High School Guide

A Guide to High Schools HEATHER MILLER

Introduction

Table of Contents Chapter 1: Finding A School...........................................1 Taking an Interest Inventory..........................7 Chapter 2: The Learning Environment........................16 Chapter 3: Specialized High Schools.............................25 Chapter 4: Performing and Visual Arts High Schools....41

This guide is designed to give you an overview of the many excellent high schools available to New York City students, including SHSAT, arts-focused, screened public, independent/private, Catholic parochial, all-girls and all-boys and boarding schools.

Chapter 5: Screened Public High Schools.....................49 Diversity in Admissions Pilot Schools....64

All of the schools featured in this guide offer a strong, college preparatory education. Nevertheless, this guide is not designed to be comprehensive. It does not feature all the strong schools in New York City.

Chapter 8: All-Boys Schools.............................................83

Use this guide as a starting point for your search for a high school, and expand your search from there. Along the way, the guide will prompt you to reflect on your or your child’s strengths, interests and goals.

Appendix: Worksheets for Admissions.............................102

Chapter 6: Other Co-Ed Schools....................................72 Chapter 7: All-Girls Schools............................................77

Chapter 9: Boarding Schools.............................................89 Chapter 10: Things To Keep in Mind Once You’re In......99

Chapter 1

FINDING A SCHOOL If your child is in the 7th grade, it is time to begin the High School Admissions Process.

New York City and the areas around it have a large assortment of high schools. Some of the best high schools in the world are right here in our city. Some are public, some are private, some are parochial and some are boarding schools.

To select the perfect school for your child, it is important to learn about the options available.

This guide is designed to help you do just that.

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SECTION 1

All About Your Child The best way to begin the high school admissions process is to have an enjoyable conversation with your child about their interests, ambitions, dreams and goals.

Middle school is a time of rapid change. Students at this age are beginning to identify hobbies, sports or subjects that may become life-long passions.

QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR CHILD

What interests you? ❖ What hobbies would you like to develop---that you have not had a chance to develop yet? ❖ How hard are you willing to work? ❖ What might you like to do as a career? ❖ Think about the times you most enjoyed school. What were you doing? ❖ Would you prefer a co-ed school or a girls only/boys only school? ❖ How important are sports to you? ❖

In many cases, your child may have interests that they have not yet had a chance to explore. High school is the perfect opportunity to develop skills in subjects, sports and arts that your child finds fascinating. So the first step is to facilitate an openended conversation with your child about their preferences and interests. You may be surprised at what you learn!

Of course, most 7th graders will be unaware of the full range of opportunities available to them in high school. The pages that follow are designed to acquaint your child with the breadth of academic subjects, extracurricular activities, sports and arts that high schools offer. Encourage your child to make a note of or circle anything that intrigues them. Then, you can begin to look for a school that meets your child’s needs and wants.

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Time Frame for High School Admissions This provides an overview of the admissions process.

Please note that specific deadlines for individual schools will come to you from your Guidance Counselor.

MONTH

ACTION ITEMS

Peruse and discuss this guide with your child. Do not worry about admissions details. Focus instead on shopping for the perfect school for your child from the amazing range of options.

June 2022

Make sure your child is crystal clear about their school's expectations for summer reading and summer homework.

June 2022

If your child is interested in SHSAT/TACHS/HSPT schools, have a summer plan in place for test prep.

Follow through on test prep if applicable for your child.

Your child should also work on developing skill at a hobby.

Ensure that your child reads for 30 minutes each day and completes their summer work. Revisit this guide with your child and compile a list of schools.

Summer 2022

Meet with your Guidance Counselor. Discuss the list of schools your child is interested in. Ask for additional recommendations. Identify "reach", "likely" and "safety" school options. Attend the Citywide High School Fair.

September-October 2022

Focus on between 5 to 10 schools. Attend Open Days/Nights. Call the schools and talk to parent coordinators. Try to get “first-hand” knowledge of each school by talking with current or recent parents and students. Fine tune your school list based on what you learn.

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Please note that specific deadlines for individual schools will come to you from your Guidance Counselor.

MONTH

ACTION ITEMS

September-October 2022

Attend the Citywide High School Fair. Attend Open Houses.

Register for standardized exams: SHSAT, SSAT, TACHS, HSPT

October-November 2022

Schedule private school tours and interviews. Request teacher recommendations. Apply for Financial Aid if needed.

Work hard in school. Aim for perfect attendance. Remember: it's not just your grades that matter to high schools. It's also what your teachers say about you. So be courteous and hard-working in class!

Fall 2022

Most private school and parochial school applications will be completed.

December 2022

Complete all school applications. Be sure to thank all teachers and counselors who helped you.

January-February 2023

Keep your grades up. Many schools request transcripts from the Winter and Spring terms. They may also use these grades to place you in Honors classes...or not. So work hard!

Spring 2023

March- April 2023

Most schools will issue acceptances at this time.

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Taking an Interest Inventory

WHAT LOOKS GOOD TO YOU? The following pages feature academic subjects, sports and clubs that some of the best high schools offer. Review this list and circle or note anything that is of interest.

You can then look for schools that offer these opportunities.

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Urban Ecology

Modern Biology Research Biology Advanced Topics in Biology and Research Techniques

AP Biology

Molecular Biology

AP Environmental Science

Biological Lab Techniques

AP Psychology

Laboratory Techniques

Intel Research: Biology/Psychology

Vertebrate Zoology

Intel Senior Research

Anthropology and Sociobiology Forensic Science

Chemistry and Physics

Fundamentals of Nutritional Science

Chemistry 1 and 2

Genetics Research

Research Chemistry

Hospital Internship

AP Chemistry

Human Diseases

Advanced Topics in Chemistry

Medical Diagnosis

Chemical Applications

Medical Ethics

Organic Chemistry I and II

Medical Human Genetics

Physical Chemistry

Medical Human Physiology

Analytical Chemistry

Molecular Genetics

Intel Research: Chemistry

Molecular Science Molecular Basis of Cancer Practical Botany

Physics 1 and 2

Topics in Neurobiology

AP Physics Level B

Veterinary Medical Diagnosis

AP Physics Level C Astronomy Digital Electronics

Environmental and Geo-Science Courses

Electronics

Environmental Studies

Intro to Science Applications

Geology

Physics of Music

Meteorology

Plasma Physics

Oceanography

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Modern Physics and Nanotechnology

Gothic Literature

Engineering Statics and Dynamics

Poetry Workshop

Intel Research: Physics

Science Writing Writers Workshop Early British Literature Later British and World Literature

Computer Science

AP English: Ancients and Moderns

Introductory Computer Programming

AP English: Great Books

Intro to Computer Science

AP English: Physics and Metaphysics

AP Computer Science

AP English: Society and Self

System Level Programming

Advanced Acting

Computer Graphics

Contemporary Literature

Software Development

Existentialism

Computer Science Intel Research

Poetry Workshop Shakespearean

English

Victorian Literature

Freshman Composition

Women’s Voices

European Literature

Writers Workshop

Classical Literature Modern European Literature Early American Literature Later American Literature American Literary History American Studies Contemporaries and Classics in American Literature Physics and Metaphysics Acting Workshop African-American Literature Asian-American Literature Creative Nonfiction Workshop Detective Fiction

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Mathematics

Intermediate Wind/Brass Instruments

Advanced Algebra

Advanced Wind/Brass Instruments

Pre-Calculus

Symphony Orchestra

Calculus

Intermediate String Instruments

Mathematical Explorations

Advanced String Instruments

AP Calculus AB

Jazz Band

Honors AP Calculus BC

Opera as Drama

Multivariate Calculus

Songwriting

Differntial Equations

AP Music Theory

AP Statistics Acoustical Technology Mathematics of Financial Markets Advanced Euclidean Geometry

Art

Linear Algebra

Acrylic Painting

Statistics

Computer Graphics Design Intro to Sculpture

Music

Studio Art: Mixed Media

Music Appreciation

Water Color

Concert Chorus Chamber Choir

Social Studies

Symphonic Band

Global History

Beginning Wind/Brass Instruments

AP World History AP European History US History AP US History American Government Economics AP American Government AP Comparative Government

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AP Macroeconomics

Photography

AP Microeconomics

Robotics Engineering

American Foreign Policy American Women’s Histories

World Languages

Civil Law

French

Criminal Law

German

Geopolitics

Italian

History of Western Political Theory

Japanese

Modern China

Latin

New York City History

Ancient Greek

Prejudice and Persecution

Mandarin

Race, Ethnicity and Gender Issues

Spanish

Small Business Management

Korean

Wall Street

Russian

Wanderings: The World Through the Jewish Experience

Computer Technology Digital Photography Intro to Architecture Intro to Interior Design Principles of Technology---Mechanisms Robotics Technical and Scientific Illustration Video Production Advanced Computer Technology Advanced Video Production Advanced Woodworking Architecture Ceramics

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Chapter 2

THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT New York City has every type of high school imaginable.

Take some time with your child to consider an ideal learning environment for them.

Do they want a small school, a medium-sized school or a large school?

Do they want a single-sex school or a co-ed school?

Do they want a highly academic school, one with 5 hours of homework a night, or do they want a less pressured environment?

Many high schools in New York cater to a particular art form or interest. If your child has a strong interest in dance, for example, you may wish to consider a specialized high school for the performing arts.

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The Case for Small High Schools

The Case for Large High Schools

Small high schools have much to recommend them. With student populations of 500 students or less, students can easily get to know all the members of their grade and other grades as well. This often translates into a strong sense of community and belonging, of feeling "seen" and "heard." For these reasons, quiet and shy students may feel more at home in a smaller school.

Some of the jewels of the New York City school system are large high schools with over 3,000 students each. In fact, Brooklyn Tech, a SHSAT school, is the largest high school in the US, with a student body of over 6,000! These schools make it clear that a very large school can provide an excellent education.

Large schools can offer a remarkable range of courses, sports and extra curricular activities. For example, Bronx Science offers over 30 AP courses. Sports can range from lacrosse to badminton to fencing to bowling, in addition to more traditional options. Furthermore, well-funded large high schools often have college-level facilities for sports, theatre and laboratories.

When looking at a small high school, be sure to ask about the typical class size and the teacher-student ratio. It is not always the case that a small high school will have small class sizes. In many subjects, a small class size is desirable because it means more personal attention and time for classroom discussions.

Some of the most academically demanding high schools have class sizes of around 12 students to enable rich interactions between students and teachers.

On the downside, a big school can feel crowded and impersonal. Students who thrive in large schools learn how to advocate for themselves. They figure out how to get the attention they need from teachers and access the courses and activities they want. Larger schools often feel more grown up and freer than smaller schools. Many students appreciate this college-like atmosphere.

While smaller schools may not have as many course options, extensive facilities and extra-curriculars as larger schools, they may offer a very coherent, well-thought out program of instruction designed to prepare students for a rigorous college experience. Similarly, a smaller school may not offer an amazing breadth of sports and extra-curricular options, but if they offer the sports and extra-curriculars you want, the lack of other options won't matter. One of the great advantages of a smaller school is that you are more likely to access the classes/ team sports/leadership opportunities/arts activities you want.

With fewer students, there is less likely of these opportunities filling up and denying you entry.

It is not always the case that large schools have large classes.

Ask the school representatives you meet about the average class size. In general, a good school will offer at least some smaller, discussion-based classes with no more than 20 students.

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The Case for a Medium-Sized High Schools

The Bottom Line: Visit the Schools!

Schools with student bodies between 500 and 1500 can be described as "medium-sized" high schools. Are these schools not too small, not too big, just right?

Visit the schools that you are considering. Approach students and ask them for their experiences at the school.

It's hard to generalize about medium-sized high schools. They may have the friendlier scale of a smaller school with the facilities and options of a larger school or they may offer the disadvantages of both small and large schools.

While at the school, take some time to really watch the student body. Ask yourself, “Could I see myself here? Would I want to see myself here? Would these students have a positive impact on me?”

So ask the same questions you would ask of any school: • What is the school's approach to education?

Looking hard at the current students is essential. The most critical influence on a high school student is not their parents.

It’s not their teachers. It’s their peer group.

• Who is the principal? What is s/he like?

• What is the average class size?

• Are there some smaller, discussion-based classes?

