt like they
barely missed a beat. In the spring the amount of work was intense. Fall is
more reasonable but still a lot and very substantive.
If you have a child who
receives special education services and would like to comment on that, please
do so here.
See
above and for those of you whose kids have IEPs, a NYC teen psychologist told
me that in his experience, Bard-Manhattan is the worst school for kids with
executive function issues.
Has or did your child use
the school's college office
We
used the college office and it was outstanding. Very responsive, attentive,
thoughtful, wrote serious recommendations, smart ideas for colleges to apply
to, advocated for my son when needed, etc. Felt like a private school.
Would your child consider
this school LGBTQ friendly?
Yes
Would you recommend this
school to other parents for their children? *
yes
with reservations
What is the ONE piece of
advice you would give people who are looking for the right school to help them
choose the one that is the best fit for them/their family. *
Since
it's hard to predict what your child will be like as a teenager, I think very
important to try to avoid influencing their decision about where they will go
& let them lead.
Manhattan
Is this the school your
child attends now? *
Currently in the first year
Please write a review of
your experience.
This
is my daughter's first year and I held off on writing a review until the end of
the first semester. So far I really like the school and so does my daughter
which is the most important thing. She wanted a small school that was
academically rigorous and that is what she got. We started in the hybrid
program so she did manage to go into the building around 12 times before it
went fully remote. The teaching is top notch and they really deep dive into the
subject matter. They do not offer broad survey classes. Even in 9th grade the
types of assignments really challenge the kids to engage in critical thinking
and examine issues from multiple points of view. There is a lot of work.
Especially as we reach the end of the finals period it has seemed excessive at
times, but I think my child is putting in more work than is totally necessary.
She seems engaged and happy to be doing it, but I wish she got more sleep.
If you want to share more
about how classes are handled virtually at this school now or last term, please
do so here.
I
think they did a really good job developing a hybrid program. It helps that
classes are generally small and all 9th and 10th graders take the same
subjects. When it was hybrid they had 2 days of the week in person in cohorts
of 8 kids and one day fully remote. Other remote days had art, PE and language
classes. They do a really good job with remote teaching with lots of breakout
rooms, group projects and discussions.
Would your child consider
this school LGBTQ friendly?
Yes
Would you recommend this
school to other parents for their children? *
Yes
Please add some details
related to your answer to your answer to the recommendation question
here. *
If
your child is ready for a more college experience in high school I would
recommend it. The school requires a lot of reading, writing and independent
work. It also provides a more enriching curriculum and a very supportive
student body with lots of opportunity to engage in intellectual discussions.
This is not the typical high school and would not be the right fit for every
kid.
What is the ONE piece of
advice you would give people who are looking for the right school to help them
choose the one that is the best fit for them/their family. *
Try
to make a list of your ideal school and then find ones that best match it. Also
think about the kind of student your child is and what the best type of
learning environment would be for them.
Baruch College Campus High School
What is the name of the specific program in
that school that your child is attending or did attend in the past year?
9th grade
Where is the school located? (City or
Borough is enough, we don't need a full street address) *
Manhattan
Is this the school your child attends
now? *
Currently in the first year
Please write a review of your experience.
So far, I have been happy, and feel the
school is a good match. So far alot of the school interactions (all remote so
far) have been advisory, and getting to know you things. Today was the first
day of ramping up to the curriculum. The Principal seems on the ball,
thoughtful and organized. She has had comments from the teachers even on the
get to know you type exercises. I like that.
If you want to share more about how classes
are handled virtually at this school now or last term, please do so here.
The overall scheme is Asynchronous learning
in the AM and live instruction in the PM. The goal, once hybrid / in school
starts, is to add additional live instruction for the remote only kids. As of
today, the only anticipated combination (in person plus remote) class will be
advisory. It seems that they have been sorting out how to teach remotely. This
is much improved from her middle school where most of the asynchronous learning
was in written form. This school is using ed puzzles, and padlets, and other
means to use video's to communicate asynchronous material. They have been very
explicit with the instructions for each bit of added technology, and seem to
take nothing for granted.
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ
friendly?
Yes
Would you recommend this school to other
parents for their children? *
Yes
Please add some details related to your
answer to your answer to the recommendation question here. *
So far the school appears to be just how it
is described in reviews. They have been transparent and communicate well. There
is a weekly email newsletter, there have been a number of town halls, and they
seem to be level headed and committed to the students education and to maintain
the level of instruction. I am optimistic.
What is the ONE piece of advice you would
give people who are looking for the right school to help them choose the one
that is the best fit for them/their family. *
This is exactly the right school for my kid.
She is smart but can be distracted by friends, and social stuff. The advisory
group seems to function like a homeroom in a school where you don't travel with
your classes. This is not a school for kids who want to chose their courses and
take interesting and different classes than the usual high school subjects.
_____
BASIS Independent Brooklyn
What is the name of the specific program in
that school that your child is attending or did attend in the past year?
All high school students participate in an
AP curriculum
Where is the school located? (City or
Borough is enough, we don't need a full street address) *
Brooklyn
Is this the school your child attends
now? *
yes, now and for the last year or more
Please write a review of your experience.
Since my child walked in the door after
being rejected from the crazy public middle school lottery system 5 years ago,
he has been comfortable, challenged and achieved more than we ever expected. He
had a poor experience in elementary school, PS 39, due to a climate of panic
regarding state testing and fierce competition with PS 321. A culture of
bullying was largely ignored by the faculty and unfortunately, my son was one
of the victims. He learned that school was not a safe place, something we are
still dealing with. BASIS does not tolerate bullying of any type; kids learn to
communicate respectfully with other. It has been a healing environment for him.
BASIS HS program is an AP curriculum emphasizing math and science. He has
completed 2 AP's already and is taking 3 this year in 10th grade. During senior
year, students design a research project in an area of interest concluded by a school
wide presentation. They are more than ready for college upon graduation, and
most will place out of most first year classes. Teachers are creative and value
kids' input. Expectations are very high and children are encouraged to
independently seek out answers to their questions rather than having parents
acting as a go between. It was refreshing to step out of the role of
teacher/arbitrator that I occupied during his elementary school years. Both the
faculty and student body are very diverse, promoting respect and understanding.
I can't say enough good things about BASIS. It's a great program for motivated,
curious kids who may not be excelling in public school and is much less
expensive than comparable private schools. The only caveat is that BASIS does
not offer scholarships, however you may stagger payments and work with
administration on a suitable plan for your family.
If you want to share more about how classes
are handled virtually at this school now or last term, please do so here.
When classes were forced to go online last
year, faculty responded immediately. BASIS partnered with parents and students
to quell fears by reaching out to parents and gathering input. While some
teachers struggled to move online, most did an excellent job. The workload did
not decrease, in fact it increased, something remedied this year. Kids were
engaged and there were ample opportunities to interact with other students
socially. Clubs and activities, except sports, for the most part continued
undeterred. I was very impressed.
Has or did your child use the school's
college office? If yes, would you like to add some information about that
experience? Did they help with the search? Applications? Were they helpful with
parent's questions?Were they speedy in getting transcripts, recommendations,
etc to the colleges?
My son, in 10th grade, has been attending
online informational sessions at individual schools. Again, kids meet with the
guidance counselor, an open, approachable, great guy beginning this year to
explore their interests and begin a discussion about college. BASIS starts with
the kids rather than the parents, emphasizing it is your child attending
college, not you!
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ
friendly?
Yes
Would you recommend this school to other
parents for their children? *
Yes
Please add some details related to your
answer to your answer to the recommendation question here. *
For kids who may not have succeeded
elsewhere, for students that like to be challenged and are self-motivated, for
children who are especially interested in science or the scientific method,
BASIS is a great school. It is welcoming, open and my child is getting an
excellent education.
What is the ONE piece of advice you would
give people who are looking for the right school to help them choose the one
that is the best fit for them/their family. *
Our family visited and my son felt comfortable immediately. He attended a full day of school prior to enrolling which cinched the deal. Make sure your child likes the school, even if there are things you don't like. Make sure the school helps your child become more independent, encourages questions, allows your child to excel and values every student, not only those who sit quietly with their hands folded.
_________
Basis Independent Brooklyn
Red hook brooklyn ny
Is this the school your child attends now? *
yes, now and for the last year or more
Please write a review of your experience.
Negatives: Revolving door of teachers and admin. Excessive amount of tests and quizzes and homework. Lots of distracted students in classes causing disruption to class and distraction to my child. Little sports or arts curriculum.
Positives: advanced learning
If you want to share more about how classes are handled virtually at this school now or last term, please do so here.
They did a good job with this
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ friendly?
Yes
Would you recommend this school to other parents for their children? *
Maybe
Please add some details related to your answer to your answer to the recommendation question here. *
Definitely depends on what’s important to the student and the parents.
What is the ONE piece of advice you would give people who are looking for the right school to help them choose the one that is the best fit for them/their family. *
What are your priorities, sports, academics, arts, music. Because BASIS isn’t really strong at most except academics.
_________________
Beacon
Where is the school located
Manhattan
Is this the school your child attends
now? *
no, they already graduated in June 2020
Please write a review of your experience.
The teachers at Beacon are great, the
courses engaging. We chose Beacon as it has both academic rigor, great arts and
many choices for extracurricular programs. Remote learning under Covid was a
bit of a mess, but the remote graduation was handled very well.
Has or did your child use the school's
college office
The college office at Beacon was very
helpful. They were very engaged and each student had individual attention. They
were always available for questions. I think this may be one of the best
experiences we had at Beacon, they helped us navigate a stressful time
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ
friendly?
Yes
Would you recommend this school to other
parents for their children? *
Yes
Please add some details related to your
answer to your answer to the recommendation question here. *
Beacon is a well rounded school where
students have access to a great arts program, the opportunity to engage in
organizations/clubs/community while having a range of excellent and engaging
classes.
What is the ONE piece of advice you would
give people who are looking for the right school to help them choose the one
that is the best fit for them/their family. *
I would look at a school in relationship to your student, what environment do they best learn in. A well rounded school like Beacon allows an opportunity to learn, try new things, join in, for students who are not already specialized this can be very enriching.
______
Beacon
School
Where is the school located
Manhattan
Is this the school your child attends
now? *
yes, now and for the last year or more
Please write a review of your experience.
My daughter had a very good first year at
Beacon right up to the pandemic and remote learning. She had one dud teacher,
and several that were very engaging. There is a focus on current events and
social justice which keeps my daughter interested. There were some issues at
the school last year (you can read about them in the New York Times!) and I was
impressed with how the students mobilized themselves. This is more of a
thinking and writing school than a "teach to the test" school. I
guess there are not a lot of AP classes, we will see in later years if this is
a bummer. My daughter lives in Brooklyn, the commute was long but she traveled
with classmates and it was manageable. The Brooklyn kids tended to form a group
(or clique?) regardless of what middle schools they came from. I understand
this school has a reputation for crushing amounts of homework. So far this
hasn't been the case, but we will see in the later years.
If you want to share more about how classes
are handled virtually at this school now or last term, please do so here.
Last spring was a disaster (as I'm sure it
was at many schools). My daughter's schedule was haphazard, and some classes
never met synchronously at all. This year things are going better, after an
extremely rocky start. The old principal retired at the end of the year, and
they didn't announce the new principal until shortly before school started. The
original plan for blended learning called for 1/2 day a week in-person
classes... and all asynchronous school work for the rest of the week. They have
since moved to an all-remote schedule (as have other large high schools) which
allows every student to have synchronous learning every day. I think this is
much better. My daughter seems engaged in her zoom classes, so I am hoping for
the best.
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ
friendly?
Yes
Would you recommend this school to other
parents for their children? *
Yes
Please add some details related to your
answer to your answer to the recommendation question here. *
If your child is self-directed, likes class
discussions, thinking and writing, it could be a good fit.
What is the ONE piece of advice you would
give people who are looking for the right school to help them choose the one
that is the best fit for them/their family. *
think about the best fit for your child, not
just the reputation of the school.
______________________________
Beacon
high school
What
is the name of the specific program in that school that your child is attending
or did attend in the past year?
Where
is the school located?
Manhattan
Is
this the school your child attends now? *
Currently in the first year
Please
write a review of your experience.
We
are on week 3 of remote learning. It’s too early, too weird of a time time know
yet.
If
you want to share more about how classes are handled virtually at this school
now or last term, please do so here.
Badly
If
you have a child who receives special education services and would like to
comment on that, please do so here.
IEP
yes
Has
or did your child use the school's college office? If yes, would you like to
add some information about that experience? Did they help with the search?
Applications? Were they helpful with parent's questions?Were they speedy in
getting transcripts, recommendations, etc to the colleges?
N/a
Would
your child consider this school LGBTQ friendly?
Yes
Would
you recommend this school to other parents for their children? *
Other:
I
have not had enough time to determine. So far, not really.
Please
add some details related to your answer to your answer to the recommendation
question here. *
Zoom
learning has been a mess. No support for special needs.
What
is the ONE piece of advice you would give people who are looking for the right
school to help them choose the one that is the best fit for them/their
family. *
Don’t
get too stressed about HS process. We were all going for the same schools, but
I firmly believe we can change if needed later, like I did for middle.
______________________
BEACON
Manhattan
Is this the school your
child attends now? *
yes, now and for the last year or more
Please write a review of
your experience
Beacon
is a terrific school, progressive, committed to social justice, fun, kind and
academically rigorous. The array of activities, clubs and sports is impressive
as is the new building, new principal and well-rounded faculty. They don't just
have teams and activities that are enriching, but they have some of the top
teams in the league, state and even country whether they are sports or
academically focused.
If you want to share more
about how classes are handled virtually at this school now or last term, please
do so here.
The
school very wisely went all-remote early on to make sure the Beacon kids were
taught by Beacon teachers with the most live learning possible. There are at
least 4 live classes a day, office hours, advisory and extra help. The teachers
have become strong online, considering the circumstances. The clubs are
functioning well online.
Would your child consider
this school LGBTQ friendly?
Yes
Would you recommend this
school to other parents for their children? *
Yes
Please add some details
related to your answer to your answer to the recommendation question
here. *
Beacon
has so much to offer children and it is very aggressively looking to diversity
the population of kids that attend, something that benefits everyone. It's an
academically challenging place to study. The Performance Based Assessments are
hard. They require a real knowledge of the topic and ask more of students than
memorizing for a test. It's just the kind of place a kid would embrace if they
love learning and aspire to make the world a better place. The social life is
great too and the school contributes to that. I should add that the building is
fantastic.
What is the ONE piece of
advice you would give people who are looking for the right school to help them
choose the one that is the best fit for them/their family. *
This
is a progressive school for progressive kids. Social justice and activism,
awareness, anti-racism, are all at the center of the school experience. If that
is your kid, this is their school.
_________
The Boerum Hill School of International
Studies
What is the name of the specific program in
that school that your child is attending or did attend in the past year?
IB program
Where is the school located?
Cobble Hill Brooklyn, NU
Is this the school your child attends
now? *
yes, now and for the last year or more
Please write a review of your experience.
BHS is a wonderful small school that gets to
know their students. My son was challenged academically In his freshmen and
sophomore years. He’s now a junior and now that he is going to begin hybrid
learning, I hope that the academic rigor continues. We were very well informed
about the plan for hybrid learning, but it has not yet begun. I am optimistic
based on the information from the school.
Would you recommend this school to other
parents for their children? *
Yes
Please add some details related to your
answer to your answer to the recommendation question here. *
BHS is small enough to care about each
student in their very diverse student body.
What is the ONE piece of advice you would
give people who are looking for the right school to help them choose the one
that is the best fit for them/their family. *
Be open. It’s not all about test scores.
_______________
Boerum
Hill School for International Studies
What is the name of the
specific program in that school that your child is attending or did attend in
the past year?
IB
Program
Where is the school
located?
Boerum
Hill
Is this the school your
child attends now? *
Currently in the first year
Please write a review of
your experience.
We
are new to Boerum Hill High School, so we’ve never fully experienced the
school. But now that we have had teacher conferences and some group meetings
with the administration we can say we are very happy with the school. The
academics are challenging and interesting. Through 10th grade all students take
the IB curriculum. Emphasis seems to be on writing, which works for my child,
who is more interested in the humanities. There is a strong social justice
lens, and topics are relevant to today - but in a fun way. One assignment was
to write a science fiction story around a current topic, for example. The
teachers all seem very dedicated, smart and enthusiastic; the curriculum is
somewhat progressive and project based. The school is small, so they all know
my child very well already. They pay attention - my daughter got an e-mail
after one absence, and I can see her daily progress in Google classroom. A
drawback is because of its size, the school does not offer a lot of electives.
The school has a very wide range of learners. Some students pursue an IB
diploma, but not all. Some AP classes are also offered. The school also has a
CTE program where students can begin their career in the restaurant industry.
It is hard to look beyond the test scores, etc, but the attention and
dedication I am seeing indicates a place where my daughter can really excel,
and where she will get lots of academic support from great teachers.
If you want to share more
about how classes are handled virtually at this school now or last term, please
do so here.
The
scheduling was a little confusing at the beginning, but the school has adjusted
well. My daughter is a hybrid student, so the days she goes in she has her
teachers actually teach her - and not also teach a zoom class at the same time.
Other days are a mix of zoom classes and independent work.
Has or did your child use
the school's college office?
I
have not used it, but am glad there is a full time college counselor
Would your child consider
this school LGBTQ friendly?
Yes
Would you recommend this
school to other parents for their children? *
Yes
Please add some details
related to your answer to your answer to the recommendation question
here. *
I
recommend the school if the school's academics and mission fit with your
child's strengths and interests.
What is the ONE piece of
advice you would give people who are looking for the right school to help them
choose the one that is the best fit for them/their family. *
Look beyond the obvious choices. Look at the quality of the teaching and the administration
__________________________
Brooklyn High School of the Arts (Brooklyn Arts)
What is the name of the specific program in that school that your child is attending or did attend in the past year?
Dance
Where is the school located?
Downtown Brooklyn
Is this the school your child attends now? *
Currently in the first year
Please write a review of your experience.
My child is very happy at BHA. The administration is extremely responsive and very supportive of our student who excels academically but also has a 504 plan.
The dance instructors are fantastic - strong and supportive.
Our student says all the teachers are good, though not particularly impressed by the health course. She is enjoying the challenge of Mandarin 1. Teachers are accessible and responsive to students, and parents!
The ELA teachers have already called out her advanced abilities and are recommending her for an AP English class next year.
It would be nice if the students had space to hang their winter coats so that they didn’t have to carry them throughout the day.
I highly recommend the school.
If you want to share more about how classes are handled virtually at this school now or last term, please do so here.
Have not yet had a virtual experience but have complete confidence in the administration’s ability to support virtual education.
If you have a child who receives special education services and would like to comment on that, please do so here.
504 plan is well supported
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ friendly?
Yes
Would you recommend this school to other parents for their children? *
Yes
Please add some details related to your answer to your answer to the recommendation question here. *
The administrators, educators and PTO all work together to support their students. So far it been a well rounded program, both artistically and academically.
What is the ONE piece of advice you would give people who are looking for the right school to help them choose the one that is the best fit for them/their family. *
Listen to your child and try to set your own anxiety to the wayside. There are many wonderful schools outside of those in your echo chamber.
____________________________________
What is the name of the specific program in
that school that your child is attending or did attend in the past year?
Visual Arts
Where is the school located?
Brooklyn
Is this the school your child attends
now? *
Currently in the
first year
Please write a review of your experience.
