Click : Resources for the College-Bound Teen
You'll find information on
College fairs in NYC
On high school involvement and prepping in junior year
On testing
On test prep
On college essays
On college counselors
On college visits
On applications
On comparing stats and chatting with fellow applicants
On choosing a college
On deferrals, decisions, and disappointments
On scholarships and aid
On college loans (and debts)
On choosing a major
On dealing with the transition
This information is shared from the Parents of NY Teens & Young Adults list at https://ponytya.groups.io/g/main
Click or subscribe by send an email to main+subscribe@PoNYTYA.groups.io
to join the conversation if you have a child age 10 and older and you live in the metropolitan NYC area.
Bard Manhattan
Open houses and QA sessions with current students:
https://bhsec.bard.edu/manhattan/open-houses-and-information-sessions/?mc_cid=f01639ea4f&mc_eid=2953fa1e06
Special education open houses (https://bhsec.bard.edu/manhattan/student-with-an-iep/). This open house will focus on what BHSEC is like for our SpEd students and what services generally look like here with ample time for question/answer. It will not focus on admissions policies due to that uncertain nature of how that is working for the
Bay Ridge Prep
Our Upper School Virtual Open houses are now live for registration via Ravenna. If you do not have a Ravenna account, click the the Apply Now button to create one.
Grades 9 - 12
Tues., October 20
Tues., November 17
Tues., December 1
Open Houses will begin at 9am on Zoom.
Boerum Hill School 11/17
https://k497.org/admissions/
Brooklyn Collaborative
https://www.bcs448.org/2020/11/02/fall-winter-virtual-open-houses-for-prospective-applicants/
Brooklyn College Academy: https://sites.google.com/brooklyncollegeacademy.com/bca/home
Please look out for Information regarding our Open Houses: November 23, 24, 25
We will post an EventBrite so prospective students and families can register for this event.
The mission of HSES is to promote environmental integrity, social equity and economic prosperity for all learners through challenging hands-on collaborative learning experiences that promote citizenship, scholarship and leadership within our community and the world at large. www.envirostudies.org |
Essex Street
Open Houses 11/10 and 11/17
https://www.essexstreetacademy.org/admissions/
Fort Hamilton High School is Nov 18th at 6:30- registration required. Go to Ft Ham website click on calendar in lower left corner, on the 18th is the registration link.
Harvest Collegiate High School 34 West 14th Street, New York, NY 10011 Phone: 212-242-3384 Fax: 212-242-4173. Email: info@harvestcollegiate.org harvestcollegiate.org The High School of Art and Design 245 East 56th Street NY, NY 10022 THE VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSE WILL BE LIVE ON NOVEMBER 15TH https://www.artanddesignhs.org/admissions-auditions The High School of Telecommunication Arts and Technology will be having a virtual open house on Thursday, December 10th at 5pm. Here is information for prospective students: |
ISchool is also having virtual open houses, multiple dates:
Friday, November 13, 2020, 8:30 AM
Register in advance for this meeting: Registration Link
Thursday, November 19, 2020, 6:00 PM
Register in advance for this meeting: Registration Link
Friday, December 4, 2020, 8:30 AM
Register in advance for this meeting: Registration Link
Tuesday, November 10th – 5:30 P.M. to 6:30 P.M.
Tuesday, November 17th – 5:30 P.M. to 6:30 P.M.
Saturday, November 21th – 11:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M.
Tuesday, November 24th – 5:30 P.M. to 6:30 P.M.
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?
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...
_____________
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.
____________________
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.
____________________
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.
_______________
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 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.
If you have a 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?
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.
______________
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 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!)
________________
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?"
______________
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.
____________________
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?
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
______
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.