If you attend a school filled with ambitious, hard-working students, that is, in all likelihood, what you will become. If you attend a school with a less ambitious student body---some who work hard, and many who do not---it is entirely possible that you may not fulfill your potential in high school.

• How many APs do you offer?

• What team sports does the school have?

• What is the arts programming at the school?

• What extra curricular opportunities are there?

• Is there a commitment to social justice/ anti-racism/ community service?

Equally important is the tone of the school. Some schools emphasize community spirit more than others. Some schools emphasize codes of conduct and community values more than others.

You may find that a highly academic school does not have a friendly feel to it. It is important to be as attuned to the “friendliness factor” as much as to the academic seriousness

• How good are the facilities for sports, arts, science, social life, independent study and learning in general?

• Do I like the look and feel of the campus?

• What sorts of colleges do graduates attend?

• What percentage of students graduate? (Less than 99% is a bad sign).

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The traditional approach relies almost entirely on logical and verbal abilities. As such, students learn to express themselves in writing and in speech, to take notes on their reading and classroom learning and to master the skills that prepare them for a college education. The disadvantage of this approach is that it anticipates one learning modality and may not encourage students to personalize their learning or create knowledge products that they have designed. Dyslexic students may have a harder time in traditional schools. Don't assume that traditional schools are weak on classroom discussions; they often shine in this area. Increasingly, traditional schools are offering project based learning, but not to the same degree as progressive schools.

of a place. We’ve all known people who have had miserable high school experiences. By carefully selecting a school with an intentional community spirit and a friendly student body, you increase the chances of having a happy high school experience.

Exploring Educational Philosophies Different schools reflect distinct educational philosophies.

The personality and learning styles of a child may align better with some educational philosophies than others.

Most, but not all Catholic parochial schools (as opposed to Catholic independent schools ) offer a traditional approach to education.

This sections introduces some of the more common educational philosophies and how they impact the learning process.

We should note that there is a difference between teachers and schools that have an authoritative approach and those that have an authoritarian approach to education. Just as the most effective parents tend to be authoritative, a sound traditional school will have teachers who are in command of their classrooms without being dictatorial. This style of teaching is often described as "warm demanding" and involves a focused, good-humored dynamic between student and teacher.

Traditional Education A traditional approach to education has a high level of structure, with the teacher as the authority and source of knowledge in the classroom. Advantages of this program, especially in schools that have long histories, is that the curriculum is likely to be well-thought out and coherent.

Assignments are clear and almost always completed by individuals rather than groups. Assessments tend to be based on tests and essays rather than on completion of projects.

Traditional schools are often known for providing rigorous education in the area of critical reading and writing.

As you consider traditional schools, look out for schools that seem to have an authoritarian culture in which students seem intimidated, silenced or disengaged. Some confuse the authoritarian approach with traditional education when it is traditional education gone wrong.

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Progressive Education

As you review progressive schools, try to get "eyes-on" student work.

Look for mastery of core academic skills, evidence of rigor and college-ready curriculum coherence.

A progressive approach to education aims to enliven learning through hands-on projects, expeditions and experiential learning. Collaboration and communication skills are developed through group projects. Efforts are made to enable multiple paths of learning so that students with different strengths have a way into the same material.

Students learn to personalize their learning; setting their own goals and tailoring their learning process to their unique strengths.

Culturally Responsive Education Culturally responsive teaching (CRT) is a research-based approach that makes meaningful connections between what students learn in school and their cultures, languages, and life experiences. These connections help students access rigorous curriculum, develop higher-level academic skills, and see the relevance between what they learn at school and their lives.

Our brains are wired to make connections. It’s easier for our brains to learn and store information when we have a hook to hang it on. That hook is background knowledge. Students bring this knowledge to the classroom every day, including their culture, language, and life experiences.

The advantage of this approach is that it often engages children and allows students to identify strengths in themselves and others. Because progressive schools often provide opportunities for students to create their own learning projects, students can feel more motivated to learn.

The disadvantage of a progressive education is that it can be more challenging to ensure that students master the academic disciplines that are non-negotiable for higher learning; such as critical reading, writing with clarity and coherence and complex math. Mastering these skills require a great deal of practice and revision; ultimately the most effective method for producing strong readers and writers is working with a knowledgeable teacher who provides individualized feedback and requires follow-through in the iterative process of revision. This process tends to look more traditional than progressive. The progressive emphasis, for example, on peerediting can be counter-productive if peers are lacking the target skills.

When we acknowledge this background knowledge as assets and tap into it, we create an optimal environment for learning. But for students of color, English language learners (ELLs), and other underserved student populations, those assets are often overlooked and underutilized. As a result, we miss the chance to use them to support rigorous learning.

Culturally responsive teaching (CRT) helps create environments, curricula, and instructional methods that validate and reflect the diversity, identities, and experiences of all students. When we do that, we raise the level of academic rigor for all learners. It also sends the message that educators value all students and that multiculturalism is an asset.

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Chapter 3

SPECIALIZED HIGH SCHOOLS The specialized high schools of New York City are nine selective public high schools, established and run by the New York City Department of Education to serve the needs of academically and artistically gifted students.

The Specialized High Schools Admissions Test (SHSAT) examination is required for admission to all the schools except LaGuardia, which requires an audition or portfolio for admission.

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SPECIALIZED HIGH SCHOOLS

OVERVIEW The Specialized High Schools of New York City are rigorous public high schools that offer a strong high school education.

Since 1938 when an entrance exam was designed with the help of Columbia University, the SHSAT schools have attracted some of the brightest young minds in New York City, especially in the areas of Math and Science.

WHAT ARE THE SHSAT SCHOOLS?

Stuyvesant High School (Manhattan) ❖ Bronx High School of Science ❖ Brooklyn Tech High School ❖ Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School (Manhattan) ❖ High School for Math, Science and Engineering (Manhattan) ❖ High School of American Studies (Bronx) ❖ Queens High School for the Sciences ❖ Staten Island Technical High School ❖ Brooklyn Latin School ❖

There is a great deal of difference from school to school. Some have more than 3000 students; some have fewer than 400.

Most of the SHSAT schools emphasize strong Math and Science, while two newer ones emphasize the Humanities.

One of the schools, LaGuardia, is an arts-focused school and does not require the SHSAT exam for admission. Instead, students audition or provide a portfolio of their artwork.

The SHSAT exam is taken by just under 30,000 students each year. The exam, together with attendance records, is the sole criterion for admission.

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High School of American Studies at Lehman College 2925 Goulden Avenue The Bronx, New York 10468 URL: http://www.hsas-lehman.org/ FUN FACT: Homework at this school averages three hours per night ---without texting.

HSAS is one of the newer SHSAT schools. It graduated its first class in 2006. One of three specialized high schools operating on City University of New York campuses, HSAS offers the best of both worlds:: the intimacy of a small school with the resources of a large college. There are just 400 students in the entire high school.

Students manage a heavy load of challenging work in a friendly and noncompetitive environment where everyone knows everyone else. All HSAS students enjoy access to Lehman College's facilities during and after the school day. HSAS students study and do research in Lehman College's library, eat in its cafeteria, and take physical education classes in the vast college gymnasium, the Olympic-size swimming pool, or the racquetball courts. A majority of students take at least one course at Lehman before graduation. Students are given CUNY I.D. cards for access to the campus and for verification purposes.

HSAS puts a special focus on American History, and requires students to study U.S. History for 3 years and take the AP US History Exam in junior year. Junior and senior year students with free periods in their schedule have the opportunity to take college courses for college credits at Lehman College in addition to Advanced Placement course credit. The school has been scoring extremely high on state and national high school rankings, often outperforming the older and better-known SHSAT schools.

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High School for Math, Science and Engineering 240 Convent Avenue New York, New York http://www.hsmse.org Created in 2002, HSME is a small SHSAT school with just under 500 students.

The school is located in Baskerville Hall on the City College campus.

Students eat lunch in the CCNY cafeteria and utilize the college library and gymnasium. Students can take undergraduate courses through the CUNY College Now program.

The school has an extended day schedule and 85-minute periods with classes on alternating days, enabling a greater degree of focus and depth than the usual high school schedule.

Class sizes average 24 students per class. In addition to a rigorous core subject program emphasizing math, science and the humanities, all students are required to take a minimum of three engineering core courses through 11th grade sponsored by Project Lead the Way. After 10th grade, most students take a concentration of engineering or mathematics courses while a smaller group participates in a biomedical research program at Mt. Sinai Hospital.

Special Features • College counseling starts in 9th Grade • Believing that German is the language of engineering, the school offers extremely strong German language instruction with most students studying German up to the AP level.

• The school participates in the FIRST Robotics competition • A small, warm school community with a diverse, integrated student population that reflects the racial and ethnic diversity of New York City.

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Brooklyn Latin School

223 Graham Avenue Brooklyn NY https://www.brooklynlatin.org

Founded in 2006, Brooklyn Latin is modeled after Boston Latin, the nation’s oldest public high school. The Brooklyn school is the only SHSAT school to offer an International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma, a prestigious program widely accepted at universities in more than 100 countries. Roughly 40 percent of all students earn the IB Diploma. More demanding than a standard Regents prep curriculum, the IB program requires students to write a 15- to 20-page research essay on a topic of their choice, make an oral presentation and pass various subject exams.

As part of their classical education, students take four years of Latin, participate in Socratic seminars and do lots of public speaking. The school's science program is equally strong. Freshmen begin with a conceptual physics class, followed by chemistry and two years of IB biology. Juniors and seniors may elect to take IB chemistry or IB physics as well. These students spend about half their day immersed in college-level science work, says Gina Mautschke-Mitchell, a former math teacher who became headmaster in 2013. Bridge design, solar cell efficiency and seed germination are some former student-designed lab topics culminating in eight- to 10-page papers.

Special Features • Freshmen travel to the Princeton-Blairstown Center, affiliated with Princeton University, for an outdoor bonding adventure in the fall. In the spring, they visit Boston Latin and area colleges. The Spanish department organizes home stays in Spanish-speaking countries; some seniors travel to Italy.

• Administrators say students have had no complaints about safety; nevertheless, students are advised to walk to and from the G or L train in groups, • Team sports include Badminton, Baseball, Cross Country, Soccer, Basketball, Volleyball, and Wrestling.

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Staten Island Technical High School 485 Clawson Street Staten Island NY URL: http://www.siths.org/

With a student body of 1320, Staten Island Technical High School (SI Tech) combines the rigor and activities of a big specialized high school with the friendly atmosphere of a neighborhood school. It's a welcoming place for high achievers of all stripes: independent go-getters, kids who like to tinker, and even creative and artsy types. Students tackle college-level work as early as 9th grade, and many graduate with anywhere from 16 to 60 college credits thanks to the school’s extensive range of 18 Advanced Placement (AP) classes and partnerships with universities.

Optional electives for junior and senior students include computer science, creative writing, film, performing arts, electronics, Advanced CAD, and forensic science. In addition, the school operates CollegeNow, a program run by Kingsborough Community College. CollegeNow courses offered include business, statistics, communications, and sociology. Russian is the only language class until senior year that may be taken, due to a demand for Russian-speaking engineers when the school opened.

Seniors may choose to take online elective classes, where they can learn Spanish and Mandarin.

Special Features • Students can take AP Computer Science in either Python or JavaScript.

• The only foreign language taught is Russian which is offered through AP level • Active theatre and robotics programs • Team sports include Baseball, Basketball, Fencing, Football, Track, Soccer, Softball, Swimming, Wrestling and Volleyball • The student body is 48% Asian, 45% White, 3% Latino, and 1% African-American

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Queens High School for the Sciences At York College 94-50 159th Street Jamaica NY URL: https://www.qhss.org

Queens High School for the Sciences at York College (QHSSYC) is dedicated to providing a rigorous college preparatory curricula emphasizing the sciences and mathematics, in collaboration with York College/CUNY. It has just under 500 students.

In 2014, the school was ranked #3 in New York State and #25 in the country. The philosophy of the school recognizes that students are often more successful in college and careers when nurtured in a small learning community based on high academic expectations. In keeping with this philosophy, the school accepts approximately one hundred students every year.