!My daughter is in 9th grade in the Fine Arts department at Brooklyn High School of the Arts and we have been extremely happy with the school so far. Here are my first impressions as a new HS parent. BHSA’s philosophy is that they are focused both on academics and the arts -- they don't expect all students to go to art schools/conservatories -- and there's a focus on college-readiness right from the start. The teachers my daughter has are all very good, she has zero complaints and the whole experience has been remarkably organized and smooth, the teachers really seem well-trained on the digital platforms and she is busy throughout the school day and attendance is taken for every class throughout the day. My daughter did not have much formal Visual Arts training before this, and she is learning strong fundamentals in the Visual Arts classes (2 art classes per day). The school seems to expect a lot from the kids (in a good way), and the teachers are on top of Pupilpath and reach out to parents proactively as soon as they see multiple missed assignments or missed classes, all the teachers seem to be very responsive and available for questions, office hours, parent or student discussions. My emails to the administration with various questions have been promptly and thoroughly answered. They offer about a dozen AP classes and you can read some details on how many kids have taken the AP exams and scored 3+, etc., in the “Official Brooklyn Arts School Profile 2019-2020” brochure which also states “Our 90% overall passing rate in the English Language Arts Regents and 90% passing rate for freshmen allows students to take AP classes as soon as their sophomore year." This and other useful documents and videos can be found here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1NQoYj9HkOxA1a-WP1-Liu8sLTqpVLOcM. My one concern so far is that BHSA does not offer any kind of “advisory/homeroom”-type structure to address social-emotional learning/issues/development and to give the kids a support structure outside of individual classes. The guidance counselor has convened one meeting for each Major so far, but I would be happier if the school implemented a more structured program to help kids connect and address various issues. I’ve given my feedback to the administration so we’ll see if anything changes over time on this front.
If you want to share more about how classes are handled virtually at this school now or last term, please do so here.
The school made a very smart choice (in my opinion) to have all classes taught by the regular teachers in a 100% remote format. Kids who choose the hybrid model get a safe physical space to do their schooling on the days that they are in school, but each student is at their desk with a computer and headphones doing the remote schooling that all kids are doing; they may be in the physical classroom with students from other grades or siblings. Personally, I believe this model is the most equitable and will help mitigate interruptions caused by school or class closures (due to covid-19 - although BHSA has not had any classroom closures to date). We chose 100% remote for the first period.
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ friendly?
Yes
Would you recommend this school to other parents for their children? *
Yes
Please add some details related to your answer to your answer to the recommendation question here. *
I feel very positive about the school and we feel lucky that my daughter was offered a placement. I think it's a bit "under the radar" for various reasons and in my view this is wonderful because it means that "regular" kids really have a chance to get a placement. I think the size (around 950 kids) is really in the sweet spot for my daughter.
What is the ONE piece of advice you would give people who are looking for the right school to help them choose the one that is the best fit for them/their family. *
Listen, listen, listen to your kids and don't project your own preferences and expectations (as much as possible!) on to your kid
________________________________
Brooklyn
Prospect Charter School
What is the name of the
specific program in that school that your child is attending or did attend in
the past year?
High
School
Where is the school
located? (City or Borough is enough, we don't need a full street address) *
Windsor
Terrace
Is this the school your
child attends now? *
yes, now and for the last year or more
Please write a review of
your experience
I
could write a book on this but will try to condense what I've learned. We
attended the middle school and are now in the High School, and while the basic
philosophy of the school and systems of learning are the same, the HS
experience is different. The middle school was fantastic. If you can use your
kid's grades to get into a really great NYC HS, go for it. Otherwise the BPHS
is a great option too. IMPORTANT: Do not pick this school if YOU want the IB
diploma, and make sure you truly understand the requirements of the IB diploma
which are not flexible and highly demanding. Many, many drop out and those who
stay don't necessarily pass all their tests and don't get it anyway. The
workload is insane. The regular Brooklyn Prospect HS Regents diploma is a more
reasonable expectation for *most* kids. The school really pushes the IB diploma
(unreasonably so imho) and promises support - but they're still working on
that. They say you can drop out if it's too much. But how does that help the
11th grade transcript, the most important one you'll need for college
applications? You can still take IB classes and get IB certificates/credits in
the regular program. So, so many drop out. Everyone is really nice. Most
teachers are great, but as usual there's always a handful of meh teachers.
Admin is ok but to get a response you need to be a PITA. Unless your child is a
WHIZ in Mandarin, GET OUT OF IT. The Mandarin IB course is insane. The good
news: the school prepares ALL kids for college, IB or not. It's inclusive. It
teaches a wonderful philosophy. It's diverse, has a strong PTSO. These are some
of the hardest working teachers and administrators I've ever seen. It's really
a great school. We are so happy there EXCEPT for the pressure for everyone to
do the IB when it just isn't a good fit for everyone. That's where parents need
to be realistic. Another good thing is most kids wind up going to colleges, and
really good ones! College preparation is strong, and the keep adding on more
and more college counselors. They've got this area covered. They do this
extremely well. Go into this with your eyes open and do your research.
If you want to share more
about how classes are handled virtually at this school now or last term, please
do so here.
They
were very prepared in spring 2020 and figured it all out by Fall of 2020. 4
days of live classes with Wednesdays for clubs and extra help, catching up on
assignments, projects. Small in person pods for kids who needed it. And by
April 2021 kids going back to in person if they wanted it. I'm impressed with
the way they handled this. Kudos and much appreciation for all of their hard
work.
Has or did your child use
the school's college office
They
are SOOOOOO involved in this. It's built into their weekly schedule. They hold
their hands along the way for all of this. Top knotch! And they keep adding
resources.
Would your child consider
this school LGBTQ friendly?
Yes
Would you recommend this
school to other parents for their children? *
Other:
YES
- but not because YOU want the IBDP
Please add some details
related to your answer to your answer to the recommendation question
here. *
Great
school, wonderful resources, diverse and inclusive. But if your kid isn't a
HIGH ACHIEVER on steroids, they won't be finishing the IBDP - but WILL get a
BPHS regents diploma and can take IB classes and get IB certificates,
What is the ONE piece of
advice you would give people who are looking for the right school to help them
choose the one that is the best fit for them/their family. *
I'll
say it again. DO NOT SEND YOUR CHILD HERE BECAUSE YOU WANT THE IB DIPLOMA. Know
what it truly entails. RESEARCH FULLY!!!!
_____________________________
Brooklyn
Prospect Charter High School
What is the name of the specific program in
that school that your child is attending or did attend in the past year?
IB
Where is the school located?
Windsor Terrace
Is this the school your child attends
now? *
yes, now and for the last year or more
Please write a review of your experience.
I am so happy with the school, the teachers
and the administrators. They have been extremely helpful and dedicated at all
times (not only in Covid 19 times). My child has always received feedback and
follow up on assignments, information, etc. I have been always been informed
and they always offer opportunities for parents to participate and being
informed. It is just up to us to be informed and participate.
If you want to share more about how classes
are handled virtually at this school now or last term, please do so here.
The pandemic caught all of us by surprise.
But they did beyond to help ease the moment. Now, in September classes are
super organized, children attend remote learning and eventually they will get
into in person sessions.
Has or did your child use the school's
college office
We will do it this year so I cannot comment
on that. They already contact me though to start sending information.
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ
friendly?
Yes
Would you recommend this school to other
parents for their children? *
Yes
Please add some details related to your
answer to your answer to the recommendation question here. *
It is a nice size school and so far, safe
for my child (no violence or racial issues have happened). Teachers a wonderful
and the principal seems to be involved.
What is the ONE piece of advice you would
give people who are looking for the right school to help them choose the one
that is the best fit for them/their family. *
Go visit. Imagine your child there. Check
the classrooms and see the teachers while in class if possible. I personally do
not believe in Open houses but I rather see the school moving , in action.
Check out the neighborhood too.
__________________________________________
Brooklyn
Prospect Charter High School
Where
is the school located?
Brooklyn
Is
this the school your child attends now? *
yes, now and for the last year or more
Please write a review of your experience.
BPCS
was good for middle school. However, for this pandemic fall semester they have
literally done nothing for the freshman. They have an outdoor space and did not
even host a "Welcome Freshman" orientation. All classes are remote.
It is a small school and they did not even attempt any in-person classes or a
"meet and greet" for freshman. (Please note I am a healthcare worker
and very aware of COVID). My son is not doing well academically and I do not
feel he, nor I, are supported.
If
you want to share more about how classes are handled virtually at this school
now or last term, please do so here.
The
schedule is totally inappropriate. Kids with last names A-K have class all day
2 days per week and Kids L-Z have class all day 2 other days. The kids look like
zombies by the end of the "class" days and run wild the other days.
It would have been more helpful to have A-K mornings and L-Z afternoons.
Would
your child consider this school LGBTQ friendly?
Yes
Would
you recommend this school to other parents for their children? *
not
at this (pandemic) time.
Please
add some details related to your answer to your answer to the recommendation
question here. *
My
comment is only relevant for COVID times. I do not know what the high school is
like otherwise.
What
is the ONE piece of advice you would give people who are looking for the right
school to help them choose the one that is the best fit for them/their
family. *
It
helps to talk to different parents/kids about their experience with their
school.
_____________
Brooklyn
Tech High School
Is this the school your child attends
now? *
yes,
now and for the last year or more
Please write a review of
your experience.
I'm
surprised to see negative reviews. We have had a very positive experience at
the school. Yes, my son had one dud gym teacher last year in his freshman year,
but other than that, he's liked his teachers. I do agree that your child should
be a motivated kid who does his/her work in order to succeed at a place like
Tech, but if your kid is driven and wants to go here, I would support that
decision. As for size, my son came from an 8 person graduating class (!) to
Tech (the largest HS in the country), and I was skeptical and nervous about him
getting ""lost in the shuffle" but he found a club/sport, he
made friends and found his place. Despite the size, he's comfortable and happy.
As for Covid, obviously, its a crappy situation and learning is definitely
better in person, but he has been engaged and is doing well -- in fact, my BTHS
student has done much better than my BPCS middle schooler, so from my
perspective they are doing a good job at Tech. They also have done a good job
of communicating with parents during Covid, which I appreciate.
Would your child consider
this school LGBTQ friendly?
Yes
Would you recommend this
school to other parents for their children? *
Yes
Please add some details
related to your answer to your answer to the recommendation question
here. *
If
your kid likes learning and is an independent learner, this may be a great fit.
What is the ONE piece of
advice you would give people who are looking for the right school to help them
choose the one that is the best fit for them/their family. *
Try
to find the best fit for your kid (sometimes that's not so clear, I know -- we
are less clear about the best place for our 8th grader). You want your kid to
be happy for the next 4 years. Good luck!
____________
Brooklyn Technical HS
Brooklyn
Is this the school your child attends now? *
yes, now and for the last year or more
Please write a review of your experience.
Brooklyn Tech has been a disappointment. My son's teachers have been mediocre at best, and the overall culture promoted by the administration is that any problems -- including technical difficulties during distance learning -- are for students and families to cope with on their own, not for teachers to adapt to. I do appreciate that this fall the school has prioritized giving blended and remote learners as close to the same experience as possible and keeping the full slate of classes on offer.
Would you recommend this school to other parents for their children? *
Maybe
Please add some details related to your answer to your answer to the recommendation question here. *
If a child is terrific at keeping track of multiple assignments on multiple platforms, can figure out confusing instructions independently, manages their time well, and does not need much outreach to get involved in extracurricular activities or find friends, this might work for them.
What is the ONE piece of advice you would give people who are looking for the right school to help them choose the one that is the best fit for them/their family. *
Visit EVERY school.
____________
Brooklyn
Technical HS
Brooklyn
Is this the school your
child attends now? *
yes, now and for the last year or more
Please write a review of
your experience.
Brooklyn
Tech has been mostly disappointing. The administration does not seem to hold
teachers to any particular expectations, and is unresponsive to parent
concerns. This attitude -- that any problems are squarely for the kids to deal
with -- leads to some very mediocre teaching. For example, some teachers only
update their gradebooks a few days before the end of the marking period,
leaving kids without any way to improve their grade. As another example, during
remote instruction, most teachers did not offer ANY actual teaching until this
year, and now they require students to turn cameras OFF because they find
students' faces and backgrounds "distracting."
Would your child consider
this school LGBTQ friendly?
Sometimes
Would you recommend this
school to other parents for their children? *
Other:
Only
if a child has a proven track record in large, impersonal settings.
Please add some details
related to your answer to your answer to the recommendation question
here. *
Brooklyn
Tech offers lots of after-school activities and other resources, but it doesn't
do anything to make it easy for kids to join. Some kids do very well, but
others don't -- and if they don't, no one will be particularly supportive.
What is the ONE piece of
advice you would give people who are looking for the right school to help them
choose the one that is the best fit for them/their family. *
First
impression = best impression
_______________________
Brooklyn
Tech
What is the name of the
specific program in that school that your child is attending or did attend in
the past year?
She
is a Law and Society major
Where is the school
located
Brooklyn
Is this the school your
child attends now? *
yes, now and for the last year or more
Please write a review of
your experience.
We
have been happy with the school. Teachers and administrators have been
responsive. The clubs and opportunities pre-Covid were (and will be again, I’m
sure) amazing. My daughter is now in her Junior year and her major classes have
been incredible. The teaching seems to be better in the upper grades and there
are more seminar-like classes in the upper grades. The school wasn’t great in
the spring when COVID hit but have really upper their game this year.
Would your child consider
this school LGBTQ friendly?
Yes
Would you recommend this
school to other parents for their children? *
Yes
Please add some details
related to your answer to your answer to the recommendation question
here. *
The
school has a great deal to offer and is a supportive environment.
What is the ONE piece of
advice you would give people who are looking for the right school to help them
choose the one that is the best fit for them/their family. *
Brooklyn Tech is a big school. Your child has to be comfortable with the size of the school
_________________________________________
Brooklyn
Technical High School
Where is the school
located? (City or Borough is enough, we don't need a full street address) *
Brooklyn
Is this the school your
child attends now? *
yes, now and for the last year or more
Please write a review of
your experience.
On
the whole, we've been happy with Tech, largely because our kid is truly all
about STEM and is enjoying the robotics major (even remotely, without being
able to use the lab). It helps that they are pretty independent and
well-organized: Tech is huge, and there's not that much hand-holding. Teachers
have been solid, a few excellent, a couple duds. Sadly, our kid's teams
(fencing and robotics) have been cancelled for COVID -- they enjoyed those
experiences and hope they can return to them in senior year.
If you want to share more
about how classes are handled virtually at this school now or last term, please
do so here.
The
spring was hit-or-miss. Some teachers knocked themselves out to come up with
creative remote curricula, and some just relied on worksheets. The fall has
been much more organized, with synchronous remote learning in every class. A
6.5-hour Zoom day, followed by hours of homework, is a challenge. That said,
our kid is learning, and is seems like Tech is making much more of an effort to
deliver a rigorous education than a lot of other NYC public high schools.
Would your child consider
this school LGBTQ friendly?
Sometimes
Would you recommend this
school to other parents for their children? *
Yes
Please add some details
related to your answer to your answer to the recommendation question
here. *
Yes,
for a self-motivated learner. There's a lot of opportunity there, but the kid
has to be the kind of student who will go after it.
What is the ONE piece of
advice you would give people who are looking for the right school to help them
choose the one that is the best fit for them/their family. *
Include
your kid in the process and trust their judgment.
___________________________________
Brooklyn
Technical High School
Brooklyn
Is this the school your
child attends now? *
yes, now and for the last year or more
Please write a review of
your experience.
Tech
has not lived up to its reputation as far as I'm concerned. The size was a
major negative factor for us but everyone said that there are lots of clubs and
opportunities for students to to "find their people." It is true that
there are lots of student-founded clubs but I think only a small percentage of
kids are motivated to join them. We had hoped our kid would join the band but
were disappointed--too advanced for the lower grades but band teacher refused
access to older group, so no music at all. So many students makes it hard for
anyone to focus on any particular kid. As for academics, they can be very
challenging, especially in 11th and 12th grades, but there is very little
support--it's a "sink or swim" atmosphere, and if you're not
swimming, no one really cares. Teachers are a very mixed bag: some very good
ones but many others totally checked out and not connecting at all with the
kids. I was shocked at how old-fashioned and unprogressive many teachers are.
The building is almost 100 years old--it has a vintage vibe that is kind of
cool but the facilities are less than ideal. Bathrooms are unclean and often
lack hot water; cafeteria pretty miserable; classrooms overheated or too cold;
overall, not the most comfortable learning environment. All this would be fine
if the school created a real community and a more nurturing atmosphere, but
that has not been our experience.
Would your child consider
this school LGBTQ friendly?
Sometimes
Would you recommend this
school to other parents for their children? *
Maybe
Please add some details
related to your answer to your answer to the recommendation question
here. *
Only
if your kid is a total self-starter would I recommend this school. If they need
someone to really see them, forget it.
What is the ONE piece of
advice you would give people who are looking for the right school to help them
choose the one that is the best fit for them/their family. *
Visit
the school more than once if you can, be sure to talk to actual kids (not just the
ones that volunteered for the tour) who went there, try to talk with parents
whose kids have attended for at least 2 full years, and then go with your gut.
Don't be misled by a school's reputation, which may have little bearing on your
kid's actual lived experience there.
_____________________
Brooklyn
Tech High School
What is the name of the
specific program in that school that your child is attending or did attend in
the past year?
Mechatronics
& Robotics
Where is the school
located? (City or Borough is enough, we don't need a full street address) *
Brooklyn
Is this the school your
child attends now? *
yes, now and for the last year or more
Please write a review of
your experience.
To
clarify, my son attended BTHS up through the end of 11th grade, when we pulled
him out due to the school's lack of ability to provide additional supports he
needed. If your child has an IEP or any executive functioning challenges, BTHS
can be very difficult to navigate. The extensive variety of classes and
hands-on STEM is amazing. There are so many club options as well. Most teachers
were engaging and supportive but I found most of the administration dismissive
of concerns about learning challenges and difficulties.
If you have a child who
receives special education services and would like to comment on that, please
do so here.
Our
son had a 504 plan while he really needed an IEP. I would suggest that you speak
in detail to the special ed staff and make sure that they can accommodate the
supports needed or mandated through your child's IEP.
Has or did your child use
the school's college office?
I
did find the brief interaction we had with the college office to be solid, we
had a great advisor who helped with all my questions and that of my students.
Would you recommend this
school to other parents for their children? *
Maybe
Please add some details related to your answer to your answer to the recommendation question here. *
Your
child really needs to be self-sufficient and have a strong ability to
self-advocate to succeed at BTHS.
What is the ONE piece of advice
you would give people who are looking for the right school to help them choose
the one that is the best fit for them/their family. *
be open to a variety of schools and make sure that you speak with someone in the admin regarding special ed and how the school handles your kids needs. If your child had any learning differences, I would strongly caution you to do your due diligence
____________________________
City-As
High School
Where is the school located?
Manhattan
Is this the school your
child attends now? *
no, they already graduated in June 2020
Please write a review of
your experience
City-As
is an alternative high school. It offers students the opportunity to split
their week between classes and internships. The classes are also not
traditional so English classes may include a class on Dystopian literature
instead of English 11. Regents are not required to graduate and they make
reports and presentations before a panel of teachers instead. The school
attracts students looking for a different way to learn or who had trouble
graduating from high school. The age range of students is huge so there are
students over 18 trying to finish high school in 6+ years. For a self-motivated
student, there are a ton of opportunities to grab internships throughout the
five boroughs. Some of the most dedicated educators are here trying to help
students, who may be educationally challenged or life challenged (kids without
parents or homes or with kids of their own). I have never met more involved and
supportive teaching staff and administrators but they can only do so much.
However, they were not supportive of my child’s special education needs and the
school’s population attracted drug using teens.
If you have a child who
receives special education services and would like to comment on that, please
do so here.
There
were no traditional special education services available. Some classed had an
extra special Ed teacher present but it was not uniform.
Would your child consider
this school LGBTQ friendly?
Yes
Would you recommend this
school to other parents for their children? *
Maybe
Please add some details related to your answer to your answer to the recommendation question here. *
There
is a playground across the street from the school where some students cut
classes and get high. If you child is drawn to that, this school will be a
problem. They are given a lot of freedom to come and go from school on their
own so unless your kid is motivated to stay and learn and take advantage of
what this school offers, there is a lot of opportunity and little oversight of
kids looking for drugs or trouble.
What is the ONE piece of
advice you would give people who are looking for the right school to help them
choose the one that is the best fit for them/their family. *
Visit the schools during school hours and walk around and get a sense of what’s happening there.
________________________________________
What is the name of the school your child is attending or did attend in the past year? *
The Clinton School
Where is the school located?
10 E 15th St. NY, NY
Please write a review of your experience.
Teachers take a long time to reply to students and parents, if they ever reply. Teachers and administration do not care about students. Most teachers didn't give feedback, even when requested. Teachers and administration do not want to speak with parents and do not help students who need help. They expect students to be independent and responsible, and if they are not, they blame the student. Work jumped in amount and difficulty when the IB started in 11th grade. Poor preparation for IB.
If you want to share more about how classes are handled virtually at this school now or last term, please do so here.
My child was a senior at the beginning of the pandemic. Teachers mainly posted assignments. Didn't teach.
If you have a child who receives special education services and would like to comment on that, please do so here.
Child had 504 based on an outside neuropsychologist's evaluation. Teachers didn't follow it. Administration didn't enforce it and didn't care that it was not followed.
Has or did your child use the school's college office?
Cookie-cutter help with search. Timely sending of transcripts and recommendations.
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ friendly?
Yes
Would you recommend this school to other parents for their children? *
No
Please add some details related to your answer to your answer to the recommendation question here. *
Beautiful building. Great location. Pathetic administration and teachers. Frequent turn-over of teachers. Beautiful science laboratories that were never used. IB HL Biology never did a single lab (they were all planned for the end of senior year and were them not possible due to Covid).
What is the ONE piece of advice you would give people who are looking for the right school to help them choose the one that is the best fit for them/their family. *
Speak to parents with kids at the school.
_________________________________________________
Cooke Center
9th
Grade
Where is the school
located
242
Rugby Road
Is this the school your
child attends now? *
yes, now and for the last year or more
Please write a review of
your experience.
Cooke
has been wonderful for my son. There is a culture of respect and a sense of
overarching responsibility from staff and administration that I have not seen
in many other schools. They provide appropriate supports, and steer the ship!
At last, a place that gets how to do sensory integration within a classroom
environment. Children at the school range from mild to moderate intellectual
disability. Our son has been attending since 5th grade, and it has been a rock
solid place for him. They are doing fully remote or fully in person. You have
to pick one. Online learning is no substitute, but our son can't make the trip
safely on a bus on a daily basis right now, so he's at home.
If you have a child who
receives special education services and would like to comment on that, please
do so here.
Appropriate,
needed IEP services are provided
Would your child consider
this school LGBTQ friendly?
Yes
Would you recommend this
school to other parents for their children? *
Yes
Please add some details
related to your answer to your answer to the recommendation question
here. *
For
children with moderate or severe cognitive delays, this school is the best.
What is the ONE piece of
advice you would give people who are looking for the right school to help them
choose the one that is the best fit for them/their family. *
When
touring a school, consider if the children there appear to be happy or at least
content in their learning environment. Determine if the academic rigor; meets,
exceeds, or seem too intense for your child, and be honest with yourself.
Listen to your child if they are offering input.
________________________
Eleanor
Roosevelt
Where is the school
located
Manhattan
Is this the school your
child attends now? *
yes, now and for the last year or more
Please write a review of
your experience
We
choose ElRO because it was small, had ICT and a strong reputation for
academics. My son has high functioning autism so we needed a school that fit
his twice exceptional needs. Elro is close to home and after years of busing my
son wanted to walk to school. I have mixed feeling about this school. It has an
immediate sense of the pride in the schools success. Even though my son is at
the same level as other students in the school (despite his disability) I have
been asked many times why he choose the school and there is a reluctance by
some teachers to change the culture of having intellectual, independent
students to having accommodations for students with special needs. I would
recommend this school for a child who doesn’t need many services because it is
difficult dealing with some teachers who are not always open to changing their
thinking/ways. My son loves the school. He is doing well and his high academic
needs are being met. Because it is a small school, he quickly made friends. At
the last parent/ teacher conference via Zoom the teachers seems very energetic
and happy to have him in class. There was lots of controversy at the school in
the last couple of years concerning racism and diversity but Elro has made
extreme effort to make changes in this area. I would recommend this school if
you have an intellectual, independent child that likes an intimate environment.
If you want to share more
about how classes are handled virtually at this school now or last term, please
do so here.
Zoom
classes have been good. Teachers seem knowledgeable about how to use the
technology.
If you have a child who
receives special education services and would like to comment on that, please
do so here.
My
son receives Speech Therapy. Elro has a fantastic speech therapist who has helped
my son advocate for himself
Has or did your child use
the school's college office?
We
have only used PSAT college prep. Ift has been good so far.
Would your child consider
this school LGBTQ friendly?
Yes
Would you recommend this
school to other parents for their children? *
Yes
Please add some details
related to your answer to your answer to the recommendation question
here. *
It
is a good school with a challenging curriculum.
What is the ONE piece of
advice you would give people who are looking for the right school to help them
choose the one that is the best fit for them/their family. *
Always
choose a school that fits your child needs not the reputation or status of a
school. Think about the travel time and your child’s extra curricular
activities when making your chose.
_____________________________
Fordham Preparatory School
Where is the school located?
Bronx
Is this the school your child attends
now? *
yes, now and for the last year or more
Please write a review of your experience.
This is an all-boys school which I think was
excellent because he wasn't distracted by girls/dating/appearance etc. The
school requires a shirt & tie but no one pays attention to name brands. I
loved seeing him dress well but simply (he doesn’t usually dress well!). I’m
happily surprised by how independently he works (homework & studying, I
mean) & how he actually cares about keeping his grades up. This wasn’t the
case before high school. The only negative is that basketball is way too
competitive. I think kids should have fun & not be cut as freshmen. All
other sports are done well, but basketball cuts at this school are brutal.
If you want to share more about how classes
are handled virtually at this school now or last term, please do so here.
They’ve been excellent about safety. One can
choose between hybrid or fully remote.
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ
friendly?
Yes
Would you recommend this school to other
parents for their children? *
Yes
Please add some details related to your
answer to your answer to the recommendation question here. *
I’m not catholic or even religious (my
husband is catholic) but I really appreciate how this school (which is a Jesuit
school) seems to teach “morals” & a sense of community & respect for
all races/ethnicities/religions. The school cares about good morals not just
grades.
What is the ONE piece of advice you would
give people who are looking for the right school to help them choose the one
that is the best fit for them/their family. *
Go on a tour & talk to other parents of current students or alumni. Be nosy (in a good way) & try to find out what the student body or other parents are like
__________
Fort Hamilton
What is the name of the specific program in
that school that your child is attending or did attend in the past year?
Drama Academy
Where is the school located? (City or Borough
is enough, we don't need a full street address) *
Brooklyn
Is this the school your child attends
now? *
yes, now and for the last year or more
Please write a review of your experience.
The school is large - yet accessible. The
teachers know my son and the principal is outstanding. She is engaged,
communicative and responsive. They have a wide range of programs. My son has AP
courses, honors courses, free access to Broadway shows - through his drama
program.
If you want to share more about how classes
are handled virtually at this school now or last term, please do so here.
Last year they offered some synchronous
instruction. This year they are offering much more!
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ
friendly?
Yes
Would you recommend this school to other
parents for their children? *
Yes
Please add some details related to your
answer to your answer to the recommendation question here. *
It provides lots of options in terms of
academics and extracurriculars.
What is the ONE piece of advice you would
give people who are looking for the right school to help them choose the one
that is the best fit for them/their family. *
Be open and flexible regarding the options.
We dismissed this school during the open house because we were turned off by
the ROTC but it has been a wonderful place for my son.
____________________
Frank McCourt
High School
Where
is the school located?
Manhattan -- Upper West Side
Is
this the school your child attends now? *
yes, now and for the last year or more
Please write a review of your experience.
Frank McCourt is a diverse, supportive
school that helps each kid find their wings. It is small, selective & committed
to taking bright students from a range of backgrounds and abilities. The school
is progressive, with an emphasis on project-based learning and a distaste for
AP classes. Staff love teaching double-period classes that combine math &
science or humanities & literature, and six-week interdisciplinary courses
for juniors and seniors in topics including Robotics, Risk, Chocolate, and
Potions & Lotions. The young faculty is driven to find ways to reach each
kid. Incoming students who need extra writing support may spend weeks or months
developing Story Webs, while other students quickly begin structuring essays.
The school takes mentorship seriously through advisory classes and peer-led
counseling. During the pandemic shutdown, the school tried to keep up morale
with videos of students and teachers singing "My Heart Will Go On,"
through Kahoot! quizzes, etc. Administrators traveled to all five boroughs to
hand-deliver diplomas to 2020 graduates in their homes.
If
you want to share more about how classes are handled virtually at this school
now or last term, please do so here.
Students in blended learning are going to
school 2-3 days/week. Classes are synchronous, with kids learning at home
watching the class via Zoom.
If
you have a child who receives special education services and would like to
comment on that, please do so here.
My child is a peer mentor and has been
moved by the various ways the school pays attention to kids with special needs.
An administrator asked a very shy boy to read the morning announcements one
day. Students high-fived him (pre-pandemic) the rest of the day, telling him
how happy they were to hear him over the loudspeaker. It was a terrific
ice-breaker for the boy and boosted his confidence. It also brought his mother
to tears that the school had found a way to casually bring her son out of his
shell.
Has
or did your child use the school's college office?
The college office has been terrific,
helping my daughter set an ambitious but realistic timeline for selecting
appropriate schools and writing her essays. The college counselor offered her a
free outside essay tutor and her teachers are also eager to help propel her to
a top-tier school. The counselor gave quick and thorough answers to questions I
had about things that have changed since I applied. The school doesn't
publicize its success at getting kids into college, but 2020's class got
students into Columbia, Cornell, NYU, Syracuse, Skidmore, MacCauly Honors
College, UColorado Boulder, Connecticut College, UConn and many SUNYs including
Binghamton, Buffalo and Albany.
Would
your child consider this school LGBTQ friendly?
Yes
Would you recommend this school to other parents for their children? *
Yes
Please add some details related to your answer to your answer to the recommendation question here. *
My daughter loves the school, which has
turned her into a leader who wants to be a teacher. She loves feeling like she
makes a difference at the school, and has been tapped to help the school
respond to the pandemic, to interview prospective teachers and to get smaller
events such as Spirit Week off the ground. Another school might have been happy
to see how close she felt to her teachers and administrators, but the school
picked up that education was something that could let her fly.
What
is the ONE piece of advice you would give people who are looking for the right
school to help them choose the one that is the best fit for them/their
family. *
I've been impressed by so many NYC public high schools and their teachers. Finding a good fit is a stressful exercise when the process is basically a lottery, so my best advice is not to waste the top slots on schools where your child has a slim chance and use them for the very good schools where your kid can shine instead if learn at 14 that they are run-of-the-mill.
________
Frank
Sinatra School of the Arts
What is the name of the specific program in
that school that your child is attending or did attend in the past year?
Fine Arts
Where is the school located?
Astoria Queens
Is this the school your child attends now? *
yes, now and for the last year or more
Please write a review of your experience.
We weren't sure what to think when our child
was placed at FSSA. Now, in junior year, we can say that we are impressed! It's
a smaller school (about 800 students) and the teachers and faculty really know
your child. There is no "slipping through the cracks". The principal,
Gideon Frankel is in his 4th year now (I think) and is doing a tremendous job!
He is very approachable and open to suggestions. Through the Covid-19 epidemic
he holds weekly town halls for students and separately for parents. We feel
very well informed. Academically, FSSA keeps adding AP classes and has a AP
Capstone diploma for kids who qualify. College Now is also available. We are
impressed with the level of teaching and caring of the teachers.
If you want to share more about how classes
are handled virtually at this school now or last term, please do so here.
Classes are synchronous and my child is kept
busy and engaged throughout the school day.
Has or did your child use the school's
college office?
We haven't done this yet, but the school has
Naviance.
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ
friendly?
Yes
Would you recommend this school to other
parents for their children? *
Yes
Please add some details related to your
answer to your answer to the recommendation question here. *
There are a variety of after school activities
with a strong program for producing all of the performances put on by the
school including dance, vocal, instrumental, film, etc. This is rigorous, but
kids feel empowered and learn the importance of good team work.
What is the ONE piece of advice you would
give people who are looking for the right school to help them choose the one
that is the best fit for them/their family. *
This school is about an hour commute but, it
seems like many kids are making a similarly lengthy commute. For the smaller,
caring community, I recommend this school.The principal is very strong and
positive and builds a positive, inclusive community.
________
High School of American Studies
What is the name of the specific program in that school that your child is attending or did attend in the past year?
General
Where is the school located? (City or Borough is enough, we don't need a full street address) *
Bronx
Is this the school your child attends now? *
Currently in the first year
Please write a review of your experience.
We are new to HSAS as my son is a freshman. We have been very impressed with Mr. Weiss the principal and the communication he has supplied us with over the summer and into the fall.
If you want to share more about how classes are handled virtually at this school now or last term, please do so here.
The amount of asynchronous and synchronous learning seems right and the teachers are all really on top of communicating with the students. Everyone is using the same teaching platform and things have gone smoothly.
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ friendly?
Yes
Would you recommend this school to other parents for their children? *
Yes
Please add some details related to your answer to your answer to the recommendation question here. *
The school seems very welcoming and since it is so small the principal knows every student by name and I feel like there is a real sense of community.
What is the ONE piece of advice you would give people who are looking for the right school to help them choose the one that is the best fit for them/their family. *
In a normal year I would say take a lot of tours and talk to the students. I think that will be a challenge this year but found that most helpful for us.
____________________
High School of American Studies, Lehman
College
What is the name of the specific program in
that school that your child is attending or did attend in the past year?
just high school, 9-12
Where is the school located?
the Bronx
Is this the school your child attends
now? *
no, they already graduated in June 2020
Please write a review of your experience.
I can speak only for my own kid, of course.
Maybe the school wouldn't work for everyone. But for her, it was a blessing.
She came out of a very competitive citywide school, that was tough for her
socially--I often wonder if she should even have gone there. HSAS was a really
warm and welcoming place for her to land, after that. She made some wonderful
friends, she was completely delighted with the college she got into, she
cemented her certainty that she wants to major in history, thanks to fantastic
history teachers at the the school. I myself, after never feeling like I fit
well into the community at her other school, found the teachers, principal and
parents there to be wonderful. It's kind of hard to think of a better place she
could have landed. There were some problems with the math teaching during her
stay there, though some of that has been corrected and math wasn't really her
thing. She herself is on the nerdy side, and I felt like the kids she hung out
with just encouraged her to take even deeper dives into the kind of work she
loves doing. I don't know what it's like for kids who want a more social/party
scene--I'm guessing at least some of that must go on. Definitely athletic kids
seemed to be happy at the school because they do take team sports seriously. I
myself will always look back on HSAS as the perfect place for our kid to have
been.
If you want to share more about how classes
are handled virtually at this school now or last term, please do so here.
They kept the kids busy and working hard.
There was not a ton of teacher contact, as far as I know but there was some.
Our daughter was a senior, however, who'd already gotten into college by the
time school went virtual. It may feel different for kids just coming in, or who
are now in their junior year, when the college search really hits home.
Has or did your child use the school's
college office?
The school did help with our search. It's a
public school, so that help wasn't as elaborate or individualized as it
otherwise might have been. On the other hand, there was one counselor who liked
our daughter a lot and whom I always felt like I could ask questions of. We
ourselves did most of the work and in the end, she was really, really happy
with her choices. For those who want to know about such things--a bunch of her
classmates got into academically tip-top schools.
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ
friendly?
Yes
Would you recommend this school to other
parents for their children? *
Yes
Please add some details related to your
answer to your answer to the recommendation question here. *
I think I've put that into my description of
the school. For kids who want a non-cutthroat, but high-performing intimate
environment, with or without athletics, and who are looking for a school that
is small in size but big in its ambitions, it's a good fit.
What is the ONE piece of advice you would
give people who are looking for the right school to help them choose the one
that is the best fit for them/their family. *
Listen to your kid, and what they want. Trust them--don't force your own viewpoint on them. Our daughter knew from the second she even heard about the school that it was the place she wanted to go. When she got in, there was another, equally good school that in some ways I liked even better. But we let her choose and her choice was entirely right.
________________________________
High
School of American Studies at Lehman College
Where is the school
located
Bronx
Is this the school your
child attends now? *
yes, now and for the last year or more
Please write a review of
your experience.
The
school has been a great fit for our daughter. The curriculum is rigorous, with
a majority of the classes being honors classes. The school does require 3 years
of history, so that is important to know. The Principal is outstanding. He
really cares about the students. When in school, he would greet each and every
student, by name, every morning. Finally, there is little to no social pressure
at the school. The students are generally friendly and academically focused.
There is a lot of homework and the teachers demand excellence. This was a great
fit for our daughter, coming from a rigorous middle school program.
If you want to share more
about how classes are handled virtually at this school now or last term, please
do so here.
There
is a nice balance between synchronous and asynchronous learning.
Has or did your child use
the school's college office?
College
office is alright and is what one would expect at a NYC public school.
Would your child consider
this school LGBTQ friendly?
Yes
Would you recommend this
school to other parents for their children? *
Yes
Please add some details
related to your answer to your answer to the recommendation question
here. *
We
could not have been happier with the education our child has received. The
small class size and quality of teaching is amazing given it is NYC public
school.
What is the ONE piece of
advice you would give people who are looking for the right school to help them
choose the one that is the best fit for them/their family. *
It
is vital to get a true understand of the school's approach, atmosphere and
overall feel and then pick the school that your child feels is the best match
for what s/he is looking for. Make sure it is ultimately your child's decision.
___________________________________________________
[HSMSE] The HS of Math, Science and Engineering at CCNY
What is the name of the specific program in that school that your child is attending or did attend in the past year?
There are 3 tracks students choose for junior and senior years: math, science research and engineering. My daughter plans to do engineering. The science research is the smallest. It also requires traveling between school and Mt. Sinai and working with Mt Sinai staff, so it’s the most selective. Not everyone who wants science gets it. It’s unusual for someone to not get the first choice of the other 2.
Where is the school located? (City or Borough is enough, we don't need a full street address) *
North Harlem/Hamilton Heights.
Is this the school your child attends now? *
Currently in the first year
Please write a review of your experience.
My daughter is very happy at HSMSE, which is the most important thing. The student body and building are small. The kids who are there want to be there and wanted a small-school experience. The upside is that the staff know the kids and what is going on with them. If there is mischief it’s discovered and dealt with quickly (and is relatively mild). The occasional problem with a teacher is also sussed out and addressed quickly. There is a lot of school spirit and a sense of community. The kids seemed to find friends easily in freshman year. There are a lot of clubs if kids want to join them. They are very student driven and a lot of them are strictly for fun, which I think the kids need—D&D, art, drama, book club, table top games. There is a STEM magazine and a service club. There are not many academic teams— math, academic Olympics—which is surprising. There is a dance team and a great jazz orchestra. There is a good parent community too, if you want that. The downside of a small school is that human resources are sometimes limited. Teachers are very willing to be club advisors but everyone wears multiple hats and sometimes well-intentioned ideas never get off the ground. An outside organization runs a mental health clinic on site. They run workshops for students and parents. And they offer counseling. Especially post covid it’s a nice resource. The homework load is not as bad as I expected though I imagine it will grow. There is a large service requirement which some kids try to finish in their first 2 years before academics get heavier. Everyone asks about the commute. The A and D run from 59th to 125th to 145th without stopping, which helps. Plenty of kids commute from queens and brooklyn so it’s not hard to find people to commute with. The engineering teachers are impressive— one was a civil engineer for NYC and another taught engineering at Stanford. The faculty is largely male and so is the student body though the number of girls has been growing.