All students take honors courses. The school offers 15 Advanced Placement courses including AP English Literature, AP US History and Government, AP Calculus, AP Biology, AP Chemistry and AP Physics. Additionally, students have the opportunity to enroll in College Now courses. Math and Science research courses strengthen students' college and career readiness. Students have successfully participated in several Mathematics and Science research competition over the last few years.

Special Features • • • • • •

Few team sports: handball, bowling, swimming, tennis and volleyball.

Foreign languages offered: Spanish and Chinese (Mandarin) York College professors teach College Now Science courses to students in grades 10, 11 and 12 The school has a full orchestra.

The student body is 80% Asian, 5% African-American, 6% White and 4% African-American.

Some students criticize the quality of the English literature instruction.

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Bronx High School of Science 75 West 205th Street Bronx, NY 10468 URL: http://www.bxscience.edu/ Since its founding in 1938, Bronx Science alumni have shaped the world to an unprecedented degree. The school's graduates include eight Nobel prize winners, more than any other secondary education institution in the world and more than most countries; eight Pulitzer prizes for journalism; and more than 200 Regeneron Science Talent Search Scholars (formerly known as Intel and Westinghouse semi-finalists). Bronx Science alumni represent achievement and leadership in virtually every field, including the first African-American neurosurgeon, a former Secretary of Defense, countless authors, lawyers, physicians, educators, artists, entertainers, philanthropists, and leaders in science, business, and government.

The school offers an extraordinary array of over 30 courses at and above AP level, as well as opportunities for research.

This is a very large school with over 3,000 students. It is located to the north of Lehman College and requires a half-mile walk to the 4/6 subway.

Special Features • Computerized & renovated science laboratories, including the Syracuse University @ Bronx Science Crime Lab and DNA Research Lab • Foreign languages offered include Spanish, Chinese (Mandarin), French, Italian, Japanese, Latin. All are offered through AP level.

• Free tutoring available in every subject • Outstanding Speech and Debate team • Team sports include Badminton, Baseball, Bowling, Cricket, Cross Country, Fencing, Flag Football, Golf, Gymnastics, Handball, Track, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Swimming, Table Tennis, Tennis, Volleyball, and Wrestling 33

Stuyvesant High School 345 Chambers Street New York, NY 10282 URL: www.stuy.edu Stuyvesant High School has been a symbol of excellence in education for over a century. With a student body of over 3,000 students, this is a large school in a 10-story, world-class facility in Battery Park City. There are downsides to the size of the school. For example, students may take only 2 AP courses at a time. The atmosphere is described as "feverishly competitive."

Although reports vary, a quarter of the school go on to Ivy League or extremely selective colleges such as MIT or Stanford.

Many more remain local and attend CUNY or SUNY colleges.

The school has been criticized for admitting few African American and Latino students. The majority of students at Stuyvesant are Asian, representing 74% of the student body. About 20% are white. Only 1% of the student population is African -American and 3% are Latino. Efforts are underway to address the under-representation of African-Americans and Latinos at Stuyvesant.

Students can choose from well over 30 Advanced Placement courses.

Stuyvesant's foreign language offerings include Mandarin Chinese, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Latin, Japanese, Korean, and Spanish. Stuyvesant's Biology and Geo-science department offers courses in molecular biology (a course sequence composed of a molecular science class in the Fall and a molecular genetics class in the Spring), human physiology, medical ethics, medical and veterinary diagnosis, human disease, anthropology and sociobiology, vertebrate zoology, laboratory techniques, medical human genetics, botany, the molecular basis of cancer, nutrition science, and psychology.

Humanities electives include American foreign policy, civil and criminal law, prejudice and persecution, race, ethnicity and gender issues, small business management, and Wall Street.

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How do I get into a Specialized High School?

Admission to Stuyvesant, Bronx Science and other SHSAT schools is based on a high score on the SHSAT exam. There is one exception to this: If you want to attend Fiorello La Guardia High School---you do not need to take the SHSAT. Instead you need to prepare an audition or portfolio. For all other specialized high schools, you need to take the SHSAT. The SHSAT is a difficult exam, comprised of ELA and Math portions.

• Prepare for the SHSAT by • taking a SHSAT prep course (over the summer as well as during the school year) • get an SHSAT prep book from the library or a book store and use it for extra practice.

Specific book titles that you can look for: • Kaplan SHSAT Advanced Prep • Barron’s New York City SHSAT • Mc Graw-Hill’s New York City SHSAT IMPORTANT: The SHSAT is an aptitude test. You cannot cram for it. Instead, you have to learn how the exam is requiring you to thinkk and analyze problems. This takes time. Your best plan is to aim to practice test questions for about 20 minutes per day while school is in session. Over the summer, serious students should participate in the DREAM program or other SHSAT Test Prep program. Keep in mind that you are competing against other bright students, some of whom have been preparing for the SHSAT for years. Do not underestimate the difficulty of this exam.

What if my child is GREAT at English and relatively weak at Math?

Math tutoring is recommended for the Math portions of the test, in addition to a SHSAT Test Program.

What if my child is GREAT at Math and relatively weak at ELA? ELA tutoring is recommended for a student with this profile.

35

How to Prepare for the SHSAT EXAM It’s not an exaggeration: some children begin preparing for the SHSAT as young as first grade! With that much intensity in your competition, there is only one way to succeed at the SHSAT: Prepare for it! Students benefit from a test prep program that they take regularly for several months before they take the exam. Without that preparation, it can be extremely difficult to succeed at the SHSAT. In addition to the DREAM program described below, there are fee-based test prep programs available. These programs can be very expensive so ask if they offer scholarships. Often, these programs will evaluate students for their potential for a high score on the exam and then offer a scholarship to cover some or all of the program fees.

The DREAM Program​ is a Saturday and summer academic program offered free to all eligible seventh-grade New York City public school students as preparation to take the Specialized High Schools Admissions Test (SHSAT) in the eighth grade. Eligibility is determined by a child's performance on state tests in ELA and Math. Students must have scored a minimum of: 3.0 on the 2019 grade five English Language Arts, and 3.75 on the 2019 grade five Mathematics NY State tests. The program runs for 5 weeks, Monday through Friday in July and August for students who just finished grade 7 and on Saturdays in September–October of eighth grade.

If your child is not invited to the DREAM program, contact the DREAM program and ask if your child can be placed on a waitlist. If an invited student turns down their spot, students on the waitlist may be offered the place.

Other test-prep programs: • PASSNYC has free online SHSAT test prep programs. Website: http://www.passnyc.org • Khan's Tutorial will be offering on-line SHSAT Test Prep. Website: https://khanstutorial.com/ Contact: Reevu.Islam@KhansTutorial.com • Bobby Tariq SHSAT Test Prep is located in Jackson Heights and Elmhurst. Website: https://www.bobbytariq.com Contact: 833 692-3278 • Helicon offers free SHSAT prep for African-American and Latina girls. Website: http://www.heliconinc.org/ programs-for-girls.html 36

SHSAT TEST PREP MATERIALS AND PROGRAMS TO LEARN EVEN MORE ABOUT SHSAT EXAM, Click here.

RESOURCES:

● The DOE’s Specialized High Schools Student Handbook includes practice exam questions and test-taking tips. ● There are many prep books that you can buy at a local bookstore or online. Most cost between $10 and $20 each. These books provide many of the same kinds of tips and advice that you’d get in a prep class. VISIT YOUR LOCAL NYPL BRANCH and ask your librarian to recommend some SHSAT test prep books. Also, ask your librarian if the NYPL offers any SHSAT test prep. ● For about $5 per month of use you can take an online prep course from TestPrepSHSAT.com. This organization also offers free content, one-on-one tutoring for a fee, and some scholarships to cover the cost of their fees. ● Taicoon University offers a low cost, comprehensive online SHSAT prep program.

TEST PREP BOOKS/WEBSITES TEST PREP PROVIDER

IS IT FREE?

TIPS

Kaplan SHSAT

Some free practice resources on the website, plus a Kaplan SHSAT prep book for purchase and a course you can take for a fee

Take out the Kaplan SHSAT Test Prep Book from the public library for FREE and use it to practice!

Princeton Review SHSAT

Some free practice resources on the website, plus a Princeton SHSAT Immerson course for a fee of $1199

Contact them. Ask if they provide discounts or scholarships!

37

The Dream Program has been created to increase diversity at the specialized high schools. The statistics below show the 2019 and 2018 offers made by ethnicity.

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39

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Chapter 4

PERFORMING AND VISUAL ARTS HIGH SCHOOLS The 1980 movie "Fame" made the world aware of New York City's specialized performing arts school, Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School. Today, the city boasts several excellent performing arts and visual arts high schools that offer a conservatory-like training experience together with a solid college-preparatory academic program. These schools are wonderful options for young artists who are as serious about their art form as they are about going to college.

41

Fiorello H. La Guardia High School 100 Amsterdam Avenue New York, NY 10023 URL: http://www.laguardiahs.org La Guardia is New York City's only specialized high school devoted to the arts. The school's dual mission is to provide professional preparation in conservatory arts and college preparatory academics. There is no SHSAT exam to take for entrance to La Guardia. Instead, you have to show your artistic talent in a live audition, or in a portfolio. In addition, your school records and attendance are reviewed and you are required to produce a written response during your audition/interview.

Students audition for the following studios: Art, Dance, Drama, Instrumental Music, Technical Theatre, and/or Vocal Music.

Students come from all five boroughs and reflect the diverse racial and cultural composition of New York City. The school's website provides details about how students can prepare for their auditions whether they are applying for dance, art, drama, voice or music.

The academic program is strong at LaGuardia which offers about 20 AP classes. Languages taught include Japanese, French, Italian, Spanish, and Chinese (Mandarin) all of which are taught from Beginner through AP level.

Many students go on to highly selective colleges. There is strong academic support, including a Writing Lab, Language Labs and Science Lab Centers where students can receive one-on-one or small group instruction.

Consider applying for the major in Technical Theatre. This major is perfect for students who love the theatre, but are not sure they want to take center stage as an actor, dancer, or singer. In this major, you will learn lighting, set design and a range of other skills that are highly valued. These skills may be useful in careers such as video game design or interior design.

42

43

Frank Sinatra School of the Arts High School 35-12 35th Street Queens, NY URL: http://franksinatraschoolofthearts.org

In 1999, Tony Bennett, and his wife Susan Benedetto, a public school teacher, were inspired to start a public high school for young artists. They dreamt of a school that would integrate the arts with rigorous academics, require a commitment to community service, and help students cultivate a lifelong love of, and dedication to, their artistic passions and crafts. In 2009 Frank Sinatra School of the Arts opened its new extraordinary home, located at the vibrant Kaufman Astoria Studios complex, in Astoria, Queens.The school is medium-sized with 853 students, 68% of whom are female.

The school demands a high level of commitment from its students, who, on a typical day, take a full load of academic classes in addition to two or three periods of art classes and then spend a few hours after school rehearsing for a performance, working on projects, or participating in sports or internships. Majors available are: Art, Dance, Drama, Film, Instrumental and Vocal Music. The academic program is solid, but not exceptional.

Admission is based on audition, grades, test scores and attendance.

Visit the school website for instructions on preparing your audition.

Special Features: Facilities include: a 750-seat concert hall, 2 black box theatres, a stagecraft workshop, 2 dance studios, 2 fine art studios, an art gallery, choral & orchestral classrooms, practice room, a film lab and an outdoor rooftop performance garden.

Strong community service program 44

Talent Unlimited High School 300 East 68th Street New York, NY 10065 URL: http://www.tuhs.nyc

Since 1995, Talent Unlimited has offered a small performing arts school together with a liberal arts academic program.

Students complete internships with cultural organizations, perform in school productions and compete in national competitions.

The school has approximately 500 students.

Unlike LaGuardia, Talent Unlimited allows you to audition for more than one major. The options are: Musical Theatre, Drama, Vocal, Instrumental Music and Dance. Be prepared to rank the studio program in order of preference.

Visit the school's website for details of how to prepare for an audition. Applicants should score level 2-4 on standardized exams and have an 80 average or above in academic classes.

The school is located in a wing of the Julia Richman Educational Complex on the Upper East Side. It shares facilities such as a library and cafeteria with other schools in the building. About 15 clubs are available including Chess, Debate, Step, Student Government and Asian Culture. The school's College Readiness Program starts in Sophomore Year.