If you want to share more about how classes are handled virtually at this school now or last term, please do so here.
Everything is on Google classroom so if kids had to miss school for covid they could keep up with assignments and the teachers were flexible about having kids make up work they couldn’t do at home, like science labs.
child who receives special education services and would like to comment on that, please do so here.
—
Has or did your child use the school's college office? If yes, would you like to add some information about that experience? Did they help with the search? Applications? Were they helpful with parent's questions?Were they speedy in getting transcripts, recommendations, etc to the colleges?
They discourage kids from thinking too much about college in freshman year, which I think is good given these kids can put a lot of pressure on themselves. But the college counselor has already talked to us a bit about what to expect. There seems to be a lot of free or subsidized SAT prep available. Covid has curtailed school-organized college visits. But they did have a panel of college admissions officers for juniors and will have a panel of senior parents who have been all the way through it. The college counselor meets with every family in junior year. And with only 100+ kids he seems to be able to help as much as you need. I think he could do a better job of asking alumni if students can reach out to them about their colleges but he does keep in touch with alumni as much as he can.
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ friendly?
Yes
Would you recommend this school to other parents for their children? *
Yes
Please add some details related to your answer to your answer to the recommendation question here. *
Despite being a SHSAT school, hsmse is actually one of the most diverse schools in the city. I think having a black, female principal helps with attracting girls and all kinds of students. The school has a diversity initiative that includes workshops for parents on issues related to all kinds of diversity including race, religion, gender, sexual orientation. I know of transgender kids who needed some extra support after they made the change and the staff did quite a bit to help them. And I always believe what they do day to day is what matters.
What is the ONE piece of advice you would give people who are looking for the right school to help them choose the one that is the best fit for them/their family. *
You have to listen to your kid. They are the ones who will be at the school daily for 4 years. If they don’t think they can handle a big school, long commute, heavy workload you have to respect that. But if they love a school and feel it’s the place for them don’t let a longish commute or challenging curriculum dissuade you. If the kids are up for it it will work out.
___________________
What is the name of the specific program in that school that your child is attending or did attend in the past year?
Software Engineering Program
Where is the school located?
Brooklyn
Is this the school your child attends now? *
yes, now and for the last year or more
Please write a review of your experience.
My son is currently in his junior year. With the pandemic he missed a little more of a year in person. I feel Telecommunications principal & staff handled it very well. They were very accommodating to students and made sure to not overwhelm them where they would have to be on the computer for 6hrs a day, but also make them accountable for work. They kept in contact with parents and students put out surveys for us to take and ultimately did what they felt was best for students and parents regarding scheduling etc. they ended up splitting the schedule which I thought was great. In person freshman year was an easy transition for us. He is in the SEP program which is the software engineering program. Good program with a good teacher they learn a lot, but he tells me there’s also a lot of work in that class. As I mentioned they do keep in contact alot and I felt the teachers are very forgiving regarding late assignments etc. they will still count it vs. middle school (McKinley 259) there was no exception. I feel there should always be a chance to correct things or do the work obviously in reasonable timing & as long as it’s not a constant thing. I really appreciated that. My son is apart of NHJS (national honors junior society) he did have a teacher he did not do well with this year it was his only class that he had an issue with. The grade advisor helped get that switched. My son has also been on the basketball team both JV & Varsity. If your child is interested in basketball be prepared to work hard, star players will be starters and if your child is one of the bottom players they most likely will not get any playing time & still be expected to show up to all practices. We experienced this but with much work and effort he played some this season. Overall I would recommend this school compared to surrounding schools in bayridge. If you’re looking for a good school with not so many kids and not be overwhelming for them. I would definitely recommend telecomm.
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ friendly?
Yes
Would you recommend this school to other parents for their children? *
Yes
What is the ONE piece of advice you would give people who are looking for the right school to help them choose the one that is the best fit for them/their family. *
If your able to visit, visit if not I would definitely ask around. Get reviews from parents and kids who have recently gone there.
High
School of Telecommunication Arts (HSTAT)
What is the name of the
specific program in that school that your child is attending or did attend in
the past year?
SEP
Where is the school
located?
Bay
Ridge, Brooklyn
Is this the school your
child attends now? *
yes, now and for the last year or more
Please write a review of
your experience.
HSTAT
is a solid mid-size school. Big enough to have options but not so big that your
kid will get lost. We got a good impression from their tour and I felt that my
expectations were matched. When my son started freshman year there was not one
kid from his middle school there, but he still made friends quickly. Teachers
are good to great, he hasn’t had any that he really disliked. The SEP (Software
Engineering Program) program is a good intro into various areas in technology.
I dont think my son will come out of it knowing a programing language
specifically, but I do think he’ll have a better understanding of the industry.
I think kids who are more into it would get more out it. The trips to tech
companies were great, unfortunately those are off the table for now. I think
being in SEP helped him find friends faster. Overall I think it will have been
worthwhile for him to have done it, even if he isn’t tech-focused in college. I
think strengths are fostering a friendly, safe environment, good teachers, strong
in most academics (esp Physics, History), SEP program, seems like a good
college program (we are in Junior year), diverse community, school is
communicative and responsive to parents. They have a beautiful greenhouse on
the roof that they use for Living Environment and after school clubs. Weakness
are lack of any kind of outdoor area for sports (but they still have some good
teams, track being one), English we felt was too easy, parent communications
are ok (a little old school, our middle school was better). If your kid is
really into music or art, might not be a great fit.
Would your child consider
this school LGBTQ friendly?
Yes
Would you recommend this
school to other parents for their children? *
Yes
Please add some details
related to your answer to your answer to the recommendation question
here. *
I
would recommend to any family looking for a good midsize school and is maybe
STEM-focused.
What is the ONE piece of
advice you would give people who are looking for the right school to help them
choose the one that is the best fit for them/their family. *
Look
for what feels right for your kid in the school, try not to worry about what
everyone else is doing. It'll be ok.
___________________________
Hunter College High School
What is the name of the specific program in
that school that your child is attending or did attend in the past year?
Everyone follows the same program.
Where is the school located?
94th and Park, Manhattan
Is this the school your child attends
now? *
yes, now and for the last year or more
Please write a review of your experience.
Entrance to this school is only in 7th
grade, so the kids stay together for six years, resulting in strong
relationships being formed. My daughter is in her third year and it has been a
great fit for her. Strong core curriculum that all students follow
(art/music/theater/math/science/social studies/foreign language) means that
they come out with a very well-rounded education. Teachers are strong, but the
real strength is the students who I find to be supportive of one another and
deeply engaged in the world around them.
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ
friendly?
Yes
Would you recommend this school to other
parents for their children? *
Yes
Please add some details related to your
answer to your answer to the recommendation question here. *
I would definitely recommend; the only
downside is the popularity of the school and the challenge of getting through
the hoops of the exams. That may change with COVID and the lack of standardized
tests .. so stay tuned!
What is the ONE piece of advice you would
give people who are looking for the right school to help them choose the one
that is the best fit for them/their family. *
There is no one right school, but many that
will serve your child well!
________
ICE (Institute for Collaborative Education)
Where is the school located?
Manhattan
Is this the school your child attends now? *
yes, now and for the last year or more
Please write a review of your experience.
The school has been poorly handling the situation since the pandemic started. As of today, they have to yet start teaching. There is no emphasis on academics or discipline/ structure. The school claims that the curriculum revolves around social justice and positive change, however, I am not sure how they expect these kids to contribute to a positive change and society without proper instruction and education.
If you want to share more about how classes are handled virtually at this school now or last term, please do so here.
I would not be able to because, as of today and several months after the pandemic started, the school has not created a proper remote-learning curriculum other than sharing a few links where kids can learn on their own.
Has or did your child use the school's college office?
No AP courses offered and no college info yet.
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ friendly?
Yes
Would you recommend this school to other parents for their children? *
No
Please add some details related to your answer to your answer to the recommendation question here. *
The school has been gradually deteriorating due to key teachers leaving and lack of leadership and academics.
What is the ONE piece of advice you would give people who are looking for the right school to help them choose the one that is the best fit for them/their family. *
Don't listen to the loudest parents. We live in an area in which all parents think alike and there's no consideration or mention of more traditional schools that, looking back, would have been a great choice.
_______________
Institute
for Collaborative Education
Where is the school located?
Manhattan
Is this the school your child attends
now? *
yes, now and for the last year or more
Please write a review of your experience.
The Institute for Collaborative Education is
part of a consortium of NYC public schools who provide a nontraditional program
of learning in that there is less focus on state tests and more of a focus on
collaborative work and four major cycle projects, leading to PBATS (Performance
Based Assessments Tasks) for older high school students. Most of the teachers
my child has had have been dedicated educators, fully committed, and have
encouraged my child to tackle more challenging work. The parent teacher
conferences are short as they are everywhere but I have always had a sense that
because of the commitment and the small class and school size they really know
my child's strengths and weakness. The written narratives received for the
report cards provide in-depth information about my child's development in
addition to the grades themselves. The downside is the level of resources
available, it is a scrappy, independent-minded, compassionate,
challenging-in-a-nontraditional-way school led by an inspiring and committed
principal. The parent community, many of them educators themselves, is
supportive and engaged, but does not draw in record-breaking donations compared
to elementary schools that parents might be accustomed to. I will not criticize
the teachers for struggling through COVID-19 given the challenges to prepare a
safe environment and enough resources for staff to simultaneously concentrate
on remote and hybrid learning. This is an unprecedented and challenging time
for so many.
If you want to share more about how classes
are handled virtually at this school now or last term, please do so here.
The students work on a school-wide project
for the first few weeks, the current schedules include live discussion several
times a week. Is it enough? Of course not, but we are not in normal times.
Has or did your child use the school's
college office?
We have not used the college office yet but
I have heard that the counselor spends a concentrated amount of time with each
student through the months of preparing to apply. Given that ICE is so small,
the students benefit from that individualized attention.
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ
friendly?
Yes
Would you recommend this school to other
parents for their children? *
Yes
Please add some details related to your
answer to your answer to the recommendation question here. *
ICE works for my child who thrives within a
diverse, engaged, eclectic group of independent thinkers, many of whom tend to
be creative and extroverted. If you have a child that prefers a more rigorous,
structured environment, with less collaborative activity, you should explore
other schools for a better fit.
What is the ONE piece of advice you would
give people who are looking for the right school to help them choose the one
that is the best fit for them/their family. *
Try not to project your own preferences if
you were going to school yourself. Ask the children of your friends directly
what their experience has been like.
________________
Keswell
https://www.keswellschool.org/
What is the name of the specific program in that school that your child is attending or did attend in the past year?
Entire school is a 1:1 ABA program (applied behavioral analysis)
Where is the school located?
Manhattan
Is this the school your child attends now? *
Currently in the first year
yes, now and for the last year or more
no, they already graduated in June 2020
Please write a review of your experience.
School really gets to know your child and crafts appropriate programming for them. It is a private program so you have to sue DOE for tuition reimbursement which is a drawn out process and may require you to pay up front while you wait for money to come back. They are very receptive to incorporating ideas of parents into programming and give detailed feedback in daily notes.
If you want to share more about how classes are handled virtually at this school now or last term, please do so here.
They resumes in person instruction but allow parents to stick with virtual option if that is better for family.
Has or did your child use the school's college office?
My daughter has intellectual disability as well as autism and will not attend college.
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ friendly?
Yes
Would you recommend this school to other parents for their children? *
Yes
Please add some details related to your answer to your answer to the recommendation question here. *
School creates detailed plans for students but regularly asks for feedback from families.
What is the ONE piece of advice you would give people who are looking for the right school to help them choose the one that is the best fit for them/their family. *
Visit school to assess program for yourself.
______________________________
LaGuardia High School for Music, Art and Performing Arts
What is the name of the specific program in that school that your child is attending or did attend in the past year?
Technical Theater Track
Is this the school your child attends now? *
Currently in the first year
Please write a review of your experience.
Programs are amazing. Teachers are mostly great, guidance counselors are great to my kid, and (after complaining a whole lot) better at communicating with me. My kid just got an ADHD diagnosis and trying to get a 504 is a bit of a struggle. The school is pretty elitist and demanding of students. After remote learning the last 2 years of middle school, the transition to in-person high school is very hard for my teen. The staff at the school is lackluster and communication is frustrating, but getting better. Some of the teachers are incredibly willing to help my kid, while others barely respond to emails. Covid has been pretty under control for such a huge school. They have daily electronic health checks and mandate masks (though, according to my kid, there are several students who don't comply). The cafeteria is overwhelmingly overcrowded, and the food absolutely sucks, according to my teen. My child is also trans and queer and is very accepted at the school. While the school claims to offer tutoring support, they don't...not that I've observed.
If you have a child who receives special education services and would like to comment on that, please do so here.
My teen has a 504 and we are trying to get a neuro/psych eval and IEP
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ friendly?Yes
Would you recommend this school to other parents for their children? *
Maybe
Other:
Please add some details related to your answer to your answer to the recommendation question here. *
It really depends on the kid. You really need to be self motivated to do well...this is the feeling I'm getting.
What is the ONE piece of advice you would give people who are looking for the right school to help them choose the one that is the best fit for them/their family. *
Check reviews on staff from people who actually sent their kids there. Talk to people. A. Lot.
________________________________
LaGuardia High School
What is the name of the
specific program?
Fine
Arts
Where is the school
located
Manhattan
Is this the school your
child attends now? *
yes, now and for the last year or more
Please write a review of
your experience.
LaGuardia
HS has been disappointing academically with the current leadership
Has or did your child use
the school's college office?
nothing
was easily accessible on the website since i am just looking for my sophomore
this past year
Would your child consider
this school LGBTQ friendly?
Yes
Would you recommend this
school to other parents for their children? *
Other:
not
if you are looking for a balance of academics and arts
Please add some details
related to your answer to your answer to the recommendation question
here. *
the
admission requirements standards have been lower but it has been the over feel
of this doe administration as well as the previous
What is the ONE piece of
advice you would give people who are looking for the right school to help them
choose the one that is the best fit for them/their family. *
know
what your child needs to be happy and excel in HS
______________________________
LaGuardia
High School
What is the name of the
specific program in that school that your child is attending or did attend in
the past year?
vocal
major
Where is the school
located? (City or Borough is enough, we don't need a full street address) *
Manhattan
Is this the school your
child attends now? *
Currently in the first year
Please write a review of your experience
absolutely
disastrous response to Covid-19. Barely any academic classes. Almost no
"in person" arts instruction, despite promising otherwise. The new
principal will not answer questions and seems determined to strip the school of
academic rigor. Some of the teacher seem good, but it's hard to tell.
Would you recommend this
school to other parents for their children? *
Maybe
Please add some details
related to your answer to your answer to the recommendation question
here. *
It
will depend on what happens next year. My child has hardly been in the school
building.
What is the ONE piece of
advice you would give people who are looking for the right school to help them
choose the one that is the best fit for them/their family. *
Find
out who the principal is!
______________________
Laguardia
high school
What is the name of the
specific program in that school that your child is attending or did attend in
the past year?
Fine
art
Where is the school
located?
Manhattan
Is this the school your
child attends now? *
yes, now and for the last year or more
Please write a review of
your experience.
I
wasn’t happy with the school having the children complete a whole years
coursework in 4 months. They also did not have enough “classroom” time. My
child has a total of 6 academic hours now and less than 3 hours of her art.
Would your child consider
this school LGBTQ friendly?
Yes
Would you recommend this
school to other parents for their children? *
Other:
Yes
in non pandemic times it is truly a special place
Please add some details
related to your answer to your answer to the recommendation question
here. *
When
in person artist flourish
What is the ONE piece of
advice you would give people who are looking for the right school to help them
choose the one that is the best fit for them/their family. *
Hard to know as schools handled things uniquely
_____________________
LaGuardia HS
What is the name of the specific program in that school that your child is attending or did attend in the past year?
Drama Studio
Where is the school located?
Manhattan
Is this the school your child attends now? *
yes, now and for the last year or more
Please write a review of your experience.
Love the drama studio and that my son is able to spend several hours a day pursuing his passion with talented instructors and like-minded peers. It's amazing that this much instruction provided free-of-charge. Academics are also strong, but since it's a large school, you need to be proactive about seeking support if you need it. Also, really important to forge a relationship with your Guidance Counselor, otherwise Senior year they won't know who you are.
If you want to share more about how classes are handled virtually at this school now or last term, please do so here.
Has or did your child use the school's college office?
LaG doesn't have a college office per se, but the college support is OK. You should expect to take the task on your own shoulders if you really want to be proactive. We didn't ask for help with the search nor applications. Don't yet know about them sending in transcripts/recommendations since it's still early in the process.
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ friendly?
Yes
Would you recommend this school to other parents for their children? *
Yes
Please add some details related to your answer to your answer to the recommendation question here. *
If you student has a passion for the arts that they want to spend four years pursing in-depth, it's a great match. If it's just an interest, rather than passion, they may find it overwhelming and not the best match.
What is the ONE piece of advice you would give people who are looking for the right school to help them choose the one that is the best fit for them/their family. *
Make sure your child will not struggle academically or that the academic structure and learning style offered is a match for your child.
______________
laguardia
hs
What is the name of the specific program in
that school that your child is attending or did attend in the past year?
vocals
Where is the school located
manhattan
Is this the school your child attends
now? *
no, they already graduated in June 2020
Please write a review of your experience.
lag. is a huge school! i was not used to that. until the principal
changed i felt i was not interested in pta meetings or participating in events
other than as a spectator. i know the new Principal Vasconceios, bc she was the
principal at talent unlimited! when she was made interim principal the vibe of
the community changed to a friendlier, more relaxed atmosphere.i also became
more involved with the pta and specifically the 'remote/virtual' graduation. it
is then i realized how happy the students are, how they find their click, and
support one another. the teachers, are great, in my experience they don't sugar
coat and tell it like it is. when school 1st went remote i emailed a teacher to
find out why she didn't have classes or homework and she actually called me!
she spoke to myself and my son to clarify how some teachers were using google
and others using pupil path. i didn't know if her personal life was hit by
covid or if she was caring for little ones?! i didn't really have much
interaction with administration. i did push hard for any kind of in person
graduation. bc everything has to be sanctioned by the doe, it was not allowed.
If you want to share more about how classes
are handled virtually at this school now or last term, please do so here.
they did the best job they could last
year under those circumstances.
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ friendly?
Yes
Would you recommend this school to other
parents for their children? *
Yes
Please add some details related to your
answer to your answer to the recommendation question here. *
both are performing arts schools. if the
school is convenient to travel to, the student performs better in a huge or
small setting...these both are good choices.
What is the ONE piece of advice you would
give people who are looking for the right school to help them choose the one
that is the best fit for them/their family. *
commute time should be under 1 hour.
____________________
What is the name of the school your child is attending or did attend in the past year? *
Fiorella Laguardia
What is the name of the specific program in that school that your child is attending or did attend in the past year?