Students receive two periods of instruction in their majors each day.

Efforts are made to integrate arts and academics.

Academically, the school is weaker than LaGuardia. The average SAT score is 1479 and the AP pass rate is 42.9%.

The student body is 4% Asian, 27% African-American, 47% Latino and 15% White.

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Preparing a Studio Art Portfolio

For a Visual Arts program at LaGuardia, Frank Sinatra High School or other Fine Arts program:

Students applying to LaGuardia for Art will need: 1) a portfolio of drawings that show your skill. These are drawings that you have prepared in advance of the application.

2) to be able to “draw from life”. That means that at your interview, you will be given something to draw, for example a vase with flowers. Your "audition" is to draw as accurately as possible the "still life" item or arrangement they present. This is a type of “exam” because you have to do that drawing under timed conditions at the school; alongside other candidates.

So if you are serious about applying for the visual arts at La Guardia, you need to prepare both your portfolio and your still life drawing skills in advance. Your drawing skills need to be well-developed.

There are three fantastic programs that help students prepare for the entrance exam for an Arts major at LaGuardia. They are:

1. The Metropolitan Museum of Art 81st Street and Fifth Avenue To​ prepare a portfolio​, the following FREE program can help:

ART EXPLORE WHERE: Metropolitan Museum of Art (Manhattan: 81st Street and 5th Avenue) ASK THE INFORMATION DESK FOR: Carson Family Hall, at the Center for Education HOW TO GET THERE: Take the 5 or 6 train to 86th and Lexington Avenue IS IT FREE? Yes, it is 100% free.

HOW DO I RESERVE a SPACE? Email ​familyprograms@metmuseum.org​ or call 212-570-3961.

WHO CAN GO: Students ages 11-14 WHEN:

MONDAY, JULY 15 at 1pm to 3pm TUESDAY, JULY 16 at 1pm to 3pm WEDNESDAY, JULY 17 at 1pm to 3pm THURSDAY, JULY 18 at 1pm to 3pm

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To ​develop drawing skills​, the following FREE program can help:

SATURDAY SKETCHING WHERE:

Metropolitan Museum of Art (Manhattan: 81st Street and 5th Avenue)

ASK THE INFORMATION DESK FOR: Carson Family Hall, at the Center for Education HOW TO GET THERE: IS IT FREE?

Take the 5 or 6 train to 86th and Lexington Avenue Yes, it is 100% free.

HOW DO I RESERVE a SPACE?

​Email ​familyprograms@metmuseum.org​ or call 212-570-3961.

WHO CAN GO: Students ages 11-18

WHEN:

MONDAY, JULY 22 at 1pm to 3pm TUESDAY, JULY 23 at 1pm to 3pm WEDNESDAY, JULY 24 at 1pm to 3pm THURSDAY, JULY 25 at 1pm to 3pm

2. 92nd Street Y School of the Arts 92nd Street and Lexington Avenue

Portfolio Prep for Visual Arts High Schools / Ages 11-14 (This program has a fee but you can apply for financial aid) This intensive class will focus on developing observational and design skills in a variety of media in order to produce a varied portfolio that demonstrates technical skill as well as creativity and conceptual skills.

We will address NYC Blueprint for the Arts Benchmarks to ensure students are prepared for specialized high school admissions. Class is geared toward specific portfolio requirements and includes extensive one-on-one instruction, sketchbook development exercises, short writing exercises about the art making process which will prepare students for the writing component of the application, and interview prep skills for the visual arts high school audition.

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3. The Art Students League of New York

215 West 57th Street New York, NY 10019 212-247-4510 (phone) 212-541-7024 (fax) info@artstudentsleague.org Various Drawing Classes Available for Tweens

4. Arts in Action HIGH SCHOOL PORTFOLIO PREP 8th Graders Portfolio PREP classes for 8th Graders are offered on Wednesdays and Thursdays in a 10 week intensive to prepare students for their auditions into specialized art high schools (such as LaGuardia).

For any class related questions, please call 917-741-2297 or email artsinactionvap@aol.com For any registration platform (ClassEnroll) issues, please call 646-926-2008 or email contact@classenroll.com Angela Tripi-Weiss Program Director (917) 741-2297 Angela@artsinactionvap.org 48

Chapter 5

SCREENED PUBLIC SCHOOLS Screened high schools are DOE schools that have their own admissions process to ensure that its student body is well-matched to its educational standards and philosophy.

While many New Yorkers consider the Specialized High Schools to be the best schools in the city, there are several screened schools that are just as outstanding. These schools do not have an entrance exam. Rather, they use a holistic admissions process that includes a review of a student's grades, state test scores, written work, teacher recommendations and interview.

In this section, we'll look at a some of the best selective public schools in the city.

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The Beacon School 522 West 44th Street New York, NY 10036 URL: www.beaconschool.org The Beacon School is an outstanding high school that sends many of its graduates to top colleges.

The Beacon School offers an inquiry-based college preparatory program with technology and arts infused throughout the curriculum. Beacon emphasizes a rigorous well-rounded liberal arts education based on the principle of shared exploration and problemsolving. In assessments for graduation, students present performance-based projects to panels of teachers. Beacon offers extensive opportunities to participate in clubs, sports, community service and international travel. The school's focus on technology and arts reflect the strengths students need in an ever-expanding and complex world. Arts instruction and technology are infused throughout the curriculum so that students can maximize the ways in which they see, represent, and impact their world.

Special Features Beacon nurtures a strong sense of community through its advisory system, caring faculty and staff, and extensive extra-curricular and sports programs.

While only 4 AP classes are offered, students may take College courses at Hunter College or John Jay College through the College Now program.

Twenty-percent of each 9th grade class is reserved for students with IEPs.

50

HOW TO APPLY TO THE BEACON SCHOOL Please note that admissions criteria below are likely to be modified in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

APPLICATION FOR NINTH GRADE The Beacon School is a screened school. Students applying to Beacon must meet the criteria of a grade of 85 or above in English, history, science and math in the 7th grade June report card, and scores of 3 or 4 on the 7th grade standardized tests.

Students wishing to apply to Beacon must register and complete an interview. For the interview, applicants prepare a portfolio of their best work (see instructions below) and discuss their portfolio in an interview with Beacon teachers.

HOW TO PREPARE THE PORTFOLIO Put student work in a letter-sized manila folder and write student's name, middle school, and interview date and time on the folder.

Please do not use plastic folders, binders or page protectors.

The folder must include the following items: 1. One paper or project written for an English, social studies, humanities, science or math class in 7th or 8th grade that exemplifies the student's best work (one paper/project total). Comments and/or grade from teacher must be included on the paper or project.

2. A one-page, single-spaced typed paper on ways that the student has shown a special dedication to or a special talent for the arts, technology, community service, an academic subject, or sports (not more than 500 words).

3.

Student's 7th grade June (final) report card.

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Francis Lewis High School 58-20 Utopia Parkway, Fresh Meadows, NY 11365

With 4,172 students, Francis Lewis is one of the city’s largest high schools. It is also one of the most successful and in demand. FLHS is home to the nation's largest chapter of Junior ROTC, a sought-after law program, and demanding, selective programs in engineering, science research and humanities that offer academics on par with specialized and other highly competitive schools. Nevertheless, the graduation and college enrollment rates are low at 80.4% and 74.8% respectively.

Special Features The school offers 10 languages including Japanese, Korean, Latin, Chinese, Italian, French, Spanish and American Sign.

The University Scholars program enables students to achieve a “seal of biliteracy” in two foreign languages. The school’s Art and Design program is on a par with that of any school in New York City. Its Computer Science Academy trains students in Python, Java and C+. The law program offers a shot at prestigious internships with the New York City Bar Association. There are 30 team sports including Handball, Golf, Fencing, Flag Football, Cricket, Bowling, Swimming, Table Tennis, Tennis, Volleyball and Wrestling along with more common sports.

Admission: Priority to Queens; for screened programs, grades 85-100; state exams: Levels 3.0-4.5; attendance

52

Baccalaureate School For Global Education 34-12 36 Ave., Astoria, NY 11106 The only public school offering the prestigious International Baccalaureate curriculum to all 11th- and 12th-graders, BSGE boasts a student body with 100% college enrolment.

Students in grades 9 and 10 prepare for the New York State Regents exams. The IB diploma is accepted at universities in over 100 countries and is offered in lieu of any AP classes. High scores on the IB exams is accepted at most colleges for credit or advanced placement. To earn the IB diploma, students in grades 11 and 12 study six subject areas: chemistry or biology, math, History of the Americas, visual arts or technology, English and another language (Spanish, Mandarin or French). Assessment for the IB includes a portfolio of student work as well as six “extremely difficult” four- to five-hour tests over two days. Other features of the IB program include a Theory of Knowledge course, 150 hours of Creativity, Action and Service (CAS) and a research essay of up to 4000-words. CAS might involve volunteering in a library or tutoring, exploring the arts and getting involved in a sport. While all students take the IB course, not everyone succeeds in actually earning the diploma---which is to be expected, given the diploma’s difficulty.

Classes last 75 minutes which allows time for deep discussions.

Special Features There is no gym, but students play sports in neighborhood parks.

There is a fitness room and dance studio.

The school has a band, orchestra and theatre.

Extracurricular robotics, debate, student newspaper, cheerleading and arts.

Rising seniors gather in the summer for six weeks to work on college applications and essays.

Admission: To be considered for 9th grade admissions, applicants must simply rank BSGE on the NYC public high school application they file with their 8th grade guidance counselor. Priority is given first to continuing 8th graders, secondly to Queens residents, third to New York City Residents. Grades and test scores are the basis for evaluation.

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Townsend Harris High School 149-11 Melbourne Avenue, F lushing, NY 11367 https://www.thhs.qc.edu

The 2020 US News and World Report ranked Townsend Harris High School the number 1 school in New York City, #1 in New York State and #5 in the nation. This medium-sized school with about 1100 students (70% of whom are female) offers elements of a classical education with a required two years of Latin or Ancient Greek together with three years of a modern language, a freshman writing class that emphasizes linguistics, and a senior-year Great Books seminar offered for 12 college credits at Queens College. This is a school that places great emphasis on critical reading and writing. The school also offers a wide range of languages. Of the 16 AP classes offered, 5 are in foreign languages: French Language, Spanish Language, Spanish Literature, Japanese Language, Latin (Vergil).

The school’s world-class three-year Science Research Program begins in sophomore year and was cited by Intel as the best in the country.Scholars conduct research at Queens College, NYU and Rockefeller University. Students gain recognition annually in the Intel, NYCSEF, ISEF and Junior Science and Humanities Symposium and many other contests in which they win a disproportionately large number of awards. Juniors and seniors can take courses at Queens College through the College Now program and have access to Queens College’s gym, library and cafeteria. The school’s impressive alumni include Jonas Salk, Herman Wouk, Richard Rodgers and Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. The student body is 44% Asian, 37% White, 12% Latino and 7% African-American. The school has more than 25 clubs, 32 sports teams, and several academic societies.

Admissions: The school is extremely difficult to get into. Over 15,400 students compete for approximately 270 seats in the freshman class. A minimum grade point average of 95 is required of all applicants to be considered for admission.

Minimum standardized reading and math scores at the 90th percentile are also required (4.3 on both English and Math).

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T OWNSEN D H ARRIS H IGH S CHOOL AT

Q UEENS COLLEGE

149-11 Melbourne Avenue  Flushing, NY 11367  (718) 575-5580  www.thhs.qc.edu Principal: Brian Condon  Assistant Principal, PPS: Veronica York

OVERVIEW TOWNSEND HARRIS HIGH SCHOOL is a selective academic institution with an outstanding history that dates back to the 1800’s. Now located on the Queens College campus, it was designated a National School of Excellence in 1989. The student body is comprised of approximately 1,100 academically gifted and culturally diverse individuals who have been selected from the entire City of New York based on demonstrated evidence of high academic motivation and achievement.

OUR UNPARALLELED ACADEMIC PROGRAM Stresses mastery in the Humanities, Math, and Science, with an emphasis on Classics, and demands of our students the leadership skills, discipline, and work-ethic required to excel in the most rigorous of colleges and careers.