Drama
Where is the school located? (City or Borough is enough, we don't need a full street address) *
Manhattan
Is this the school your child attends now? *
yes, now and for the last year or more
Please write a review of your experience.
Great PTA & school
If you want to share more about how classes are handled virtually at this school now or last term, please do so here.
Remote
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ friendly?
Yes
Would you recommend this school to other parents for their children? *
Maybe
Please add some details related to your answer to your answer to the recommendation question here. *
Depends on their preference
What is the ONE piece of advice you would give people who are looking for the right school to help them choose the one that is the best fit for them/their family. *
Visit schools
________________
Leaders HS (Expeditionary Learning School for Community Leaders)
Where is the school located
Brooklyn (Bensonhurst/Gravesend)
Is this the school your child attends now? *
yes, now and for the last year or more
Please write a review of your experience.
My son, D., is in 10th grade at Leaders. I'm so pleased with this school. I started my HS list looking at the Consortium member schools, because I don't believe that standardized tests are any indication of a student's knowledge or potential for "success. I also wanted D. to get more experience with research and writing in all academic areas, which are required for a HS diploma instead of Regents scores (except for ELA). D. isn't great with motivation or time management, and Leaders is a small school that gives students lots of support. I liked that the school has a strong advisory program--students stay in the same 12-student "crew" group, with the same crew leader, all 4 years. Leaders is an Outward Bound school, like D.'s middle school MS 839, so we were familiar with the structure (in his year 5 kids went from 839 to Leaders). Like 839, kids go on Outward Bound camping trips. The 9th grade trip gave my son the opportunity to show leadership and other skills that he doesn't always demonstrate in academic settings. Other pluses for my family/my son: -Dedicated internship coordinator and two guidance counselors, one who is also the college counselor (this in a school of 400) -Lots of extracurriculars, including partnerships with Brooklyn Boulders and biking and skateboarding groups that also provide mentoring -Strong PSAL sports (my son is really sports oriented), teams that mix students in the different schools in the building -Football/soccer fields -Emphasis on reading -Efforts at integrating curriculum -Strong communication from principal and crew leader -Strong emphasis on social-emotional development, collaboration, becoming an informed citizen and advocate for social justice -Diverse in race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status -Emphasis on college readiness from 9th grade; close to 100% go to college after graduation Minuses -Size--my son wishes it were bigger -Deeper into Brooklyn than I would have liked--it was our 9th choice out of 12, mostly because I would have rather my son had a 45-minute commute into Manhattan than into BK.
If you want to share more about how classes are handled virtually at this school now or last term, please do so here.
The school really mobilized over the summer to come up with a program that prioritized remote learning, considering their assumption that they would go all-remote at some point. They've come up with an innovative way of teaching the core subjects--instead of all at once, they have two core classes per quarter, for longer periods. So this quarter is history and science, for 1 1/2 hours each, but that time includes live teaching, student groupings, and independent work. So the majority of the work is done during the school day, so kids can have afternoons for other responsibilities/social time. They're planning on having outdoor, socially distant meetups for crews, so that all-remote & hybrid can get together. D. is going all-remote, for consistency, but the school has done everything it can to ensure safety for those going in. (they're utilizing the outside fields and park across the street.) The principal has been holding almost biweekly Q&As for parents.
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ friendly?
Yes
Would you recommend this school to other parents for their children? *
Yes
Please add some details related to your answer to your answer to the recommendation question here. *
I would recommend the school to parents looking for small school; emphasis on reading and writing; social-emotional, and other "soft skills" development.
What is the ONE piece of advice you would give people who are looking for the right school to help them choose the one that is the best fit for them/their family. *
Don't discount quality of life--check commute time relative to school start time and make sure it will work for your kid.
______________________________
MIDWOOD
What is the name of the school your child is attending or did attend in the past year? *
Midwood High School
What is the name of the specific program in that school that your child is attending or did attend in the past year?
Medical Science
Where is the school located? (City or Borough is enough, we don't need a full street address) *
Flatbush, Brooklyn
Is this the school your child attends now? *
Currently in the first year
Please write a review of your experience.
Midwood Medical Science was our daughter's second choice and she had a decent lottery number (around 25% of students seated before her number) and excellent grades/test scores. She wants to be a vet, so we wanted strong sciences, but she is also a competitive runner, so we wanted both cross country and at least outdoor track (they also have indoor).
In the beginning I found Midwood hard to navigate (August before school started), but once the year began we get all info emailed to us and all teachers use PupilPath (unlike our Park Slope middle school). Our daughter took Living Environment and Algebra in 8th grade and Spanish, so she went into Chemistry, Geometry, and Spanish 2 with many sophomores. There have been no problems at all with that. Every class is a different mixture of students, which she has liked. The school is very diverse and the students are very friendly; she has had a much better time socially here than at her Park Slope middle school which was very clique-ish and exclusive. She has always made friends in classes (they changed classes in February, and she made new friends) and feels very happy at school.
Her teachers have been easy to communicate with and respond very quickly both to her and to me. They are fair, give HW but not an obscene amount, and never have assignments due at 8pm Friday night (like I have heard from other schools). She has had to work hard, but she has never felt totally overwhelmed, only challenged. Next year she will start the medical science program and will take one AP class. I am an educator and have been very pleased with the level of academics she has received.
The real gem has been her running coach and her cross country and track teams. The girls are a tight group (when her grandmother died this past month, they all got her a card and signed it with the sweetest messages), and her relationships with upperclassmen have been invaluable to helping her transition to high school. Her running has improved, and the many practices keep her focused on running and school--but she does still have time for a social life, too. Just a little one ;)
There was a lot of chatter earlier this academic year about fights and such at Midwood, but my daughter has never reported feeling unsafe. She went from all Park Slope schools to Midwood, and she really appreciates the diversity--many races, many classes, many religions.
Two things I had not thought about as a parent: Midwood is far from our house, and if we need to get her early from school to leave town or a doctor's appt, we have to go all the way to the school to check her out. I don't know why I didn't think of this before; it's kinda a pain, but now we just make sure all her orthodontist appts are after school is already out. Also, many of her good friends live waaaaay deep down in Brooklyn, so we have had to figure out how to hang out in neighborhoods and places we don't know (Kings Plaza Mall), which is fine, but I guess I thought there'd be more kids from D15 going there that she'd find/befriend. Just a couple of things that threw me as a mom.
Overall, it's a great school. My daughter is not outgoing or gregarious--very introverted, shy, and wall-flowery, but she has been really happy there.
Has or did your child use the school's college office?
I have not used the college office, but I have interacted with her guidance counselor to get a transcript to apply to a program as well as regarding bereavement days/absences. He has been amazing. He responds immediately and is a great help.
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ friendly?
Yes
Would you recommend this school to other parents for their children? *
Yes
Please add some details related to your answer to your answer to the recommendation question here. *
I would recommend this school to a student who wants strong science/math and who likes sports and clubs.
What is the ONE piece of advice you would give people who are looking for the right school to help them choose the one that is the best fit for them/their family. *
Everyone wants to tiny, precious schools for their kids (Beacon, Bard), but there are other schools out there that offer a lot more opportunities because of their size. Don't be afraid of them. Your kid might thrive there in ways you never expected.
______________
Midwood
What is the name of the specific program in that school that your child is attending or did attend in the past year?
Medical Science
Where is the school located? (City or Borough is enough, we don't need a full street address) *
Brooklyn
Is this the school your child attends now? *
yes, now and for the last year or more
Please write a review of your experience
My son is a sophomore and says he likes the teachers and the variety of courses. The only thing that really bothers him is how crowded the hallways are. He knew he wanted Midwood pretty early in the high school process and in the end he chose it over Brooklyn Tech, even though it's a longer commute for him. I think he wanted a more "normal" high school environment. Midwood has a lot of room for a very academic student to grow and do well, but it has a broad cross section of students, not all of whom are primarily focused on academics, and that kind of broad environment -- along with a lot of sports! -- was what my son wanted. Midwood has proven to be as advertised. As a parent, one thing I have liked that I didn't expect is responsive teachers and admin. If I send an email to a teacher or even the principal, I get a response within 24 hours, and they are straightforward and complete. I love the variety of courses -- there are so many options and esp for kids who got a start on Regents in 8th grade, kids can start shaping their schedules to meet their interests as early as sophomore year. And there are good bands (not strings, though), decent art, amazing sports options -- some require auditions and tryouts and first years may not get into everything, but there are lots of available options. Sophomore year has just started for him so there's a way to go yet. Will have to report back again later. But so far last year and this, I feel like there has been more of a mix of traditional tests and projects, including creative ones, than I thought there would be. I had pegged Midwood as more universally "traditional." My son generally likes a traditional test he can study for and then move on from, but he seems to be engaged by his teachers in these projects, which says something.
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ friendly?
Sometimes
Would you recommend this school to other parents for their children? *
Yes
Please add some details related to your answer to your answer to the recommendation question here. *
I asked my son about LGBTQ+ friendly and he at first said, yes, friendly, but then then hedged and said teachers = yes and students = sometimes, but it may not be something he thinks about enough. More generally, I think Midwood can be a great school for the right student. But it is a very large school without an advisory program and though teachers are responsive and supportive when students come to them and ask questions, I do think it's a better fit for kids who are comfortable with self advocacy and self-directed. The awesome thing about large NYC public high schools is all the options available to students. Smaller public schools -- even really great ones -- just don't offer that kind of choice. It's a tradeoff: how much support does your kid need, how much choice does you kid need? Does your kid thrive in a diverse environment -- diverse in every way you can imagine at Midwood? It's a cool place IMO, but it's big and it could be overwhelming for some students, I can imagine.
What is the ONE piece of advice you would give people who are looking for the right school to help them choose the one that is the best fit for them/their family. *
If your kid has an opinion, take it seriously. I would have chosen Tech for my son because it seemed similar to Midwood in the ways that mattered to me and closer to us, but my son wanted Midwood. I made him tour both places after being accepted and forced him to subway out to Midwood twice as if he was getting there for a 7:15am class (which can happen for older students). He held firm and he was right. (At least so far!)
________________
Midwood
HS
What is the name of the specific program in
that school that your child is attending or did attend in the past year?
Medical Sciences
Where is the school located?
Midwood, Brooklyn
Is this the school your child attends
now? *
no, they already graduated in June 2020
Please write a review of your experience.
Since dd was in med sci program, we received
no feedback from school overall. But when dd emailed or met with teachers, they
were overall easy to contact and happy to advise.
If you want to share more about how classes
are handled virtually at this school now or last term, please do so here.
Spring 2020 was online, almost no
interaction with teachers.
Has or did your child use the school's college
office?
College office kept solid track of the
process.
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ
friendly?
Yes
Would you recommend this school to other
parents for their children? *
Yes
Please add some details related to your
answer to your answer to the recommendation question here. *
Midwood med sci program is solid strong
academics. Too many kids apply for AP with few snail teachers so it's tough to
get those classes.
What is the ONE piece of advice you would
give people who are looking for the right school to help them choose the one
that is the best fit for them/their family. *
Child should follow their gut, not parents.
______________
Millennium
Brooklyn high school
What is the name of the
specific program in that school that your child is attending or did attend in
the past year?
Lower
house, ninth grade
Where is the school
located? (City or Borough is enough, we don't need a full street address) *
Park
slope Brooklyn
Is this the school your
child attends now? *
Currently in the first year
Please write a review of
your experience.
The
school was our first choice, based on solid academics, advisory and sports
program. Wonderful principal, compassionate teachers! Thoroughly disappointing
structure/support during Covid. My son has become disengaged and unmotivated
with the lack of learning and social opportunities and support.
If you want to share more
about how classes are handled virtually at this school now or last term, please
do so here.
8:30-2
pm 2.5 days a week, online assignments, projects & office hours three days
a week. Not enough structure for a 14-year-old.
Would your child consider
this school LGBTQ friendly?
Yes
Would you recommend this
school to other parents for their children? *
Yes
Please add some details
related to your answer to your answer to the recommendation question
here. *
Amazing
principal difficult time with DOE.
What is the ONE piece of
advice you would give people who are looking for the right school to help them
choose the one that is the best fit for them/their family. *
Find out if/how the school is prioritizing the students during Covid. Also: commute, cultural diversity, advisory, academics and enrichment.
___________________
Millennium Brooklyn High School
Where is the school located?
Park Slope, Brooklyn
Is this the school your child attends now? *
no, they already graduated in June 2020
Please write a review of your experience.
My son had an excellent experience at MBHS. The teachers were attentive, involved and communicative with parents. The school was very well organized and took care to address the emotional and social aspects of the students. I highly recommend the school!
Has or did your child use the school's college office? If yes, would you like to add some information about that experience? Did they help with the search? Applications? Were they helpful with parent's questions?Were they speedy in getting transcripts, recommendations, etc to the colleges?
Because the school is so small (150 per grade or so), we received a lot of attention from the college office. The staff were very hands on and extremely helpful.
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ friendly?
Yes
Would you recommend this school to other parents for their children? *
Yes
Please add some details related to your answer to your answer to the recommendation question here. *
Diverse and social school.
What is the ONE piece of advice you would give people who are looking for the right school to help them choose the one that is the best fit for them/their family. *
Don't choose the "it" school of the moment. Think about your child and focus on a good fit for them.
______________
Millennium Brooklyn High School
Where is the school located?
Park Slope, Brooklyn
Is this the school your child attends now? *
Currently in the first year
Please write a review of your experience.
Small school, personalized attention and strong academic rigor. Excellent leadership.
If you want to share more about how classes are handled virtually at this school now or last term, please do so here.
We opted for blended learning. The remote learning was surprisingly robust and engaging.
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ friendly?
Yes
Would you recommend this school to other parents for their children? *
Yes
Please add some details related to your answer to your answer to the recommendation question here. *
We are only in year 1 but thus far we're impressed.
What is the ONE piece of advice you would give people who are looking for the right school to help them choose the one that is the best fit for them/their family. *
Don't get swept up in the notion of 'best' schools or 'elite' schools. We have a very high performing child but we came to understand that getting the best education is a combination of school, curriculum, commute, size, and that all important intangible "fit". Try to change your mindset from "What's the best school?" to "What school is the best fit for my child?"
___________
Millennium Brooklyn High School
Where is the school located?
7th avenue Brooklyn
Is this the school your child attends
now? *
yes, now and for the last year or more
Please write a review of your experience.
MBHS is a compassionate and nicely-sized
school with a variety of students of varying socioeconomic levels. The
principal is intelligent, thoughtful and well-organized. There are mostly high
quality teachers, with a few average ones and a few exceptional ones. The
curriculum is mainly prescribed and the grading system is generally fair. Until
the pandemic, each year was probably better than the previous. They have put a
lot of thought into planning for blended and remote learning and it's going
better this fall than it did in the spring. One of the best things about the
school were the sports teams so that is a big loss during the pandemic. The
students are generally pretty humble, not arrogant or elitist.The teachers
support an inclusive atmosphere. My son got 3 AP's for junior year which was 1
more than he asked for, probably because of his high 10th grade grades. So far
the AP classes and the regular classes all seem good. It's still early in the
year but the workload is reasonable.
If you want to share more about how classes
are handled virtually at this school now or last term, please do so here.
It's going better this fall than last
spring. It is better to have the cameras turned on for classes. It would be
better if there was at least a check in on the asynchronous days but there
aren't probably enough staff to do that.
Has or did your child use the school's
college office?
Not yet. That will start this year - 11th
grade.
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ
friendly?
Yes
Would you recommend this school to other
parents for their children? *
Yes
Please add some details related to your
answer to your answer to the recommendation question here. *
It isn't a flashy school, but it's solid and
there's a lot of enthusiasm in the community. Most of the teachers have neat
hobbies in addition to their teaching role (track, yoga, political activism,
etc.) Overall I'd say it's a pretty happy school where students feel accepted
for who they are. My son has done better each year he is there, as he had a
slightly bumpy 9th grade year, but 10th great went swimmingly until the
pandemic hit. However they definitely used a trauma-informed approach towards
the students and were compassionate if there were any big stresses (there
weren't but it was reassuring to know that this is their orientation).
What is the ONE piece of advice you would
give people who are looking for the right school to help them choose the one that
is the best fit for them/their family. *
It is all about fit. Listen carefully to
your 8th grader and consider whether they would thrive in a high pressure or
medium pressure school. MBHS is a medium pressure school most of the time and
the teachers know the students. It also is not a school full of kids from
wealthy families (there are a few but that is not the predominant group). That
is why we chose it 1st.
______________
Millennium
Brooklyn
Where is the school located?
Brooklyn
Is this the school your child attends
now? *
yes, now and for the last year or more
Please write a review of your experience.
We've been very happy with Millennium
Brooklyn. My daughter is now a junior. Although she had the grades and test
scores to get into a more sought-after school, MBHS was her first choice,
because her priorities were a small, inclusive school and a short commute. She
has an advisor, who meets with a small group of advisees three times a week,
and frequently does one-on-one check-ins. So, no students can fall through the
cracks. In general, I have found the teachers and staff responsive and attentive,
and I've been impressed with the curriculum. The classes are interesting and
engaging and research-based, and while there's plenty of work, it's not a
pressure cooker. However, the downside to being in a smaller school is the
relative shortage of choices and resources. For example, there's no music to
speak of. (There's some kind of music club, but no music classes, band, or
orchestra.) There's no fancy science lab or state-of-the-art computer
equipment. Theater productions have heart but are pretty minimalist. That's the
trade-off for an environment where students and teachers know each other and
treat each other with respect.
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ
friendly?
Would you recommend this school to other parents
for their children? *
Yes
Please add some details related to your
answer to your answer to the recommendation question here. *
MBHS is a fairly warm place with an emphasis
on critical thinking, writing, and research. I probably would not recommend it
for a student interested in the arts or STEM.
What is the ONE piece of advice you would
give people who are looking for the right school to help them choose the one
that is the best fit for them/their family. *
I think the commute is a big issue in New
York City. Yes, many students travel very far every day for high school. Now
that COVID has arrived, I am very relieved that my daughter can walk to her
school and does not have to ride a crowded subway. And in general, a long
commute can really take a toll and cut into extracurricular time. My advice
would be to take that seriously when ranking your choices. In the end, you get
out of a school what you put into it.
_________________________
Millenium
Brooklyn
Where
is the school located?
Park
Slope, Brooklyn
Is
this the school your child attends now? *
yes, now and for the last year or more
Please
write a review of your experience.
My
daughter is now a sophomore at MBHS and we are all very happy with the school.
It was our first choice because of the strong while not stressful academics,
good sports (PSAL) program, location (she takes the subway, but it's a short
ride and it's located in a loverly neighborhood) and overall supportive
community. While the class choices are mostly dictated freshmen and sophomore
year, that was not an issue for us (if your child wants to select specific
science or humanities courses early in his/her high school experience, you
should look elsewhere). Playing on 2 teams (albeit spring being cut short) was
an incredible bonding experience for her and formed many of her current
friendships. I've been pretty amazed but the support and engagement of some of
her teachers and the work is rigorous but not overwhelming. The principal is
incredibly responsive and communicative to the parent community, which was
especially nice during the summer return to school confusion.
If
you want to share more about how classes are handled virtually at this school
now or last term, please do so here.
Last
spring there were very few live zoom classes which was disappointing as the
kids really missed their connection to school, their teachers and friends. This
fall, blended students have all their academic classes in school with a good
amount of follow up work for their 2 days at home. This works well for my
daughter but I can imagine it could be challenging for other students who need
more interaction. Monday is only gym and advisory (both live). Gym has been
pretty creative and engaging - 80 minutes! - with meditation, visualization
exercise and an assigned cardio/strength work out to do independently. Advisory
still meets 3 times/week (2 in school, with fully remote kid zooming in) and
Mondays (everyone zooms in)
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ friendly?
Yes
Would
you recommend this school to other parents for their children? *
YES
Please
add some details related to your answer to your answer to the recommendation
question here. *
MBHS
is a relatively small school but still large enough for kids to find their
niche. The student body is very diverse and supports a range of interests and
activism. The principle is an incredibly caring, organized and accessible to
both parents and students. In the non-pandemic world, the ability to play on a
variety of teams, go out to lunch in Park Slope and participate in mandatory
community service hours, all point to what we love about MBHS.
What
is the ONE piece of advice you would give people who are looking for the right
school to help them choose the one that is the best fit for them/their
family. *
It's
already been said, but look to the school that fits your child's interests and
needs. Don't get persuaded by other people's POV. Think about: the size of
school, commute to school (this is big!), variety of courses, college support
(we aren't there yet, but MBHS is well-staffed in this area), opportunity to
participate in after school activities or whatever else you think will help
ensure your child has a good high school experience.
_
Edward R. Murrow High School
What is the name of the specific program in
that school that your child is attending or did attend in the past year?
Screened Theater program
Where is the school located?
Brooklyn
Is this the school your child attends
now? *
yes, now and for the last year or more
Please write a review of your experience.
Overall, Murrow has been a good school for
my daughter, now in 11th grade. It was her 5th choice school and she went in
with a less than positive attitude and we have all been pleasantly surprised at
her experience. The positives: The school genuinely is diverse in every way:
racially, economically, learning styles, academic abilities, learning and
physical disabilities etc. The school is also very student-focused. The way I
see this manifest is that every semester/year, the students have a lot of
choices in registering for classes. Many subjects are offered at different
levels of academic achievement: you can do remedial classes where you need them
and advanced in other subjects where you excel. And you can mix all that up.
There are also lots of different options for types of literature classes,
science classes etc. That’s the advantage of the big school. The arts are
strong, especially for kids in the screened programs, but there are arts
opportunities for kids outside of those programs, too. Many clubs etc. I have
also found the individual teachers for the most part very responsive to
inquiries etc. The negatives: my biggest complaint is that some of the teaching
has been pretty rote and some teachers rely too heavily on text books or
worksheets, particularly in history class. I had other kids at Bard and Beacon
and at those schools I found more teachers using original sources and creating
lessons that went much deeper into a subject than my daughter has experienced
at Murrow, particularly in history. Some of that is because Murrow’s most
advanced classes are AP classes which have to follow that standard curriculum.
Neither Beacon or Bard offered humanities-based AP classes. Also, the size of
the school can mean battling against bureaucracy that can be frustrating. You
have to figure out who to go to get real responsive assistance.
If you want to share more about how classes
are handled virtually at this school now or last term, please do so here.
Having had a really mediocre spring
remotely, the fall the school has essentially gone all remote and my daughter
now has live instruction for every period, every day. It’s a lot!
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ friendly?
Yes
Would you recommend this school to other parents for their children? *
Yes
Please add some details related to your answer to your answer to the recommendation question here. *
My daughter has made a lot of great friends
and has had a positive experience at Murrow. It’s not the most innovative
school academically, however.
What is the ONE piece of advice you would
give people who are looking for the right school to help them choose the one
that is the best fit for them/their family. *
Don’t obsess with trying to find the perfect
school. Kids can love or hate their experience at any school, even the most
“desirable” schools in the city. Help them find the positive wherever they end
up!
______________
Edward
R Murrow
What is the name of the specific program in
that school that your child is attending or did attend in the past year?
Comm Arts
Where is the school located?
Brooklyn
Is this the school your child attends
now? *
Currently in the first year
Please write a review of your experience.
This is our first year, but after a few
bumps in the road getting started, it's been pretty good so far. The teachers
seem really great, and the school communicates well with parents. Everything is
organized via PupilPath/Google Classrooms, so we always know what our son
is/isn't doing.I'd say that given all the schools had to deal with this year,
Murrow has done better than we expected.
If you want to share more about how classes
are handled virtually at this school now or last term, please do so here.
We put our son in blended learning, but
revoked it as soon as we heard there'd be no live instruction. For now, we're
happy with how Murrow has handled remote learning.
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ
friendly?
Yes
Would you recommend this school to other
parents for their children? *
Yes
Please add some details related to your
answer to your answer to the recommendation question here. *
Like I said, we are first year, but the one
thing that struck me about Murrow is that even though it's a huge school, you
aren't just a number. We had trouble at the beginning of the year with
enrolling our son in classes, and one of the Asst Principals reached out
directly and helped us. I'm sure she had a ton of other things to think about,
and she still made time for us. I was impressed.
What is the ONE piece of advice you would
give people who are looking for the right school to help them choose the one
that is the best fit for them/their family. *
Don't worry about the same 20 public schools
everyone is chasing. Just find the right fit for your kid. You'll be happier
and so will they.
____________________________________
Edward
R. Murrow
What is the name of the
specific program in that school that your child is attending or did attend in
the past year?
Art
program
Where is the school
located
Brooklyn
Is this the school your
child attends now? *
yes, now and for the last year or more
Please write a review of
your experience
Despite
its size, Murrow has done a great job in creating a welcoming, diverse
atmosphere, where your child is known to their teachers, guidance counselors,
and other staff. The building is old but in good condition (for a public school
building in NYC) and specific facilities such as science labs and music/art
classrooms are well-equipped. In such a large school, you are bound to have
some teachers just waiting it out till retirement, but we have only experienced
one or two of those in 2 years, with the rest of the teachers excellent.
Specialty teachers and programs are terrific--expert, enthusiastic, committed.
The first year of Covid was bad but this year has improved. We don't have any
experience of the sports or clubs.
Would your child consider
this school LGBTQ friendly?
Yes
Would you recommend this
school to other parents for their children? *
Yes
Please add some details
related to your answer to your answer to the recommendation question
here. *
I
recommend the art program without reservation. Teachers are expert and
committed, facilities are good, and parent support is strong. Kids routinely go
on to top-notch college art programs.
What is the ONE piece of
advice you would give people who are looking for the right school to help them
choose the one that is the best fit for them/their family. *
Visit
the school, talk to kids (and parents) who are graduating, and ask them to be
honest about pros and cons.
____________________
nest+m
senior year
Where is the school located?
manhattan
Is this the school your child attends now? *
yes, now and for the last year or more
Please write a review of your experience.
Nest+m high school went virtual in March 2020 and remained so through june 2021. The administration surveyed the parents in the spring of 2020 and created a well organized plan for the following year and stuck to it. It was organized and worked well
Has or did your child use the school's college office?
Yes, the college advisor is very active and helpful at this school
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ friendly?
Yes
Would you recommend this school to other parents for their children? *
Yes
Please add some details related to your answer to your answer to the recommendation question here. *
Mr, Park, the AP physics teacher had his class up and running on line 2 days after the shutdown. One of the first things he said to the class on line was that this was a college level class. In college you would only be in class with your teacher 2-3 times per week so there was no excuse to fall behind.
What is the ONE piece of advice you would give people who are looking for the right school to help them choose the one that is the best fit for them/their family. *
Check out who the principle of a school is. They are the leaders and create the ecology of a school biome.
Nest+m
Where is the school located? (City or
Borough is enough, we don't need a full street address) *
Lower East Side
Is this the school your child attends
now? *
Currently in the
first year
Please write a review of your experience.
It has been only a few weeks of school for
our 9th grade daughter but so far we are very impressed by the quality of
teaching, focus on social-emotional well being and peers interactions,
curriculum, school communication. The teachers have been very responsive when
our daughter needs help. They have created a great atmosphere among students
who are already working on interesting group projects. Our daughter loves
geometry, Spanish, visual art but really all her teachers. We find that the
Physics and Global Studies’ curriculums are strong and consistent and ELA very
interesting too. We love that there is 2 teachers for each subjects and all the
teachers work in team to ensure consistencies in the work and progression.
There is a sense of community among the students and they are being fully
engaged.
If you want to share more about how classes
are handled virtually at this school now or last term, please do so here.
The school is all remote/synchronous for
academics (everyday) and the blended groups go for advisories once a week
(supposedly more than once as the year goes...). Our daughter loves her
advisory afternoon where she meets her teacher and works in group with her
friends.
Has or did your child use the school's
college office? If yes, would you like to add some information about that
experience? Did they help with the search? Applications? Were they helpful with
parent's questions?Were they speedy in getting transcripts, recommendations,
etc to the colleges?
Not yet but they have been reaching to us
and seem very active and helpful.
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ
friendly?
Yes
Would you recommend this school to other
parents for their children? *
Yes
Please add some details related to your
answer to your answer to the recommendation question here. *
The school has exceeded our expectations in
every aspects. We are very impressed by the new principal and by the remote
teaching.
What is the ONE piece of advice you would
give people who are looking for the right school to help them choose the one
that is the best fit for them/their family. *
Choose the school for your own child and not
only depending on the school ranking or reputation. Some very appealing schools
would not have worked for our child (either too big or too stressful) and
Nest+m might not appeal to another child who has other expectations for high
schools.
_______________________
Northside Charter HS
What is the name of the specific program in that school that your child is attending or did attend in the past year?
ICT
Where is the school located?
Brooklyn
Is this the school your child attends now? *
yes, now and for the last year or more
Please write a review of your experience.
When we did the tour, the executive director at the time assured me that they were expanding their Sp Ed dept and will provide support students need. This was and still is a lie. Their Sp Ed admins have no clue as to services HS IEP students need. There is no help with transition services, parents are on their own. Many of the Sp Ed teachers choose who they want to help. There are a few teachers who care, unfortunately the new Executive Director fired most of them. The school does not want parent involvement and works to ensure there is no parent association. There are many changes made to the school, students have not gotten any report cards as of 12/19/2021, only a progress report given out this week. Parents were told grades will be available online, for many students, there is nothing online for them to see. There are many state complaints against Northside, that are founded, but they only get a slap on the wrist and continue doing whatever they want without penalty. The Board of Directors turn a blind eye to what's happening, they believe what the exec dir says. Re" COVID, some classes are crowded, and I don't think COVID cases are being reported.
If you want to share more about how classes are handled virtually at this school now or last term, please do so here.
The first year of remote was not great. Teachers did not respond in a timely matter to students questions.
If you have a child who receives special education services and would like to comment on that, please do so here.
DO NOT bring your child here if your child has an IEP or 504. There is no help, they provide little to no services for students, they expect parents to do what they as a school should do,
Has or did your child use the school's college office? If yes, would you like to add some information about that experience? Did they help with the search? Applications? Were they helpful with parent's questions?Were they speedy in getting transcripts, recommendations, etc to the colleges?
I'm doing most everything myself. Good luck in getting a transcript in a timely manner. A senior last year almost lost their place at a college because the school dragged their feet in sending one to the school, this was done in spite of this student because his parents filed many state complaints about violations to his IEP.
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ friendly?
Sometimes
Would you recommend this school to other parents for their children? *
No
Please add some details related to your answer to your answer to the recommendation question here. *
The school only wants bodies in, that's how they get paid, they don't care about the students because no one holds them accountable.
What is the ONE piece of advice you would give people who are looking for the right school to help them choose the one that is the best fit for them/their family. *
Talk to the parents and the students who attend the school.
________________________________________
NYCiSchool
Where
is the school located?
Manhattan
Is
this the school your child attends now? *
Currently in the first year
Please
write a review of your experience.
The
iSchool has been a great school for my daughter so far who just started 9th
grade. The school has been very supportive and has an excellent Advisory
program for all students that meets three times a week for all four years in
groups of 14 kids led by a teacher advisor. The Advisory groups have provided a
lot of good social and emotional support. The school is handling COVID-19 well
and I have been impressed with the communication from the school leadership.
If
you want to share more about how classes are handled virtually at this school
now or last term, please do so here.
The
classes have been handled well for remote learning. My daughter has about two
hours of live Zoom instruction each day and so far she really likes the
teachers. The teachers have actively reached out to the parents and provide
updates on the classes every few weeks. I think the school has done a good job
of providing additional support. The teachers also provide office hours twice
each week for students to get extra help or to ask questions.
Has
or did your child use the school's college office?
My
daughter has not used the college office yet. However, we have been told by
parents of upperclass students that the college counselor is excellent and
provides a lot of very helpful support to the students through Advisory about
the college process.
Would
your child consider this school LGBTQ friendly?
Yes
Would
you recommend this school to other parents for their children? *
Yes
Please
add some details related to your answer to your answer to the recommendation
question here. *
I
think the iSchool is a great school. The school has fostered a sense of
community for the students (which is difficult for virtual learning with new
9th graders) and the academic classes seem rigorous also. Also, the school
allows students to choose new classes each quarter including project-based
modules about things like running a pop-up restaurant that are supposed to be
great (though my daughter won't be able to take the modules until in-person
school resumes full-time). In addition, each 12th grader has to present a
project on an Area of Focus to the school community that shows some in-depth
work on a topic (for example research about science issue or entering writing
competitions) and the process is supposed to be very unique. The school has a
liberal-arts type college curriculum for some of the optional classes for the
upperclass students that is very impressive. It is a great school.
What
is the ONE piece of advice you would give people who are looking for the right
school to help them choose the one that is the best fit for them/their
family. *
I
would encourage students and parents to talk to current students during virtual
tours or to reach out to see what they like about their schools. We talked to a
few students on my daughter's school tours and that really helped to identify
the schools that she thought would provide the best fit. Also, smaller schools
provide an excellent opportunity for students to connect with teachers (like at
the iSchool).
__________________________________________________________
NYCischool
What
is the name of the specific program in that school that your child is attending
or did attend in the past year?
ICT
Where
is the school located?
Manhattan
Is
this the school your child attends now? *
yes, now and for the last year or more
Please
write a review of your experience.
This
is a great school. It is small and the teachers are high quality and VERY
involved and available to the kids both personally and academically. There are
a lot of classes with cross-subject and innovative or in-depth topics. They
swing it so that you take all the minimum requirements and then have room for
1-2 classes of something more unusual and interesting. The principal is very
pragmatic and flexible which is rare (I think). She is also quite easy going
and has a sense of humor. Downside is that things are often ad hoc and
sometimes you don't get the most comprehensive or by the book response - upside
is that they really tailor to the kids academically and in terms of special
needs - so that can be key if you have an out of the box kid. There is a vice
principal who is not so helpful (IMO) and it takes some work to get the
principal to get him with the program - so that has been of concern for me. The
kids seem great - quirky and overall nice - and there is a lot of diversity.
The emphasis truly seems to be on learning rather than achieving - and that is
really down to the very high quality of teachers and admin. The physical plant
is not great and there aren't a lot of AP's - not the best option if you are
looking for a school with lots of bells and whistles or a super
competitive/high achievement go-go-go atmosphere. It's definitely more of a
Wesleyan than a Princeton. There is a quarter system which is great for kids
who have shorter attention spans - have a hard time maintaining over a whole
semester (there are a some courses that last the whole year - like freshman
English and geometry).
If
you want to share more about how classes are handled virtually at this school
now or last term, please do so here.
The
principal has been very smart and pragmatic with this situation - but, in my
view, quite hamstrung by the DOE. I think the in-school program is pretty
worthless as it is just interminable study hall with no live instruction - but
might work for a studious kid who really wants to just have some contact with
teachers (although they might not be the kid's teachers...) The online has been
pretty well organized and executed this quarter. The attempts to have kids work
in small groups or have discussions online has been pretty weak.
"Discussing" through chat seems to work best. I overhear too many
open questions asked and a lot of silence ensue.
If
you have a child who receives special education services and would like to
comment on that, please do so here.
My
son does have an IEP. The upside is the admin and teachers (for the most part)
are skilled and interested in helping as well as a flexible in approach - the
downside is this flexibility means that you probably won't get very far
demanding things that you might be able to argue you are entitled to and that
you may have to come up with a lot of your own solutions and try to get them
instated. I'd say if your kid has functioned well with a cocktail of services
provided by the DOE up to this point you might want to go somewhere more
traditional. If the you need a more creative approach this may work well for
you. I do think the school could do a better job of talking about tolerance of
neuroscience-diverse behavior.
Has
or did your child use the school's college office?
Not
yet. I've heard the counselor is well loved and I think having a small school
really helps in this regard.
Would
your child consider this school LGBTQ friendly?
Yes
Would
you recommend this school to other parents for their children? *
Yes
Please
add some details related to your answer to your answer to the recommendation
question here. *
Yes
if you want flexibility, small school, strong academics, for your child to have
strong relationships with interesting teachers, quarters, more class choice and
more unusual/engaging class choices, an excellent principal. No if you want
specialized programs, fancy after school, fancy building, traditional, a
culture of "excellence" and focus on achievement, large school.
What
is the ONE piece of advice you would give people who are looking for the right
school to help them choose the one that is the best fit for them/their
family. *
Figure
out the 3-5 most important things for your kid and any dealbreakers, then try
to focus only schools that have/don't have those things.
________________________________
NYC
iSchool
Where
is the school located
Manhattan
Is
this the school your child attends now? *
yes, now and for the last year or more
Please
write a review of your experience.
The
course selections at the iSchool are dynamic which has definitely helped my
teenager stay engaged. Examples of courses from Fall 2020: Dystopian Literature
(English), Climate Change, Colonialism and Catastrophe (Physical Science),
Serial - The Podcast (English), Race Class Gender and The Environment (Life
Science), Election 2020 (Government). Most of the teachers have been excellent
but there have been a couple that our child has not connected with. The
school's college counselor is one of the best in the city. Her guidance has
been invaluable to us in navigating this process. Students have advisory three
times a week and because the students are together all four years, they have
become quite a close-knit group. Communication with the school really great.
Grades are posted on Jupiter Ed and it is easy to track how they are doing. As
far as the building, it is old and too small for the school which is the case
of many NYC public schools unfortunately. The sports teams are combined with
Chelsea, the high school they share the building with. They do not seem as
competitive as other NYC Public Schools which is not important to us. It is
more about being a member of a team and enjoying the experience. There are not
endless AP courses offered so there are limits on who is allowed to take them
and how many a student can take. Each student has to apply to take them as
well. In regards to Covid, it feels like they learned what worked and what
didn't work last semester and adjusted accordingly. This fall seems to be off
to a better start. Our child is doing remote but the majority of students who
are hybrid go in once a week and there is no live instruction happening while
they are in school. I believe it is more like study hall. From my understanding
this is because of the physical limitations of the building and the fact that
many of the teachers were granted waivers. We love the school and it ended up
being the perfect choice for our child who has thrived in this supportive small
school setting.
Has
or did your child use the school's college office?
We
are just getting started in the process with our junior but last year as
sophomores they took the PSAT and then the juniors have already taken practice
SAT and ACTs (virtually). We have been given a timeline of everything that we
need to be doing each month preparing (researching, attending virtual tours and
visits, etc.).
Would
your child consider this school LGBTQ friendly?
Yes
Would
you recommend this school to other parents for their children? *
Yes
Please
add some details related to your answer to your answer to the recommendation
question here. *
If
you are looking for a supportive small school environment with a dynamic
curriculum, this is a great option for your child.
What
is the ONE piece of advice you would give people who are looking for the right
school to help them choose the one that is the best fit for them/their
family. *
Keep an open mind. What you think might be the best option for your child, might not end up being the right fit.
_____________________________________________
NYC Museum School
Where is the school located?
Chelsea, Manhattan
Is this the school your child attends now? *
Currently in the first year
Please write a review of your experience.
Early days as my son is a freshman but both consistency and quality of communications has been reassuring over the summer and at the beginning of the school term. The APs are both accessible and responsive by email. Currently there is a 'Principal Assigned', Daisy Fontenez, following the departure of the longstanding previous principal. So far the technology, teaching and learning has been good quality. My son is particularly enjoying social studies and ELA. Virtual after school clubs are on offer including D&D, guitar and GSA.