Described as “a crown jewel of the city’s public high schools” by insideschools.org, Townsend Harris is recognized nationally as a paradigm of secondary-school education:

SPECIAL FEATURES OF OUR PROGRAM ▪

ALL TOWNSEND HARRIS CLASSES ARE HONORS LEVEL. Accelerated coursework, a rigorous homework regime, and grading policies challenge our students to excellence. Our syllabus requires at least one major research project each year in each academic subject; literature courses require three such projects each semester.

▪

Senior Bridge Year with Queens College: In each semester of their senior year, THHS students enroll at Queens College in a Great Books Humanities Colloquium, as well as one additional course of their choice. Through this unique program, our students complete a 12 on-campus college credits which are fully accredited and exceed the curriculum requirements of Townsend Harris High School. Queens College of The City University of New York enjoys a national reputation for its liberal arts and sciences and preprofessional programs.

▪

Language Requirements: All students, in addition to studying at least three years of modern language, complete two years of Latin or Classical Greek.

▪

Research Programs: Sophomores, juniors and seniors may participate in independent original research programs in Science or Social Science. These programs culminate in entries to the Intel Science Talent Search, NYC Science and Engineering Fair, Siemens-Westinghouse & Jr. Science, Humanities Symposium, the International Science & Engineering Fair, National History Day, and NYC Quality of Life competitions.

▪

2016 Townsend Harris ranked #19 in the U.S. by Newsweek, and #2 in the Beating the Odds Category.

▪

2008 Intel School of Distinction for Science Excellence, only one high school in the country is selected for this honor each year.

▪

Commitment to Service: Upon entering high school, our students recite the Ephebic Oath, pledging “to leave our city greater than we found it.” Each student engages in 40 or more hours of community service each year.

▪

A 21st Century National Blue Ribbon School of Distinction, 2004: Townsend Harris is one of only twenty schools nationally selected for this honor.

▪

National Honor Society: On average, twenty-five percent of our student body is admitted to the National Honor Society, which requires a 90% academic average and 50 hours per year of community service.

▪

Six-time recipient of the Let Freedom Ring Award for our school’s protection of and respect for First Amendment rights.

▪

Extracurricular Program: Participation in extracurricular activities is actively encouraged and supported. Eighty percent of the students participate in 26 interscholastic athletic teams and over 35clubs and activities.

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COLLEGE BOARD ADMISSIONS TESTS: CLASS OF 2018 TEST

CUMULATIVE AVERAGE •

•

_______________________________ GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

(ADVANCED REGENTS DIPLOMA) CLASS OF 2018 ________________________________ SUBJECT AREA CREDITS ________________________________ English Social Studies Mathematics Science Foreign Language Health Education Physical Education Music Art

SCHOOL MEAN

STATE MEAN

SAT REASONING TEST

The cumulative average is computed at the end of eleventh grade and includes all subjects except physical education.

All Townsend Harris courses are taught at the Honors level.

Grades in AP courses are weighted at 1.1; all others are unweighted.

•

NUMBER TESTED

8 8 6 6 6 0.5 4 1 1

Critical Reading

268

668

489

Mathematics

262

669

501

Writing

262

655

482

SAT SUBJECT TESTS Biology E

59

669

Biology M

104

697

Chemistry

51

652

English Literature

51

656

Latin

12

651

Math – Level l

59

669

Math – Level II

104

697

Physics

32

648

Spanish

6

670

U.S. History

60

673

World History

89

608

ADVANCED PLACEMENT TESTS - MAY 2018 NUMBER TESTED

% WITH 3 OR BETTER

Calculus AB

69

88

Calculus BC

69

97

English Literature

167

81

MacroEconomics

101

73

Music Theory

2

100

Japanese

4

100

Latin

16

87

Human Geography

59

81

Physics

65

97

An additional year of study in three of the following five areas: Humanities, Math, Science, Foreign Language, or Fine Arts

Psychology

128

92

Spanish Language

26

100

Statistics

63

71

•

Successfully complete two Queens College elective courses.

U.S. Government & Politics

95

74

•

Forty hours of community service per year.

U.S. History

255

72

World History

287

90

Environmental Science

27

74

Requirements for the Townsend Harris High School Honors Certificate: •

SUBJECT

Placement in AP classes is based on teacher recommendations and school scheduling. Due to scheduling contingencies, many qualified students may not have the opportunity to take AP classes prior to senior year.

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OUR SELECTION CRITERIA

T

OWNSEND HARRIS STUDENTS ARE LIFE-LONG ACHIEVERS. Their dedication to personal development and academic discipline begins long before they reach our school and continues long after. Students from all five boroughs of New York City are eligible to apply to Townsend Harris and are selected through a competitive screening process rather than by a single entrance exam. Admission is based on final seventh grade report cards for entering ninth grade students.

To be considered for admission, students must have: • An overall average of 90% or higher.

• A standardized reading score at or above the 90th percentile. (682) • A standardized math score at or above the 90th percentile. (713) • A record of excellent attendance and punctuality.

(Students with higher averages and scores are much more likely to be selected.)

KEY STATS CLASS OF 2018 ___________ Class size ........................... 268 Number applied.............. 5320 Percent accepted .................. 5 Avg. Daily Attendance ...... 97.4 DIVERSITY _______________ African- American ...............6 % Asian ................................. 58% White ................................. 22% Hispanic ............................ 12% Multi-Racial ..........................1% Economically Disadvantaged ................. 51%

OUR HISTORY Townsend Harris is a young school with an honored past. In 1848, the New York Free Academy, the city’s first municipal institution of free higher education, was established by the Board of Education due in large part to the effort of Townsend Harris, who was, at the time, the president of the Board. The Free Academy later became the City College of New York. The “introductory year” of the Free Academy grew into Townsend Harris High School, which flourished until 1942, when it was closed by Major LaGuardia because of budgetary constraints. Ira Gershwin, Jonas Salk, Edward G. Robinson, Richard Rodgers, Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., and Herman Wouk, as well as innumerable future educators, scientists, jurists, and philanthropists (including three Nobel Laureates) commuted from all five boroughs of the city in order to attend.

Through the efforts of a group of distinguished alumni, Townsend Harris was reopened in 1984 with a new location and student body but with the same spirit, mission, and goals as before. The present school has, from its inception, remained true to its predecessor’s rich tradition, and is supported by an active group of alumni who serve as mentors, arrange internships for students, and raise funds for special projects.

% PASSING NYS REGENTS EXAMS __________________ English .............................. 100 History ................................ 100 Math ................................... 100 Science ............................. 99.9 2nd Language ..................... 100

GRADUATION STATISTICS ___ Graduating in 4 years .... 100% Graduating with Advanced Regents Diploma ........ 83% Graduating with THHS Honor Certificate .................... 31% Attending 4- year colleges ....................... 99%

OUR MISSION The mission of Townsend Harris High School is to foster a love of learning, to instill the habit of inquiry, and to promote an awareness of beauty in nature and in the arts.

We expose our students to multiple perspectives so that they will be able to appreciate various points of view. We enable our students to achieve their potential and to become articulate and responsible adults who respect others and are productive members of our society.

SCHOLARSHIP DATA FOR THE CLASS OF 2018 ___________ The 268 graduates in the class of 2018 were offered 863 scholarships amounting to over 69 million dollars

In order to prepare our students for ethical and intellectual challenges, we provide a rigorous curriculum with an emphasis on the humanities and classics, complemented by our outstanding mathematics and science programs and bolstered by the integration of technology. Our instructional program promotes respect for people and ideas, critical and creative thinking, and precision of language. We encourage our students to strive for excellence, to make sensible decisions, and to develop an enduring commitment to serving the community.

National Merit Finalists ......... 8 Semi-Finalists................... 7 Commended Students... 34 National Hispanic Recognition Program .......................... 10 National Achievement Finalists ............................ 1 National Achievement Semi-Finalists ................... 6

We seek to graduate talented and motivated students who reflect the diversity of our city, become lifelong learners, and make meaningful contributions to the world.

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THE BRIDGE YEAR PROGRAM A Collaboration between Queens College and Townsend Harris High School A Unique Learning Opportunity Since 1984, Townsend Harris High School, through the offices of College Preparatory Programs, has been involved in numerous pioneer collaborative projects with Queens College. THHS students have access to the campus library, athletic facilities, and computer laboratories. As part of this innovative collaboration, Queens College provides graduate interns, undergraduate student teachers, faculty mentors for science and social science research projects, counselors for specific faculty and student programs within THHS, and opportunities for members of both institutions to cross the boundaries between secondary and higher education. Often referred to as “the jewel of the City University of New York system,” Queens College enjoys a national reputation for its liberal arts, sciences, and preprofessional programs.

One of the highlights of the Queens College / Townsend Harris High School collaboration is the Bridge Year Program. During their fourth year at THHS, all seniors are enrolled at the college as non-matriculated Queens College students, taking up to six credits per semester of college-level courses on campus with other Queens College students. These courses are accredited and are beyond the usual Townsend Harris curriculum requirements. THHS offers fewer Advanced Placement classes than other high schools because of this opportunity. Three of each semester’s QC credits are earned in college electives of the student’s choice. The other three are earned in the Freshman Honors Humanities Colloquium- a “great books” honors course that is team-taught in a seminar setting by a member of the Queens College faculty and a member of the THHS faculty. The classes are supplemented by an eight-lecture series presented by QC professors from the Division of Humanities and Social Sciences to the entire senior class and Colloquia faculty. The seminars emphasize reading, writing, and student-led discussion. They are patterned on Queens College’s honors program seminar, as well as the seminar programs at St. John’s (Annapolis) and the University of Chicago.

Honors in the Humanities (HTH) 101, 102 Reading List

First Semester

Second Semester

The Bible: I & II Samuel and I Kings Chapters 1 and 2 The Gospel according to Matthew (may include other selected readings) Sophocles, Oedipus Rex Plato, Euthyphro; Apology; Crito Chaucer’s “General Prologue” and “The Wife of Bath’s Prologue and Tale” in The Canterbury Tales Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Machiavelli, The Prince Shakespeare, Macbeth and Othello (sometimes substituted with Richard II)

Shakespeare, Hamlet Voltaire, Candide Dostoyevsky, “The Grand Inquisitor” from The Brothers Karamazov Marx and Engels, The Communist Manifesto Conrad, Heart of Darkness Freud, Civilization and Its Discontents Woolf, A Room of One’s Own A Unit of Poetry (Shakespeare, Donne, Wordsworth, Keats, Yeats, Auden, and others)

*Each semester also includes at least one other major work selected by the individual instructors.

Writing Assignments A. Students are assigned approximately 5,000 words (twenty double-spaced typewritten pages or the equivalent) of written work, which are corrected and graded. This work will be divided into four or more individual papers held to a very high standard. At least one of these papers will be an in-class essay. The papers (including the in-class essay) are based entirely on the assigned readings, detailed with one particular work or with a comparison of two or more works.

B. In addition, each student will write regular journal entries in a “portfolio.” Entries may include, for example, reactions to each reading assignment, concluding with questions; comments on the evaluations of the discussion; and paragraphs on specific topics or questions in the readings. Portfolio entries are not be graded or corrected. Students may be asked to read them in class and hand them in for spot-checks. It is suggested that particular portfolio entries may be used as starting-points for formal papers.

For more information, please contact Robin Hizme, Director College Preparatory Programs Phone: 718-997-3175 Email: QC.CPP@qc.cuny.edu

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A BRIEF SAMPLING OF OUR STUDENTS’ CO-CURRICULAR ACHIEVEMENTS: •

Newsies! The Classic, “Dow Jones Best Overall Print Newspaper” and the “Dow Jones Best Overall Online News Site” at the citywide awards hosted by Baruch College. Also won awards for Best Feature Writing, Best Sports Writing, Social Media Reporting, Photojournalism, artwork and opinion writing.

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Harvard – The Classic-Crimson Award for Editorial Writing, 2013, Youth Journalism International Honorable Mention for Feature Writing, 2013.

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Columbia Scholastic Press Association – The Phoenix, Gold Medal, 2015, Silver Crown, 2014 and Silver Medal, 2014, Gold Medal 2013, Gold Crown and Silver Medal 2011.

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National Scholastic Press Association – The Phoenix, Gold Medal 2015, All American Honors Award (highest recognition) 2014.