If you want to share more about how classes are handled virtually at this school now or last term, please do so here.
The google calendar and classrooms are clear with links to Zoom meetings. Tech has worked well in the main. Some classes/subjects are more engaging than others but it's too early in the term to call how subjects are being taught as yet.
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ friendly?
Yes
Would you recommend this school to other parents for their children? *
Yes
Please add some details related to your answer to your answer to the recommendation question here. *
I have no complaints about how the school has handled the continuing shifting landscape and various changes in position from the DoE. They inform us promptly of changes, tell us when they don't know something but are working it out (e.g. class schedules) and have held several town halls. It's a small school and I already feel that my son is known to his teachers and the AP with whom I've had most contact.
What is the ONE piece of advice you would give people who are looking for the right school to help them choose the one that is the best fit for them/their family. *
I remember the Murrow principal saying "there is no BEST school, rather there is the best school for your child" and that really resonated when my son toured the NYC Museum School. He just clicked with it and felt comfortable and happy from the first five minutes of the tour and thereafter.
____________________
Professional Children's School
Is this the school your child attends now? *
yes, now and for the last year or more
Please write a review of your experience.
We have been extremely satisfied with the communication in this school especially during Covid. Students had full day instruction virtually and it never felt that they missed out academically. It is a very small school so they have a very personal experience. The only downfall was since the school is for working/training kids at any given time many classmates could be out traveling.
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ friendly?
Yes
Would you recommend this school to other parents for their children? *
Yes
Please add some details related to your answer to your answer to the recommendation question here. *
PCS is a great school for working and training children. They have set up their program to accommodate students that need to be in and out of school or a few hours as well as a few months
What is the ONE piece of advice you would give people who are looking for the right school to help them choose the one that is the best fit for them/their family. *
Talk to as many parents a students as you can to get a better feel for the program.
________________________________
Quad Preparatory school
What is the name of the specific program in that school that your child is attending or did attend in the past year?
Upper school
Where is the school located?
Downtown NYC
Is this the school your child attends now? *
no, they already graduated in June 2020
Please write a review of your experience.
Quad was a safe haven for my 2E kid with loving, understanding and highly competent and creative teachers who teach to the particular kid (much of the teaching is done 1:1 or in very small groups). Quad was sensitive to my kid’s needs and allowed them to advance in their areas of strength. The Upper school facilities are beautiful and comfortable. The only issue I have really is the small size of the cohort, tiny really, which hinders socialization, though the kids do interact with others from different age groups. The school did a fantastic job with moving everything to zoom.
Has or did your child use the school's college office?
The college search was tailored to my kid’s needs and they were able to get into the college of their choice.
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ friendly?
Yes
Would you recommend this school to other parents for their children? *
Yes
Please add some details related to your answer to your answer to the recommendation question here. *
A great fit for 2E kids who need personal, loving attention to thrive.
What is the ONE piece of advice you would give people who are looking for the right school to help them choose the one that is the best fit for them/their family. *
Be honest with the team about your child’s strengths and weaknesses to make sure the school is a good fit.
____________________
Special Music School High School
What is the name of the specific program in that school that your child is attending or did attend in the past year?
Instrumental (Winds) Conservatory
Where is the school located?
Manhattan
Is this the school your child attends now? *
Currently in the first year
Please write a review of your experience.
SMS is amazing - rigorous academics (Mr. Gordon, the ELA teacher and a founder of the school, is a stand-out), a caring and involved staff, and a shared passion for music. The kids take theory, music tech, music history, performance classes, etc. My son's largest class (ELA) has ~25 kids, and his smallest (Math) has 9. He's particularly excited to take more and more advanced Music Theory classes. It seems like most of the kids are vocalists or piano majors, and the winds players make up a smaller percentage. The composition majors are the smallest group of all.
My son chose SMS over Laguardia because of the small classes and individualized attention. For a kid who's a little shy and anxious, it's a beautiful thing that there's no way to get lost in the HS shuffle in such a tiny school.
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ friendly?
Yes
Would you recommend this school to other parents for their children? *
Yes
Please add some details related to your answer to your answer to the recommendation question here. *
I think kids who are kind of "meh" about their music or only think of their instrument as a hobby will feel out of place and overwhelmed by all the focus on music, but for the serious musician, it's a perfect fit.
What is the ONE piece of advice you would give people who are looking for the right school to help them choose the one that is the best fit for them/their family. *
The commute should always weigh into your decision. Consider what time your kid needs to leave to get there on time, and what time they will be coming home after school.
Attending this school means my son spends 2 hours every day commuting there and back. He reads and listens to music on his commute, but it's a significant chunk of his time every day spent just getting to and from school
_________________________________
What is the name of the school your child is attending or did attend in the past year? *
Special Music School High School
What is the name of the specific program?
Vocal
Where is the school located?
Manhattan near Lincoln Center
Is this the school your child attends now? *
Currently in the first year
Please write a review of your experience.
The very small class sizes really provide for an exceptional school experience for my son. Teachers and the principals are very involved and interactive with kids and parents. The academics are tailored for each child's abilities and interests which is only possible to do with the small class sizes. My son is thriving and happy.
Has or did your child use the school's college office? I
He is only a freshman but they have already begun discussing college options and goals in his advisory group. SMSHS has a very advanced conservatory college track.
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ friendly?
Yes
Would you recommend this school to other parents for their children? *
Yes
Please add some details related to your answer to your answer to the recommendation question here. *
Super small class sizes and a very engaged faculty
What is the ONE piece of advice you would give people who are looking for the right school to help them choose the one that is the best fit for them/their family. *
really listen to your child and understand what environment is truly best for them. It may not be the "top" schools that most parents seem to chase
____________________
Special Music School High School
What is the name of the specific program in that school that your child is attending or did attend in the past year?
Vocal program
Where is the school located?
Manhattan - D3
Is this the school your child attends now? *
yes, now and for the last year or more
Please write a review of your experience.
We feel very lucky to have found SMSHS for our son who is now a junior and a vocal major. For us the major pros of the school: very small student body and top-notch music program. This year there are about 42 students in my son's class. The student body is very diverse and comes from all over the city, they all share a common interest in/passion for music (students audition for composition, vocal and instrumental majors). Since my son also has ADHD, we were looking for a small school with some extra support. SMS offers ICT classes, and since the school is small, the class size is small - 20 at the most, but often 6 or 7. The teachers and staff are wonderful, nurturing, and the academic program is rigorous. This year my son is taking AP Music Theory (about 12 kids in the class), AP Comp. Sci (6 or 7 kids in the class) and APUSHistory (this is a bigger class - maybe upper teens). In addition to participating in ensembles three times a week and having a private lesson, the students take music history, theory and technology in 9th and 10th grades and as upperclassmen, they choose from various music electives. Great administration, great teachers. We adore the school. Con: the school is housed in basement of the Martin Luther King building which has been deemed unfit for the students because of the terrible, non-functional HVAC system. The DOE is fixing the HVAC this semester. Meanwhile the school has been moved to the Brandeis campus on 84th street. There is a strong movement afoot to find a permanent alternate location.
If you want to share more about how classes are handled virtually at this school now or last term, please do so here.
The school is committed to offering synchronous classes daily with the appropriate teacher (i.e. the algebra teacher teaches algebra). They are able to do this because the school is so small. Last spring the kids had such difficulty transitioning between their 4 academic subjects, Spanish, music electives and ensembles when they went remote, the school made a big change: they switched to a semester-based schedule. This means in the fall my son is taking a full year of Math and History, in the spring he will take English and Science . Less busy work, more time to focus on projects, fewer but longer classes. Again, synchronous daily for these two classes. In addition, they still have their ensemble work, an academic music class daily and advisory on Friday.
If you have a child who receives special education services and would like to comment on that, please do so here.
Very supportive. There are three special ed teachers, all wonderful, and ICT classes. My son also had counseling for a while (great counselor who also guides the kids through the college application process) and speech (again, wonderful therapist)
Has or did your child use the school's college office?
This is just beginning. We know the guidance counselor, really like her and have heard great things about the process. All kids graduate and lots of them get into really good colleges and universities
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ friendly?
Yes
Would you recommend this school to other parents for their children? *
Yes
Please add some details related to your answer to your answer to the recommendation question here. *
As I wrote above, we really love the school so I'd recommend
What is the ONE piece of advice you would give people who are looking for the right school to help them choose the one that is the best fit for them/their family. *
We are very happy with the school. We chose it because my son wanted to spend a good part of his day focusing on music and wanted to be part of a small student body with small class size. Kids who want a bigger school or are not interested in music should not consider SMSHS.
________________
Staten Island Technical High School
Where is the school located?
Staten Island
Is this the school your child attends now? *
yes, now and for the last year or more
Please write a review of your experience.
I have a junior and a freshman at the school. Our family is very happy with this school. My junior is thriving, has found her passions and made a good group of friends. So far my freshman is happy though its just been online. The leadership and teachers are experienced professionals who truly have the academic and socio-emotional well being of the children at heart. Every action taken is done with care and well thought out, particularly during COVID. Lots of communication. Fun fact - a number of current teachers are former SITECH students, including the principal! Like any school, some teachers are "good" and some are "bad", and that opinion can vary by the student. SITECH is a specialized high school with a rigorous STEM curriculum and a very bright and competitive cohort of students. There is a decent amount of work, but if time is managed, its not overwhelming. Most students are involved in multiple activities after school such as SING, or a sport teams, or other club or academic teams. The curriculum is STEM heavy - engineering , science, math, but there is also opportunity for diving into the humanities side with AP English and history courses and other electives, including Theater for seniors. All kids have to take AP world history and AP US history, and end up taking multiple other APs in Junior and Senior year. There are also College Now course offered. Russian is the only language offered. The leadership emphasizes mental health and socio-emotional well being and trying to reduce the stress and competition typical at a specialized high school. Most teachers are approachable, helpful and work with the students when help is needed in my experience. The grading system is based on the letter grade model (A+, A, etc.). Students are not ranked, and the valedictorian/salutatorian designation will end in 2021. The school strongly encourages involvement in extra curriculars for a well rounded HS experience - something like a third or half the school participates in SING, the student produced musical. There is a Spirit day in the fall Winter showcase, and other events that pull the school community together. Sadly with COVID these things are on hold for now and hopefully will resume in spring.
If you want to share more about how classes are handled virtually at this school now or last term, please do so here.
In March, SITECH was ready with a solid plan for remote learning. All classes were taught live via Zoom, etc in addition recorded videos, google classroom and other technologies. Classes were organized in a block schedule in a 3 day cycle with 3 class per day 1 hour and 15 minutes long with 45 min breaks between. Similar schedule is in place in September until blended learning can begin on Oct 1. While the kids weren't happy with the workload and learning online (they miss school), I feel the school did a good job and was actually teaching quite during this time.
Has or did your child use the school's college office?
My children are a junior and freshman so we have not yet used the college office.
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ friendly?
Sometimes
Would you recommend this school to other parents for their children? *
Yes
Please add some details related to your answer to your answer to the recommendation question here. *
The leadership and teachers are phenomenal, organized, communicative and truly have the welfare of the children (academic and socio-emotional) at heart. I have always felt the school will do what is best for the kids under all circumstances, which has been confirmed during the COVID crisis.
What is the ONE piece of advice you would give people who are looking for the right school to help them choose the one that is the best fit for them/their family. *
Know your child and what best for that child, vs. what is the "best school".
_________________
Stuyvesant High School
Where is the school located? (City or Borough is enough, we don't need a full street address) *
lower manhattan
Is this the school your child attends now? *
Currently in the first year
Please write a review of your experience.
just a few weeks in but v impressed with online classes and schedule. yes, lots of homework
If you want to share more about how classes are handled virtually at this school now or last term, please do so here.
Stuy planned over the summer and the teachers hit the ground running this fall
Would you recommend this school to other parents for their children? *
Yes
Please add some details related to your answer to your answer to the recommendation question here. *
if your kid is excited by lots of options and lots of types of thinkers from countless backgrounds, Stuy will be a great option
What is the ONE piece of advice you would give people who are looking for the right school to help them choose the one that is the best fit for them/their family. *
See how your child feels about commuting and how it will impact your family before choosing schools
______
Stuyvesant
HS
Where is the school located? (
Manhattan
Is this the school your child attends
now? *
yes, now and for the last year or more
Please write a review of your experience.
My daughter had a mainly positive experience
at Stuy despite her freshman year being interrupted by Covid. Pre-covid
observations: do a pretty good job of welcoming freshmen with big sibs program
plus she also met people doing a club and participating in Sing! (whole grade
puts on a show). Workload is medium to heavy at times. This along with
extracurriculars and commuting can result in poor sleep which is at odds with
admin saying kids should get lots of sleep. Occasionally teachers assigned
homework late which is also against rules. Lots of communication with parents,
PA meetings, emails plus access to report cards and schedules through their
online system. Teachers all very good. Kept kids engaged. Responsive when there
was an issue but may need to escalate yourself. (Kid tends to roll eyes and
thinks it’s pointless to complain) High expectations in all areas. Post-covid:
mix of approaches but big drop off in live instruction. The live instruction
classes i eavesdropped on were well done. Still made ok progress in other
classes but no tests were given with exception of AP. Was a relief not to do hour
long commute.
If you want to share more about how classes
are handled virtually at this school now or last term, please do so here.
Some pressure from admin for kids to stay
remote in order to offer large range of classes. Teachers also seemed staunchly
against in person, well justified in March but maybe less so in September
(opeds in NYT both times, well written even if you disagree so your kids are in
good hands...). Wrote above about spring. Much more live teaching this fall but
i believe in person kids are not in classrooms with teachers, just remote from
another part of the school. Daughter opted for remote.
Has or did your child use the school's college office?
Not used yet but we were asked to set up
Naviance accounts.
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ
friendly?
Sometimes
Would you recommend this school to other
parents for their children? *
Yes
Please add some details related to your
answer to your answer to the recommendation question here. *
Despite the sometimes stressful environment
the school does listen if there are issues and seems at least aware of the common
issues. Kids getting good preparation for college and lots of different
choices. Loved seeing my daughter get excited by her quirky environmental
science teacher and getting us to watch documentaries about cane toads and
coral reefs.
What is the ONE piece of advice you would
give people who are looking for the right school to help them choose the one
that is the best fit for them/their family. *
Visit schools together and talk to kids there. Hope HS’ are able to offer some of this virtually.
______________
Stuyvesant
High School
Where is the school
located?
Manhattan
Is this the school your
child attends now? *
yes, now and for the last year or more
Please write a review of
your experience.
My
daughter is a sophomore at Stuy and we've been very happy with the school
overall. Very impressed with the teachers, the administration and the students.
(Loved the recently retired principal - but new one seems good as well.) It's a
school that has a lot of resources, a beautiful building and interesting,
challenging courses. The students are very highly motivated, which is overall a
good thing, but you have to be sure your child fits this personality. My
daughter is our youngest child and we had two older kids that went to other big
NYC high schools (Brooklyn Tech and LaG), so as a family, we came to Stuy with
some perspective on other public high schools. Stuy seems to be a great match
for my daughter. She is a very hard-working, diligent student but she also
takes time to do arts activities and hang-out with friends. I was worried about
Stuy's reputation of being too academically challenging or
competitive; she was worried that she would feel out of place, since she does
have non-academic interests and wanted a "normal" high
school experience. She's made friends and pre-COVID, there were so many
activities and fun high school things, which was great. I mean there is A
LOT of homework and there are late nights. But she manages the workload and the
assignments are interesting and not busy work. Her classmates are
super-supportive and though they all want good grades, it doesn't seem
competitive. The teachers and admin are very understanding and supportive,
trying to teach the kids to have a "balance." Pre-COVID I would
have said she loves the school and her experience. Post-COVID she's managing
with remote learning (Stuy is doing a pretty good job with it,
I'd say) and she just misses school and wishes she was back.
If you want to share more
about how classes are handled virtually at this school now or last term, please
do so here.
Stuy
was one of the first places to be activist in March to close down and they were
well-equipped to switch to remote last spring. SLT and admin also advocated for
full remote this year so that they could offer more of the course catalog (APs,
electives, etc). A majority of parents choose remote and even the
"blended" kids basically do remote at school. The remote teaching has
been very good and clearly the teachers put a lot of time and effort into
making it interesting and engaging. Still it's a disappointment and a grind
(just like for many adults!) to be fully online. Still, I think Stuy is doing
an incredible job and is probably one of the best in the city for remote
learning. There was lots of communication and information for parents, even
during a principal change this summer, which was reassuring.
Has or did your child use
the school's college office?
I
think they do a "college-prep" guidance counselor session at each
grade so the students are thinking about what they need to do for each year.
But no specific college guidance yet. They have the same counselor for all 4
years, so they get to know the person.
Would your child consider
this school LGBTQ friendly?
Yes
Would you recommend this
school to other parents for their children? *
Yes
Please add some details
related to your answer to your answer to the recommendation question
here. *
Stuyvesant
is an excellent school with interesting, highly motivated kids. But your child
has to be "up" for the work. It's definitely an academically
challenging environment but kids also do clubs, get involved in sports, do the
arts and/or community service as well. Your child will do well if they want to
embrace all that.
What is the ONE piece of
advice you would give people who are looking for the right school to help them
choose the one that is the best fit for them/their family. *
Listen
to your child and be open and realistic about what they want out of a high
school experience. Find ways to support them being happy where they land.
Encourage your child to join clubs or sports; it can make a huge difference in
how they make friends and add fun to school so it's not all schoolwork.
_________________________________
Stuyvesant
Where
is the school located?
Manhattan
Is
this the school your child attends now? *
yes, now and for
the last year or more
Please
write a review of your experience.
There are some amazing parts of Stuyvesant,
but I would be sure to try and really know your child before they select it.
The kids who truly thrive there and enjoy it love competition. These kids want
to be the very best at everything they do, and will be very proactive in asking
for help or support if needed. The child needs to be super independent, and
intellectually super focused. They need to be very organized especially on day
one. The homework load really is incredibly high. Some of it is make work and
lots of it is just sheer hard work, and it is unrelenting and can feel
overwhelming. If your kid is not so great at advocating for themselves this can
be a hard place -- parental intervention doesn't really work. I would also say
that Stuy does best with the very top 5% and otherwise you will be left to fend
for yourself. We are seeing this now as my older child is a senior and she is
not in that top 5% and it can be rough. There is one college counselor for
every 300 or so kids -- definitely not specialized attention. On the plus side,
there are some phenomenal teachers, especially in the English and history
departments. My younger child is just starting there this fall and he does not
usually like English, and is not a writer, but his English teacher is his
favorite. The history teachers are also really great. We have also had some
duds. The other big plus about Stuy is just the sheer diversity in the
curriculum. There are so many interesting classes to take especially as the
kids get older. Another way to make Stuy a successful experience for your kid I
think is to make sure that most of their life is focused there, so that they
are doing afterschool clubs (of which there are many) as part of the school,
and to start doing that freshman year. It helps students get a community much
more quickly and also the clubs often reflect the homework buildup (i.e. less
club stuff when there are finals). And back on the competition comment from earlier,
it is not that the kids aren't friendly and down to earth. They are but there
are so many kids striving here it can feel overwhelming. They are doing 2
volunteer activities, and 3 leadership roles, and then some fantastic
internship program over the summer. If your kid is not like that, it can be
stressful and not fun being surrounded by others who seem to have it together
(even if that is not truly the case).
If
you want to share more about how classes are handled virtually at this school
now or last term, please do so here.