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New Voices Young Writers Competition, Award of Excellence in the Senior Short Story Category, Award of Excellence in the Senior Poetry Category, First Place in the Senior Division Poetry Category, Honorable Mention in the Junior Division Poetry Category, Honorable Mention in the Senior Division Poetry Category.

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C-SPAN StudentCam Documentary Competition: “Nation of Immigrants” and “Transvalue Obamacare”; Honorable Mentions 2014, 2015.

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New York County Lawyers’ Association – First Place Prize Winner.

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InvestWrite, First Place, New York State High School Division, 2015.

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New York State History Day (April 2014)- Senior Group Documentations: Third Place; Senior Individual Performances: Third Place; Special Awards: National Baseball Hall of Fame Award, New York State Historical Association Award, Women’s History Award.

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W!SE Quality of Life Competition 2015 Awards – First Place Winner, Two Borough Leader Awards, and Semi-Finalist.

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More than 350 student participants in the National Latin/Greek Competition.

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2016 – THHS had 48 perfect scores on the National Latin Competition.

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NYSSMA Contest winners, All State Chorus and Orchestra Winners, Bertelsmann Foundation World of Expression Scholarship Winners, and Citywide Jazz Festival Winners.

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More than 95% of our students complete four or more years of Science study.

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283 students were inducted into the New York State Science Honor Society (NYSSHS).

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More than 80 students are engaged in Science Research each year, both inside our own Science Research Lab as well as at major hospitals, universities and research institutes in and around, NYC.

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Our Science Olympiad Club fielded three teams at the 2016 NYC Regional Competition, and won the NYC Championship for the 5 th time in 9 years. Our teams placed 1st, 5th and 11th out of 60 teams, and amassed 43 medals. 2016 marked our 11th year qualifying for NYS competition. Harris was again the highest ranked NYC team.

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Science Bowl Team tied for 1st place in the Long Island Science Bowl in its first season of competition.

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Intel Science Talent Search – 21 Semi-Finalists (2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2015).

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Siemens-Westinghouse Semi-Finalists: (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2014).

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NYC – Junior Science and Humanities (JSHS): Finalists (2006, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015).

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NYC Science and Engineering Fair Finalists: Every year for the past 20 years including 13 students in 2015 (Animal Science, Cellular and Molecular Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Medicine and Health Science.

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Young Naturalist Competition Finalists (2014, 2015).

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191 students were inducted into the Mu Alpha Theta National Math Honor Society.

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Over 58% of our athletic teams (19 out of 131) qualify for post-season competition.

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Eleanor Roosevelt High School 411 East 76th Street, New York, NY 10021 https://www.erhsnyc.org

Eleanor Roosevelt High School is a screened school that has been recently de-zoned so that students from all districts may apply.

The school aims to cultivate an intellectually-rich environment where students and teachers are active learners, examining and challenging their own and others’ thinking in a culture where academic success is judged by the depth and breadth of one’s ability to question as well as his/her understanding. Eleanor Roosevelt High School has evolved into a highly sought-after, wellrespected, college-preparatory NYC high school. It offers 13 AP classes, an outstanding arts program, courses in Robotics and opportunities to conduct a year-long, advanced STEM research program. Foreign languages taught are Spanish and French.

The advisory program is designed to optimize each student’s academic and emotional success. Each advisory is led by a faculty member and two senior "Peer Sibs" who facilitate discussions about issues within and outside the school community, work on study and organizational skills, and create community-building activities. Each student has opportunities to formally and informally meet with his or her advisor and Sibs to discuss progress and goals, get support, and plan for the future.

Special Features The school's extensive clubs include: Pre-Med Club, Gaming Club, Law Team, Choir, Girls Who Code, Chess Club and more.

ERHS provides its students to myriad cultural opportunities, including Broadway shows and operas and philharmonic concerts at Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall.

Team sports include: Baseball, Basketball, Soccer, Tennis, Track, Golf, Cross Country, Flag Football, Volleyball and Softball.

Application is made through the New York City Department of Education high school admission process. Forms are distributed through middle school guidance counselors as well as the Office of Student Enrollment at the Department of Education (212) 374-2363. Students are admitted based on a review of their grades, standardized test scores, and attendance/punctuality.

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NYC iSchool 131 Avenue of the Americas, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10013 https://www.nycischool.org NYC iSchool is dedicated to equipping students with the skills necessary for success and leadership in the 21st century. The iSchool program is designed to offer students opportunities to engage in meaningful work that has relevance to them and the world, choice and responsibility in determining their high school experience, and unique structures to support their development.

Challenge-Based Learning Challenge-based learning occurs through courses called Modules, which are intensive, nine-week interdisciplinary courses developed around real-world challenges. Modules are designed to develop students' understanding of big ideas and broad global concepts, and their development and application of 21st century skills - the kind of things the leaders hope students will remember and still need to know and use 20 years from now.

HOW TO APPLY TO NYC iSCHOOL The NYC iSchool is an academically selective NYC public school. Admissions to the iSchool is through the NYC Department of Education High School Enrollment program. Tours of the school are offered to perspective applicants from October -December.

Online registration for tours begins in mid-September. To be considered for admissions to the iSchool, you are required to complete an online admissions activity that will be available here at the end of September, 2011.

Selection Criteria: • • • •

GPA of 85 or above Standardized Test Scores at grade level (earning a 3 or 4 on NY State Exams) Review of Attendance and Punctuality Online Admissions Activity

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Bard High School Early College (Two Locations)

525 East Houston Street, New York, NY 10002 and 30-20 Thomson Avenue, Long Island City, NY, 11101 https://bhsec.bard.edu

In June 2001, the New York City Board of Education and Bard College jointly created Bard High School Early College (BHSEC).

An alternative to the traditional high school, BHSEC is founded on the belief that many young people are ready and eager to do serious college work at age sixteen. The school now has locations across the country, including two in New York City; one in Lower Manhattan and one in Long Island City, Queens.

BHSEC graduates complete most of the high school program and the required New York State Regents Exams in the first two years.

Qualified ninth and tenth grade students are eligible for entry into the early college program. At the end of four years, students will have completed 60 college credits and received the Associate in Arts (A.A.) degree in the liberal arts and sciences from Bard College as well as a New York State Regents diploma.

The Seminar Sequence is the signature humanities experience of the Bard Early College program. The four-semester interdisciplinary Seminar Sequence exposes students to seminal texts from antiquity to modernity, which students engage through critical reading and interpretation. Readings include Homer’s Iliad, Plato’s Republic, Dante’s Inferno, Machiavelli’s The Prince, Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Darwin’s The Origin of Species, Marx’s The Communist Manifesto, Freud’s Civilization and Its Discontents, Du Bois’ The Souls of Black Folk, Woolf’s To the Lighthouse, Kafka’s The Trial, and Coates’ Between the World and Me, among others. The Seminar Sequence is modeled on Bard College’s signature humanities course, First-Year Seminar.

Admission The Office of Admission at Bard High School Early College (BHSEC) is committed to recruiting highly motivated young adults.

The school is participating in the Diversity in Admissions Program. Applicants must take a math and writing assessment before being invited for interview. The school seeks to admit those applicants who demonstrate maturity, intellectual curiosity, and a love of learning.

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New Explorations in Science and Technology 111 Columbia Street NY, NY 10002 https://nestmk12.net

NEST offers an academically challenging curriculum designed to produce young scholars who can contribute to the betterment of the world at large. The school occupies a large, sun-filled building in lower Manhattan.

The school encourages civic participation through a required 60 hours of community service and self-expression through music, art, writing, drama, and science. Clubs include Investment Club, Model UN, Robotics, Science Olympiad Team, Coding, Debate and many more. About 10 AP classes are offerred. Only one language is taught at AP level; Spanish while Mandarin is taught up to level 3. Students may take college classes at Hunter through College Now. ADMISSION Admission is based on a report card with an average of 90 or above in English, Math, Social Studies and Science as well as a performance on the 7th grade state test of a 3 or 4. Excellent attendance and punctuality are also required for admission.

Average 6th Grade ELA / Math State Test Scores – 20% Average 6th Grade Final Grades – 40% Average 7th Grade Marking Period Grades – 40%

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Diversity in Admissions Pilot Schools The following New York City high schools are participating in New York City’s Diversity in Admissions initiative. As such, these schools voluntarily prioritize a percentage of seats to applicants from low-income families and/or English language learners. Some of the participating schools are the very best high schools in the city.

Ms. Miller has highlighted schools that she is familiar with and added a brief description of each.

Schools that are highlighted pink have extremely competitive admissions and typically accept only students with excellent grades and state test scores. Schools that are highlighted peach are more likely to accept a wider range of academic abilities. Schools that are not highlighted are simply schools Ms Miller is unfamiliar with. They may deserve a closer look! ● East Side Community School (01M450) | Priority to applicants eligible for Free or Reduced Lunch (FRL) for 70% of seats. ● Bard High School Early College (01M696) | Priority to applicants eligible for Free or Reduced Lunch (FRL) for 50% of seats.

The BHSEC program provides a seamless transition for students from middle school to high school to college and results in college readiness and the opportunity for students to complete 60 transferable college credits and an associate in arts degree from Bard College, while simultaneously fulfilling the requirements of the State of New York or a high school diploma

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● The Clinton School (02M260) | Priority to applicants eligible for Free or Reduced Lunch (FRL) for 33% of seats. ● Urban Assembly Maker Academy (02M282) | Program Code: M61A | Priority to applicants eligible for Free Lunch (based on family income) for 70% of seats. ● NYC iSchool (02M376) | Program Code: M52A | Priority to applicants eligible for Free or Reduced Lunch (FRL) for 66% of seats.

131 Avenue of the Americas, Manhattan Admission: Open to NYC; grades 82-100; state exams: Levels 2.7-4.5; attendance; online admissions activity Enrollment: 442 Graduation rate: 98% College ready: 75% College enrollment: 80.6% % Taking SAT: 96 Average total SAT score: 1536 # Taking AP tests: 61 AP Pass rate: 67.2% Tech-focused Soho school has students select their own classes starting in ninth grade. There are five AP courses and five languages. Clubs are created by students each year, based on their interests; 2015’s included Coding Club and Creative Writing Club.

One caveat: the school overuses quickie online classes.

-NY Post

● Institute for Collaborative Education (02M407) | Priority to applicants eligible for Free or Reduced Lunch (FRL) for 50% of seats.

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● Baruch College Campus High School (02M411) | Priority to applicants eligible for Free or Reduced Lunch (FRL) for 66% of seats.

55 East 25th Street, New York, NY Small liberal-arts school seeks to nurture hard-working students and provide a well-rounded education with a strong focus on college prep. Each student meets 30 minutes a day for all four years with a group of 20 classmates and a staff adviser. Down the block from Baruch College, adjunct professors come to teach upper-grade electives in psychology, creative writing and art. Students also take calculus on campus for six college credits, and AP classes in English, government and studio arts. After-school program provides tutoring in all academic subjects, plus enrichment classes in subjects like film. Unusual class last year: Afro-Brazilian drumming, taught in partnership with the Manhattan New Music Project. The atmosphere is supportive, says Principal Alicia Perez-Katz.

Alumni return to visit because “they feel the school is family. They feel connected.”

-NY Post

● N.Y.C. Lab School for Collaborative Studies (02M412) | Priority to applicants eligible for Free or Reduced Lunch (FRL) for 66% of seats.

333 W 17th St, New York, NY 10011 This sought-after, non-traditional small school offers challenging academics with a humanistic bent, a dynamic teaching style and project-based learning in a non-cutthroat environment. Offers eight AP classes with the recent addition of environmental, science, statistics, and online Spanish. Team teaching gives extra help to high-achieving special-needs students. Seniors take a staff-created human rights course and present independent research projects in a public forum — like curating an art exhibit or speaking at a college symposium. Last year students hosted a Model UN conference, tackling topics such as Middle East peace. The student theater company produced “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” for its spring play. Students are active in civic causes. The Chelsea building shares a gym with a middle school, and students team up on sports with the NYC Museum School.

-NY Post

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● School of the Future High School (02M413) | Priority to applicants eligible for Free or Reduced Lunch (FRL) for 65% of seats.