Spring semester was terrible. There was no
schedule, very little live instruction, and homework being assigned at all
times of the day and weekends, and on many different websites. This fall it is
much improved. They are splitting a regular Stuy day of 10 courses into 2 days,
so they have each class every other day, and all teachers are required to teach
live. Not all teachers are doing it or using the entire time, but it is much
better. Homework assignments are still not great -- my youngest has to check 13
different websites to make sure he is not missing anything. Hybrid is not a
great option unless you cannot work at home. Basically doing zoom at school
with poor wifi.
Has
or did your child use the school's college office?
This is really not a great place for any
kind of help unless your child is a super self starter then it can work out
well. There are a million opportunities brought to the kids but if your student
is not on top of them, no one is going to be there to help them through, and
not really much help on coming up with a college list either.
Would
your child consider this school LGBTQ friendly?
Yes
Would
you recommend this school to other parents for their children? *
Maybe
Please
add some details related to your answer to your answer to the recommendation
question here. *
I just think it all depends on the kid.
This school is just not for everyone.
What is the ONE piece of
advice you would give people who are looking for the right school to help them
choose the one that is the best fit for them/their family. *
Know
your kid. A super self starter, very organized, likes to compete and loves
learning -- this can be a great environment.
__________________________________________________________
Where is the school located?
Manhattan
Is this the school your child attends now? *
yes, now and for the last year or more
Please write a review of your experience.
My daughter had a mainly positive experience at Stuy despite her freshman year being interrupted by Covid. Pre-covid observations: do a pretty good job of welcoming freshmen with big sibs program plus she also met people doing a club and participating in Sing! (whole grade puts on a show). Workload is medium to heavy at times. This along with extracurriculars and commuting can result in poor sleep which is at odds with admin saying kids should get lots of sleep. Occasionally teachers assigned homework late which is also against rules. Lots of communication with parents, PA meetings, emails plus access to report cards and schedules through their online system. Teachers all very good. Kept kids engaged. Responsive when there was an issue but may need to escalate yourself. (Kid tends to roll eyes and thinks it’s pointless to complain) High expectations in all areas. Post-covid: mix of approaches but big drop off in live instruction. The live instruction classes i eavesdropped on were well done. Still made ok progress in other classes but no tests were given with exception of AP. Was a relief not to do hourlong commute.
If you want to share more about how classes are handled virtually at this school now or last term, please do so here.
Some pressure from admin for kids to stay remote in order to offer large range of classes. Teachers also seemed staunchly against in person, well justified in March but maybe less so in September (opeds in NYT both times, well written even if you disagree so your kids are in good hands...). Wrote above about spring. Much more live teaching this fall but i believe in person kids are not in classrooms with teachers, just remote from another part of the school. Daughter opted for remote.
Has or did your child use the school's college office?
Not used yet but we were asked to set up Naviance accounts.
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ friendly?
Sometimes
Would you recommend this school to other parents for their children? *
Yes
Please add some details related to your answer to your answer to the recommendation question here. *
Despite the sometimes stressful environment the school does listen if there are issues and seems at least aware of the common issues. Kids getting good preparation for college and lots of different choices. Loved seeing my daughter get excited by her quirky environmental science teacher and getting us to watch documentaries about cane toads and coral reefs.
What is the ONE piece of advice you would give people who are looking for the right school to help them choose the one that is the best fit for them/their family. *
Visit schools together and talk to kids there. Hope HS’ are able to offer some of this virtually.
_______________________________
Talent
Unlimited High School
What is the name of the
specific program in that school that your child is attending or did attend in
the past year?
Instrumental
Music
Where is the school
located? (City or Borough is enough, we don't need a full street address) *
Manhattan,
NY
Is this the school your
child attends now? *
yes, now and for the last year or more
Please write a review of
your experience
Talent
Unlimited (TU) is a small school with devoted and dedicated teachers and
administration. It is a fun and productive environment which encourages
students to grow and learn. It is less academically competitive (cutthroat)
than SHS and top-tier NYC high schools. This works well for many students such
as my daughter who loves school for the social aspect and now loves to learn as
she is more confident. She is well rounded (music, dance, athletic) and is
growing from a B student into an A student. She attends hybrid and the school
has done a good job especially considering how awful the DOE was under
Carranza. TU is making up for lost time and we are heading into the summer
feeling much less anxious.
If you want to share more
about how classes are handled virtually at this school now or last term, please
do so here.
TU
has done a good job keeping the students engaged. School is much better now
that students are allowed to be in-person 2 days a week plus 2 Fridays a month.
Classes are smaller as they were divided into 2 cohorts, alternating days which
allowed for more 1:1 interaction. TU Admin is also providing weekly check-ins
to help my daughter stay on track.
Has or did your child use
the school's college office?
Just
starting college process now. BTW, I'm very disappointed that NYC DOE 10th
graders did not take PSAT this year.
Would your child consider
this school LGBTQ friendly?
Yes
Would you recommend this
school to other parents for their children? *
Yes
Please add some details
related to your answer to your answer to the recommendation question
here. *
TU
was a great choice by my daughter. She is a wonderful team player and TU
encourages that. She leads her section in the instrumental music program but
does it as part of the team.
What is the ONE piece of
advice you would give people who are looking for the right school to help them
choose the one that is the best fit for them/their family. *
Trust
your child and help them based on their strengths and talents not yours.
_____________________
Talent Unlimited
What is the name of the specific program in that school that your child is attending or did attend in the past year?
Vocal (Classical)
Where is the school located?
Manhattan
Is this the school your child attends now? *
yes, now and for the last year or more
Please write a review of your experience
Academically and in terms of diversity of thought and experience (as well as racial/economic diversity) TU has been amazing. Our kid was subjected to a severely underfunded middle school and fell far behind in math and science. TU has far exceeded the expectations in those subjects. In History and Music Theory too. I would say the weak point is ELA/english literature though she had a great teacher in 9th grade who left the school. Things are looking up there for 2020-2021. Arts kids are paramount as far as her experience socially goes. Kids really bond and want to be together. They are generally not from privileged backgrounds which is both important and amazing for kids in the Arts.
If you want to share more about how classes are handled virtually at this school now or last term, please do so here.
Too soon to tell for Vocal music during COVID but we trust the Director. Rest of classes are very well done.
Has or did your child use the school's college office?
New Counselor too soon to tell
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ friendly?
Yes
Would you recommend this school to other parents for their children? *
Yes
Please add some details related to your answer to your answer to the recommendation question here. *
Kid was treated very badly at an audition school also in D2 who bungled her Round Two “application”. Such application was made at this school’s invitation then effectively lost in their inboxes. The “Dean” at that school was entirely ignorant of DOE procedure, evidently. The Staff proved, in their final reply, dishonest and elitist to an astonishing degree. Leadership is great at TU and they can be trusted. This has been true under both principals.
What is the ONE piece of advice you would give people who are looking for the right school to help them choose the one that is the best fit for them/their family. *
Leadership is Really Important. Also trust your child’s instincts ahead of your own.
_____
talent unlimited hs
What is the name of the specific program in that school that your child is attending or did attend in the past year?
instrumental music
Where is the school located
manhattan
Is this the school your child attends now? *
no, already graduated in June 2020
Please write a review of your experience.
talent unlimited hs is also a performing arts hs. Principal Vasconceios was principal here for 2.5 years. her door was open to parents and i did go to her to talk about our son's behavior and education. she even sat with my husband, the ap, the college counselor and i to talk about colleges. both assistant principals at tu are incredible and they teach classes too. this is a much smaller school and the teachers really know the students. i found that the teachers really want to be at this school! we've only had one bad experience here when a chemistry teacher took an unexpected, very extended leave. the school finally hired a temporary teacher but the damage to interesting cohesive instruction was lost already. again i because much more involved in the school because i was pushing for in person graduation. the new principal mr. gagstetter, had really interesting town hall meetings, that i wanted to attend. he and his staff also created virtual get togethers for the kids doing things they enjoyed and activities that provided physical release and emotional support. it was very creative and clever. the entire tu staff made a really wonderful video to the tu students that made me cry. plus, being created remotely, it was cool that they put it together! the graduation, was planned as best could be and nicely done! both schools are different in size, but not in sentiment, creativity, or academics. yes, different in demographics.
If you want to share more about how classes are handled virtually at this school now or last term, please do so here.
they did the best job they could last year under those circumstances.
Has or did your child use the school's college office
the college office at tu, recommended our son for a posse scholarship. he made it all the way through to the last round to attend Vanderbilt.
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ friendly?
Yes
Would you recommend this school to other parents for their children? *
Yes
Please add some details related to your answer to your answer to the recommendation question here. *
both are performing arts schools. if the school is convenient to travel to, the student performs better in a huge or small setting...these both are good choices.
What is the ONE piece of advice you would give people who are looking for the right school to help them choose the one that is the best fit for them/their family. *
commute time should be under 1 hour.
______________
West End Secondary
Where is the school located?
Manhattan
Is this the school your child attends now? *
Currently in the first year (high school)
Please write a review of your experience.
WESS is a smallish 6 - 12 school with a warm environment and a thoughtful curriculum. The principal founded it as a middle school with each grade moving ahead to form their new high school (first senior class graduates this June). We were applying from another middle school and were concerned about how new it is, but so far, so good. The admin avoids creating a high pressure environment but there is rigor and an attention to mastery which is perfect for our child who is intellectually-focused but has an IEP and needs support, especially coming out of the pandemic. Focusing on mastery means that kids who don't perform well on tests and papers may "re-engage" on the assignment showing that they have learned what they got wrong. It's not required, not all the kids take advantage of this, but we like it because it's kind of a sneaky way to get our kid to really learn a subject. This is a reflection of the school's interest in mixing high expectations with a somewhat low-pressure environment. I have not seen many schools like this. There are AP classes and honors but if your child is stressed, extensions are given freely (assignments come with enough regularity that you don't want work to pile up, though). We've been impressed with the outside-of-the-box approaches of some of our child's Spec Ed teachers, in particular, when our child is struggling with something. The school is affiliated with Outward Bound and has yearly trips to places like the Grand Canyon, Costa Rica, and Spain which was appealing to our adventurous kid. We're only one semester in but would definitely recommend this school. If you have a type A student who is energized by stress, I wouldn't put it at the very top of your list but I would definitely put it on the list. It's still early days for us but I suspect most students would do well here.
If you have a child who receives special education services and would like to comment on that, please do so here.
As mentioned above, we have been impressed with the special education staff. There are two ICT classes and opportunities to get help after school as well.
Has or did your child use the school's college office?
Our kid is still a freshman so our experience is limited but the college counselor was one of the draws of this school for us. She spoke at the virtual open house and was quite impressive. From what some senior parents have told me, she provides so much support, it's almost like going to a private counselor. She pays attention to 9th and 10th graders as well, introducing them to the idea of building their transcripts and pursuing outside activities and volunteer opportunities (and routinely sends around lists of internships and extra-curricular programs).There is also a "college march" tradition - I'm not sure that's the exact name - in which seniors march to the mailbox to mail either real or symbolic (?) college applications while kids from younger grades cheer them on. Basically the idea is that college is expected of these kids.
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ friendly?
Yes
Would you recommend this school to other parents for their children? *
Yes
Please add some details related to your answer to your answer to the recommendation question here. *
As I mentioned above, if your child thrives on a lot of pressure, I wouldn't put it at the very top of your list, however, there seem to be a good number of high achievers here from what I can tell and a type A kid would not be wildly out of place. I would recommend it to everyone.
What is the ONE piece of advice you would give people who are looking for the right school to help them choose the one that is the best fit for them/their family. *
Try to see your child where they are NOW, after two years of Covid mayhem. My child had higher grades and better focus before remote learning and I am glad we found a school that is a good fit for our current situation (decent grades but less resilience when it comes to managing ADHD).
______________________________________
Williamsburg High School for Art &
Design
What is the name of the specific program in
that school that your child is attending or did attend in the past year?
Architecture program
Where is the school located?
Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Is this the school your child attends now? *
yes, now and for the last year or more
Please write a review of your experience.
The school is part of the Harry Van Arsdale
campus in Williamsburg, and there are two other schools - Brooklyn Prep and
Williamsburg Prep - in the building. The focus is on architecture +
engineering, though a large % of graduates go on to different careers in
college. The staff + faculty have been extremely accommodating and are focused
on positive student outcomes. They are strong in communicating about my child's
progress / any concerns and respond quickly when contacted. My child has
enjoyed the curriculum and the school's diverse population; even in a pandemic
he was able to maintain strong connections to his teachers and classmates. The
principal, Gill Cornell, is an inspired leader who stresses the school's
commitment to each student; this is what underscored the decision to have a
blended learning environment with teachers in the classroom simultaneously
presenting lesson to live and online students (yet to experience). My child
played a sport at WHSAD and found that an extremely positive experience; even
though he was not a starter, he felt included and valued and it motivated him
to excel. This year they were designated as an Exemplary High Performing School
by the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program.
If you want to share more about how classes
are handled virtually at this school now or last term, please do so here.
In the spring is was abbreviated (in length)
Zoom classes where all teachers participated from home. Now, it is teachers in
classrooms delivering online content; that will change in early October where
students who have selected the hybrid model will got into the building two out
of every six days. The teachers work in their classrooms every day, delivering
live content through streaming.
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ
friendly?
Sometimes
Would you recommend this school to other
parents for their children? *
Yes
Please add some details related to your answer to your answer to the recommendation question here. *
I've stated that my child has thrived at
this school; it's size and focus has been a good fit.
What is the ONE piece of advice you would
give people who are looking for the right school to help them choose the one
that is the best fit for them/their family. *
Visit and talk to some parents about their
experience w/the school.
______________
Williamsburg Preparatory School
Where is the school located?
Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Is this the school your child attends
now? *
yes, now and for the last year or more
Please write a review of your experience.
We were so impressed by the warmth of the
school community and the presentation of the school at the initial tour, and
the school has not disappointed. It has a very small feel and the teachers got
to know my daughter very early on. She was assigned an advisor to help her
through the transition to high school and that advisor continued to check on
her throughout the school year. The teaching staff is vibrant and engaged, and
my daughter loves it! The school caters to all levels, and puts students in
appropriate Honors and AP level courses.
If you want to share more about how classes
are handled virtually at this school now or last term, please do so here.
Initially, my daughter only had about 1 hour
of live classes per day in the Spring semester. However, the school is now set
up to have full day live remote learning 5 days per week and I'm thrilled with
that.
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ
friendly?
Yes
Would you recommend this school to other
parents for their children? *
Yes
Please add some details related to your
answer to your answer to the recommendation question here. *
If you're looking for a small school that
caters to all levels, please look into Williamsburg Prep. I think it's a great
school that's "under the radar" currently.
What is the ONE piece of advice you would
give people who are looking for the right school to help them choose the one
that is the best fit for them/their family. *
Go with your gut, even if your choice may
not be a popular one.
___________
Winchendon
Where is the school located?
Brooklyn, NY
Is this the school your child attends
now? *
no, they already graduated in June 2020
Please write a review of your experience
Winchendon is a small private school in
Clinton Hill that opened very recently. It is the satellite of a very large and
established boarding school in Massachusetts. Their goal was to create a school
for a diverse population that offered lots of personal attention and help for
kids who might otherwise fall through the cracks. The tuition payments help
them subsidize families who can't afford to pay so the classes are very
diverse. This is a new school, still finding their way - but the head of the
school, the teachers, and the support staff are all really excellent. Super
hardworking, dedicated, engaged, smart, and receptive. If you have a child who
is struggling in a NYC public school and needs some personal attention -
whether it's anxiety, ADHD. learning differences, social issues, executive
function or organizational skills - Winchendon is a great place to check out.
In addition to super small classrooms and very hands-on teaching, they have two
full-time learning specialists who track all the students and work very closely
with anyone who needs extra help and supervision. They don't let anyone fall
through the cracks. The teachers are young, energetic and - for the most part -
really engaged with their students. There are lots of opportunities for hands-on
learning including a great collab period in January where students get to do an
intensive dive into everything from filmmaking to language learning to music to
scientific exploration.
If you want to share more about how classes
are handled virtually at this school now or last term, please do so here.
The school did an awesome job working
virtually right after the lockdown and I'm assuming that they've only gotten
better. The physical school is very wide open - there are few actual classrooms
- with tons of windows and very high ceilings - so it would be a very safe
place to return to if students wanted to do in=person learning. Plus, it's such
a small school that large class sizes are not an issue. It's one block from the
G/C train, near three major bus lines, and a very easy bike ride or walk from
most Brooklyn neighborhoods.
If you have a child who receives special
education services and would like to comment on that, please do so here.
The worked with my daughter's ADHD and
executive function issues. They really helped her focus on her homework and followed
up with her and us when she was behind. It was a huge difference from public
High School where teachers were on all different systems and some didn't record
anything online.
Has or did your child use the school's
college office?
They have a focused college advisor who
comes down from MA and meets with the students on a pretty regular basis.
Students get a lot of help if they want it. They were very responsive.
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ
friendly?
Yes
Would you recommend this school to other
parents for their children? *
Yes
Please add some details related to your
answer to your answer to the recommendation question here. *
I think I said everything above. It's a very
unique school - not for everyone - but there are definitely some kids who will
thrive here. You really need to visit or engage with the folks virtually to
talk through the experience.
What is the ONE piece of advice you would
give people who are looking for the right school to help them choose the one
that is the best fit for them/their family. *
Think about how your child learns. Really
think about it. Just because they get good grades and are smart, doesn't mean
that they are meant to go to a pressure cooker high school. The students who do
the best at the top high schools in NYC are the ones who have excellent
organizational, executive function, and study skills. They're not always the
smartest. If your kid is distracted, unfocussed, or likes to really focus in on
subjects or arts that they love but finds it difficult to force themselves to
do the same for subjects they are less into - that could be an excellent sign
that a less pressurized environment might be right for them. Does your kid
always get up in the morning without your help? Are they able to get their
homework done on time or are they up all night? Can they make themselves lunch?
These are all clues to how well your kid will do commuting to school and
thriving in a competitive NYC HS. Does your kid pursue passions on their own or
do you have to encourage them? Joining clubs and engaging in after-school
activities is super important in NYC High Schools. If your kid isn't a joiner
or can't handle getting home at 5:00pm and then starting homework - think about
the commute and the social aspects!
__________________________________________
Xaverian High School
What is the name of the specific program in
that school that your child is attending or did attend in the past year?
Honors Program
Where is the school located? (City or
Borough is enough, we don't need a full street address) *
Brooklyn
Is this the school your child attends
now? *
yes, now and for
the last year or more
Please write a review of your experience.
We have been very happy with the school,
especially how they handled Covid-19. They starting planning early in the
Spring and were closed for one day before going remote. This year they improved
upon the process and installed live webcams in every classroom to provide live
instruction. The classwork is challenging for my daughter and the teachers are
available to help as needed. The school seems like a community and there are
clubs of all interests. We would definitely recommend the school to others.
If you want to share more about how classes
are handled virtually at this school now or last term, please do so here.
The classes are broken into 1/3 at this
time. Classes are live streamed to the 2/3 that are home, watching.
Has or did your child use the school's college office?
We are not there yet but they had a freshmen
parent college planning meeting in the winter of 2020.
Would your child consider this school LGBTQ
friendly?
No
Would you recommend this school to other
parents for their children? *
Maybe
Please add some details related to your
answer to your answer to the recommendation question here. *
It is a Catholic school so it might not be
for everyone, of course.
What is the ONE piece of advice you would
give people who are looking for the right school to help them choose the one
that is the best fit for them/their family. *
Don't limit your choices. Look at the ones
you normally wouldn't consider. Perhaps covid is giving us a unique opportunity
to take virtual tours and open houses so students and families can find a
school that normally wouldn't have made it to the watch list.
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