127 E. 22nd St., Manhattan Admission: Priority to continuing 8th graders; grades 75-100; state exams: Levels 2.0-4.5; attendance; interview Enrollment: 713 Graduation rate: 93.3% College ready: 89.9% College enrollment: 72.2% % Taking SAT: 89.9 Average total SAT score: 1589 # Taking AP tests: 36 AP Pass rate: 66.7% Students chosen for diversity and small class sizes make this 6-12 school exceptional. Students create research-based “exhibitions” as a graduation requirement, exempting them from nearly all state Regents exams.

An expanding arts program offers music and drama courses. Internships are expected in 11th and 12th grades.

A required “Bridge to College” class in ninth and 10th grades teaches goal-setting and builds confidence.

-NY Post

● N.Y.C. Museum School (02M414) | Priority to applicants eligible for Free or Reduced Lunch (FRL) for 50% of seats.

333 W 17th St, New York, NY 10011 The school uses the world-class museums of New York City to enrich its high school curriculum. All students in grades 9-11 take four museum module courses during the year. These courses are one week long, and occur in October, December, March, and May. During these module weeks, students will not take their regular classes, and instead study all week at different museums around the city. At the culmination of these 5 days of museum modules, students create a portfolio of work.The school requires 4 years of English, Math, Science, Social Studies and Physical Education. 10 AP Classes are offered. Three Foreign Languages are taught: French, Spanish and Japanese though none at AP level.

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● Eleanor Roosevelt High School (02M416) | Priority to applicants eligible for Free or Reduced Lunch (FRL) for 50% of seats.

411 E 76th St, New York, NY 1002 An extremely popular small school with 125 freshmen chosen among 5,000 applicants based on their middle-school grades and attendance. With the city’s biggest Model UN, it sent a team of 25 kids to compete in Rome in 2010. It also has a top mock-trial team. Students are expected to read 25 books a year and share their reading experiences online. In 2008-2010, a group of physics students represented the United States in a safecracking competition in Israel. Students travel in an advisory group of 20 to 25 kids over four years. Community service, in honor of the school’s namesake, is required. There’s no gym, but the winning basketball team and other athletes play elsewhere. The Green Team environmental club advocates energy-saving and recycling. Senior Seminar involves researching, writing and presenting a major “Quality of Life” paper.

-NY Post

● Repertory Company High School for Theatre Arts (02M531) | Program Code: M20X | Priority to applicants eligible for Free Lunch (based on family income) for 40% of seats. ● Harvest Collegiate High School (02M534) | Program Code: A53A | Priority to applicants eligible for Free Lunch (based on family income) for 63% of seats: first to Manhattan students or residents, and then to New York City residents. ● Academy for Software Engineering (02M546) | Program Code: A54A | Priority to applicants eligible for Free or Reduced Price Lunch (based on family income) for 69% of seats.

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● Urban Assembly New York Harbor School (02M551) | Program Codes: K51A | Priority to applicants eligible for Free or Reduced Price Lunch (based on family income) for 69% of seats. ● West End Secondary School (03M291) | Priority to applicants eligible for Free or Reduced Lunch (FRL) for 60% of seats. ● Frank McCourt High School (03M417) | Priority to applicants eligible for Free or Reduced Lunch (FRL) for 66% of seats. ● Beacon High School (03M479) | Priority to applicants eligible for Free or Reduced Lunch (FRL) for 50% of seats.

522 West 44th Street New York, NY 10036 The Beacon School (also called Beacon High School) is a selective college-preparatory public high school in the Hell's Kitchen area of Manhattan in New York City, near Times Square and the Theater District. Beacon's curriculum exceeds the standards set by the New York State Regents, and as a member of the New York Performance Standards Consortium, its students are exempt from taking most Regents exams.[2] Instead, students present performance-based projects at the end of each semester to panels of teachers. Beacon offers opportunities to participate in student organizations, varsity athletics, community service, and international travel.

Beacon has a Stock Market Club, Debate Team, Model Congress, Model UN, Math Club, Beacon Drama Arts Theater (B'DAT), Film Club, Photo Club, Arts Committee, Senior Committee, Yearbook, Beacon Ink Literary Magazine, Live Poet's Society, Student Leadership Team, and Student Government, as well as a wide variety of additional student clubs and activities such as "Beacon Ink," the student-run literary magazine that publishes creative writing and artwork.

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● Manhattan / Hunter Science High School (03M541) | Program Code: M55A | Priority to applicants eligible for Free or Reduced Price Lunch (based on family income) for 69% of seats. ● Park East High School (04M495) | Priority to applicants eligible for Free or Reduced Lunch (FRL) for 66% of seats. ● Central Park East High School (04M555) | Priority to applicants eligible for Free Lunch (based on family income) for 66% of seats. ● The Heritage School (04M680) | Program Code: M97A | Priority to District 4 residents eligible for Free or Reduced Price Lunch (based on family income) for 43% of seats. ● Urban Assembly High School of Music and Art (13K350) | Program Code:L02R | Priority to applicants eligible for Free or Reduced Price Lunch (based on family income) for 69% of seats. ● Urban Assembly Institute of Math and Science for Young Women (13K527) | Priority to English Language Learners for 18% of seats: first to continuing 8th grade students and then to New York City residents. ● Williamsburg High School for Architecture and Design (14K558) | Program Code: K09X | Priority to applicants eligible for Free Lunch (based on family income) for 63% of seats: first to Brooklyn students or residents, and then to New York City residents. ● Williamsburg Preparatory School (14K561) | Program Code: K39X | Priority to applicants eligible for Free Lunch (based on family income) for 63% of seats. ● Brooklyn Collaborative Studies (15K448) | Priority to applicants eligible for Free or Reduced Price Lunch (based on family income), students in temporary housing, and English Language Learners, for 76% of seats.

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● Millennium Brooklyn High School (15K684) | Priority to applicants eligible for Free or Reduced Price Lunch (based on family income) for 66% of seats ● Midwood High School (22K405) | Program Codes: K26J, K26H, K26K | Priority to applicants eligible for Free or Reduced Lunch (FRL) for 70% of seats.

2839 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11210 Spirited — but overcrowded — school combines a zoned program with competitive screened humanities and medical science institutes.

With 16 APs, top students do independent research at nearby Brooklyn College. There’s a strong robotics program, a TV studio and outstanding instrumental and vocal music courses.

More than 60 clubs include gospel choir, cycling and 4-H. Two dozen sports include PSAL cricket and lacrosse -NY Post

● Leon M. Goldstein High School for the Sciences (22K535) | Program Code:K76A | Students admitted in rank order by zip code. ● Bard High School Early College Queens (24Q299) | Priority to applicants eligible for Free or Reduced Price Lunch (based on family income) for 73% of seats. ● Townsend Harris High School (25Q525) | Priority to applicants eligible for Free or Reduced Lunch (FRL) for 50% of seats. ● Bayside High School (26Q495) | Priority to applicants eligible for Free or Reduced Lunch (FRL) for 75% of seats. ● High School for Construction Trades, Engineering, and Architecture (27Q650) | Priority to applicants eligible for Free or Reduced Lunch (FRL) for 72% of seats. ● Academy for Careers in Television and Film (30Q301) | Program Code:Q01A | Priority to applicants eligible for Free Lunch (based on family income) for 63% of seats.

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Chapter 6

OTHER CO-ED SCHOOLS This section features co-ed schools that are not screened public schools. Some are Catholic parochial schools; some are independent schools, some are charter schools and some are unscreened public schools.

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Metropolitan Expeditionary Learning School 91-30 Metropolitan Ave. | Forest Hills, NY 11375

MELS, “A School for a Sustainable City”, is located in Forest Hills, Queens, and serves approximate 840 students in grades 6 – 12. It offers students a rigorous college preparatory program, with particular emphasis on sustainability. MELS has been recognized as a Showcase School by the New York City Department of Education and selected as one of only ten Expeditionary Learning Mentor Schools across the country. The school has been recognized in the New York Post as one of the “hidden gems” in the New York City public school system.

Through authentic, project-based learning expeditions in all disciplines, as well as experiences in science and technology, students become critical thinkers who gather information, carefully weigh their options, and make informed, thoughtful choices that effect change. Much of the schoolwork is organized into interdisciplinary “expeditions” that get kids out of the classroom to learn and explore. Students take a four‑day wilderness/back-packing adventure with their “crew” — groups of 16 students who meet with a teacher throughout the year for support and guidance. By using New York City as an extension of the classroom, students learn that sustainability means meeting current needs without compromising future generations.

The student body is diverse and approximately 20% Asian, 40% Latino, 17% African-American and 17% White.

Special Features Team sports include: Volleyball, Swimming, Soccer, Cross Country, Basketball, Wrestling, Indoor Track, Softball, Baseball, Outdoor Track and Co-Ed Stunt. Campus teams have won borough and city championships.

The school’s library is not only a beautiful space, but an amazing resource for students providing opportunities in and out of the classroom. Staffed by award-winning librarian, Jillian Ehlers, MELS boasts a library space that is among the best in the city.

Active PTA with parent involvement encouraged by the school.

Admission: MELS is an unscreened school- students are not screened based on test scores or grades. Students complete an application with the DOE to apply, being that we are a public school.

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Archbishop Molloy High School (Catholic) 8353 Manton St, Briarwood, NY 11435 https://www.molloyhs.org

Archbishop Molloy High School is a highly rated, private, Catholic school located on a six acre campus in Briarwood, NY. It has 1,490 students in grades 9-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 19 to 1. After graduation, 100% of students from this school go on to attend a 4-year college. Molloy offers over 30 Honors classes, 7 Scholars classes, and 45 junior and senior electives across subject areas. 97% of our students enroll in Advanced Placement and/or other college credit courses prior to their high school graduation. Molloy AP courses include: Computer Science Principles, Computer Science A, United States History, World History, European History, U.S. Government and Politics, Psychology, English Literature, English Language/Composition, Biology, Chemistry, Physics 1, Calculus AB, and Calculus BC. Among Catholic schools, Molloy has the highest percentage of its graduates earning Regents diplomas of any Catholic school in the city.

Special Features Molloy is known for its successful sports program, particularly in basketball, baseball, soccer, and track and field.

Molloy offers a challenging Science Research Program, aligned with SUNY Albany, for qualifying students. Its Science Olympiad and Math League teams remain highly and successfully competitive among top academic schools in New York City and State.

In cooperation with LIU Post, Molloy also runs a Robotics course for college credit.

Arts classes include Advanced Computer Graphics, Painting and 3 Dimensional Design, Introduction to Film, Band with instruction for specialty ensembles, Chorus, Dance, Drama, and Creative Writing.

Admission: Over 2,000 students apply for Molloy's 400 available freshman seats each year. Admission into Molloy is based primarily on academic achievement, standardized test scores, and state test scores in 6th, 7th, and 8th grades, as well as the results of the TACHS or CHSEE exam. Refer to the school’s Admissions page for more information.

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Friends Seminary (Independent School) 222 East 16th Street New York, NY 10003 https://www.friendsseminary.org/ Since 1783, Friends Seminary has offered New Yorkers an education based on the Quaker values of reflection, compassion and inclusion. Friends requires critical thinking skills and reaches beyond the classroom walls to help students move toward realizing “a world that ought to be.” When students participate in contests and tests, they are taught consider their competitors as those who can inspire them to perform at a new level. In this way both competitive and collaborative learning lead to individual achievement and community enrichment. Learning at Friends is active, whether it be through wilderness programs; opportunities to study abroad; community service projects; social justice initiatives; artistic, academic, and athletic performances; student publications; Peace Week; Day of Concern; or school-focused committee and governance work. A wide range of languages are taught including Arabic, Mandarin, French, Spanish, Latin all through Advanced level.

Special Features: Eleventh and twelfth grade students, recommended by the School and deemed qualified by NYU administrators, may enroll free of charge in courses at NYU’s College of Arts and Sciences. Students enrolled in NYU courses will not receive college credit for the course at the conclusion of the class.

Independent Study: 11th and 12th Grade students an opportunity to participate in creating a course of study in a particular area of interest.

The Chapman Academic Center provides faculty “coaches,” who assist students with assignments, and peer tutors, who work with students under the supervision of the staff.

Admission: Candidates must take the SSAT or ISEE exam. In addition to these test scores, student grades, attendance, teacher recommendations, student essay, extra curricular activities, and interview are all considered. Please see the school’s website for additional information about admissions requirements.

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The Dalton School (Independent) 222 East 16th Street New York, NY 10003 https://www.friendsseminary.org/ Dalton is a nationally-recognized K-12 private school, known for its leadership in progressive education. A Dalton education is organized around three features: House, Assignment and Lab. The House is the basic social unit in the school and is heterogeneously grouped with students from grades nine through twelve. House Advisors are the primary communication link between the school and the home, and between the student and the school. As the student's advocate and confidant, the Advisor plays a vital role in monitoring the advisee's academic, social, and emotional well-being.

The Assignment introduces the student to a new topic or topics to be covered within a given course's curriculum. It lists the numerous learning avenues which a student may follow to arrive at a better understanding of the topic and the learning tasks for which they will be held responsible. While the Assignment helps students individualize their learning opportunities, it also enables them to learn how to organize time over a period of weeks and gives them a useful perspective on the cognitive and skill areas to be pursued.

The Laboratory provides students the opportunity for individual consultation with teachers or for small group interaction with peers as they pursue and extend the study prescribed in the Assignment. Lab enables students to personalize their learning experience. Students make regular appointments to plan individualized work, review projects in process, exams taken, or seek clarification.

Special Features: Dalton Global Initiatives engage students in three integral forms of global experiences including academic collaborations, language and cultural immersion opportunities and service learning programs.

Dalton's Senior Project gives High School seniors the possibility of creating a special course of study that will allow them to unify their program in ways the curriculum may not ordinarily be able to achieve. Senior Project represents an

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extraordinary challenge and responsibility - one that is considered seriously. It is an educational opportunity that well may not present itself again until the final year at college.:

Sports: For boys, choices include Varsity Football, Soccer, Basketball, Wrestling, Baseball, Track, Tennis, Golf, Lacrosse, and Squash. Junior Varsity teams include Soccer, Basketball, Baseball, Lacrosse, and Tennis. For girls, choices include Varsity Volleyball, Soccer, Basketball, Softball, Tennis, Golf, Lacrosse, Squash, and Track. Junior Varsity teams include Soccer, Volleyball, Lacrosse, Basketball, Softball, and Tennis.

Languages: Chinese (Mandarin), Latin, Spanish, French and Japanese with very rich literature courses in each language Science courses include Oceanography, Neuropsychology, Medical Problem Solving, Comparative Neuroscience, Abnormal Psychology, Forensic Science, Food: A Biomolecular and Chemical Study; Astronomy in addition to advanced Physics, Biology and Chemistry Math courses include Calculus, Multivariable Calculus, Transformational Geometry, Game Theory, Statistics, Math Team, CollaborativeProblem Solving as well as Geometry, Trigonometry and Algebra Engineering classes include Robotics, 3-D modeling and Digital Fabrication as well as Engineering and Design Workshop The school is particularly known for its Creative Writing program.

Admission: Candidates must take the SSAT or ISEE exam. In addition to these test scores, student grades, attendance, teacher recommendations, student essay, extra curricular activities, and interview are all considered. Please see the school’s website for additional information about admissions requirements.

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Chapter 7

ALL-GIRLS SCHOOLS Single-sex schools can be a very attractive option for high-school girls. Many all-girls private schools in Manhattan and the Bronx have been educating young women for generations. These schools are tailored to support and nurture female students. They tend to be academically rigorous and offer a rich array of sports and extra-curricular topics. Girls can pursue their school work and interests without distraction. There is strong evidence that single-sex education produces strong, confident women.

Most girls schools have a relationship with an all-boys school in the neighborhood. The two schools might team up to produce musicals and other forms of theatre. They also have frequent dances and mixers.

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The Hewitt School 45 East 75th Street, New York, NY 10021 URL: http://www.hewittschool.org/ Every teacher at Hewitt understands the research on why girls learn best in collaborative environments that support exploration, experimentation, and play. Hewitt faculty are trained to design curriculum and implement pedagogy that explicitly fosters a growth mindset in classrooms that are cooperative, collaborative, and relevant to young women. The school offers an impressive family education program to support parent-home connections and share the best research on raising confident, happy and purposeful young women.

Hewitt's academic program is modeled around four academic pillars: presence, empathy, research, and purpose. The curriculum is based on liberal arts and the practice of inquiry based learning. The school provides STEM education, introducing design challenges in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics and robotics in high school.

Other important areas of focus are the foreign language program and foreign exchange program, the creative arts program, which includes both visual and performing arts, and varsity sports teams.

Hewitt's three townhouses contain state-of-the-art science labs, art studios, performing arts center, gymnasium and photography labs. The nearby Central Park provides grounds for outdoor activities.

As an independent school with a tuition of about $50,000, Hewitt is committed to providing financial aid to enable excellent candidates to access a Hewitt education.

Team Sports include crew, track and field, soccer, volleyball, basketball, and badminton.

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Marymount School (Manhattan) 1026 5th Avenue, New York, NY 10028 (83rd Street) https://www.marymountnyc.org

Marymount School was founded in 1926 as one of a worldwide network of Catholic schools dedicated to educating the whole person and preparing young women for significant roles in the world. It is an independent school, not a TACHS school.

A warm, friendly and very small school with about 54 students per grade, Marymount offers a rigorous education with lots of personal attention.

Annual tuition is about $50,000. Each year, Catholic girls can apply for the Butler Scholarship which covers nearly all of the school tuition for all four years of high school. The scholarship application process is highly competitive.

Special Features: Marymount has invested heavily in STEM. It has an entire building dedicated to Science and Technology education.

Students take Art History classes at the Metropolitan Museum of Art across the street.

Students can play sports in the school gym or in Central Park which is also across the street. Sports played at Marymount include lacrosse, badminton, track and field, softball, basketball, swimming, fencing, soccer and volleyball.

The school offers several study abroad and service learning opportunities.

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The Mary Louis Academy (Queens) 17621 Wexford Terrace Jamaica Estates, NY 11432 URL: tmla.org

TMLA is New York City’s largest all-girls high school with 800 students who hail from 94 neighborhoods. At TMLA, 99% of students receive the Regents Diploma with Advanced Designation (9 Regents), as compared to the State requirement (5 Regents). Students may enroll in a Diploma Designation programs, allowing a specialized focus in areas that develop and display their talents.

With over 60 clubs, 29 athletic teams and countless service and leadership opportunities, the after-school atmosphere is exciting and lively as students engage in their interests well beyond the academic day.

Tuition is just under $10,000 with merit scholarships available. This is a TACHS school.

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Special Features:

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Four languages are offered up to AP Level: Spanish, French, Latin and Italian.

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Over 16 AP classes are offered, including Calculus AB/BC and Computer Science.

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An extremely well-structured college preparatory curriculum.

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Sports include soccer, volleyball, bowling, cross-country, swimming, tennis, basketball, cheerleading, track, dance team, badminton, golf, lacrosse and softball.

• Very strong arts programming in theatre, music, studio art.

• Thorough college prep support begins in grade 9; step by step support through the college admissions process.

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Dominican Academy (Manhattan) 44 East 68th Street, New York, NY 10065 www.dominicanacademy.org

Dominican Academy unites academic excellence and an all-honors curriculum with an intimate, family-like atmosphere. D.A. challenges and empowers young women to be local and global leaders in the 21st century. The school believes that education is a process of growth and development.

The entire school program encourages students to develop sound moral values through community service and to form valuable intellectual and social habits. This is a TACHS school, but you do not need to be Catholic to attend. Students who score high on the TACHS are invited to take an exam to qualify for a merit-based scholarship.

It is a small school with about 250 students in grades 9-12.

The largest class size is 20 students. AP classes have between 5 and 15 students.

12 AP classes: Art History, Biology, Calculus, Chemistry, Economics, Environmental Science, European History, Government, Latin, Physics and US History.

Students must take two years of Latin. In 10th grade, they can add a modern language. Options include Chinese (Mandarin), French and Spanish.

Special Features DA's brother school is Regis, the city's most prestigious Catholic school for boys. The schools come together for dances, theatre and community service projects.

DA is located in a beautiful mansion on the Upper East Side. Tuition is just under $20,000 per year.

Both need and merit-based financial aid is available.

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St. Vincent Ferrer High School (Manhattan) 151 East 65th Street, New York, NY 10065 URL: www.saintvincentferrer.com

Located on 65th Street and Lexington Avenue, Saint Vincent Ferrer High School is a small school serving 500 students. It provides a challenging and supportive environment that cultivates intellectual, spiritual, and moral values. The school offers 7 AP classes, two study abroad trips per year, and many sports which can be played either in the school gym or in nearby Central Park. SVF has a strong commitment to science education and offers a 3-year pre-Med program that includes internships at Rockefeller Institute, Columbia Presbyterian and other major hospitals. This is a TACHS school.

You do not have to be Catholic to attend. Tuition is about $11,000. Financial aid is available.

Special Features The Ferrer Scholars Program meets the needs of intellectually gifted students. Scholars are required to take Honors or AP level courses in English, Math and Science and 2 years of Latin. Scholars will receive a merit scholarship valued at 67% of the current tuition, renewable for four years.

In addition to Latin, Spanish and French are offered through AP level.

Clubs include National Arts Honor Society, Anime Club, Cheerleading, Debate, French Club, Spanish Newspaper, English Newspaper, Student Council, Science and Technology Club.

There are dances, mixers and other social activities with boys schools.

Its location makes it extremely convenient to the F train stop on 63rd Street and Lexington.

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Chapter 8

ALL-BOYS SCHOOLS New York City features some wonderful all-boys schools.

These can be excellent options for a boy who needs to work without distractions. Boys schools typically foster an extremely close-knit student body with relationships that last a lifetime.

These schools offer academic, artistic and athletic challenges to boys. Some, but not all, of these schools are Catholic.

Most boys-schools have “sister” schools: all-girls schools that they partner with to produce theatre productions.

There are frequent dances and other social mixers between all-boys and all-girls schools.

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Why a Boys' School?

A stimulating, risk-free learning environment Allowing full participation in activities (especially arts) Non-threatening environment for self-expression Wider range of individual expression Safe atmosphere in which to explore sensitive gender and sex-related issues An atmosphere conducive to intellectual risk-taking.

Male development expertise Faculties experienced in teaching and coaching boys Adults schooled in male development Instruction tailored to style and tempo of boys' learning Absence of cross-gender distraction Heightened focus on academic tasks, on learning Atmosphere of frank, direct communication Absence of posturing, gender stereotyping.

Camaraderie and friendships Positive male role modeling Distinctive esprit de corps Special depth of friendships for life Heightened tendency to support school as alumni

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Regis High School 55 East 84th Street New York, NY 10028 URL: http://www.regis-nyc.org/ The most prestigious Catholic high school for boys in New York City , Regis offers a tuition-free Jesuit college preparatory education to 533 Roman Catholic young men from New York metropolitan area who demonstrate superior intellectual and leadership potential. In the admissions process, special consideration is given to those who cannot otherwise afford a Catholic education. As a Jesuit school, Regis is committed to both academic excellence and fostering a spirit of generosity and service to those in need. Regis seeks to inspire and train ethnically diverse young men to become imaginative leaders committed to promoting justice and exerting leadership in the civic community, and in their chosen profession.

The school has a rich array of club activities and produces theatre performances and other social functions with its sister school, Dominican Academy and with Convent of the Sacred Heart.

Regis' outstanding curriculum is strong across all subject areas. Foreign languages include French, Spanish, German, Chinese and Latin. Team sports include Baseball, Basketball, Golf, Track, Volleyball and Ultimate Frisbee.

Regis is not a TACHS school. Visit the website for application details.

Admission is highly competitive and is based on excellent grades, standardized testing and performance on the Regis Scholarship Exam (HSPT).

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The Browning School 52 East 62nd Street New York, New York 10065 http://www.browning.edu/ The Browning School was founded as a college preparatory school for boys in 1888 by John A. Browning. A traditional curriculum helps support boys intellectually, physically, and emotionally Located in the heart of New York City, The Browning School makes use of the city’s vast resources.

An independent school with tuition of about $54,000, Browning provides financial aid to 19% of its student body.

Some of the essential traits of Browning is its size, its understanding of boys’ development, and its resources and opportunities for learning. The High School has just over 100 students; therefore, classes are small and teachers know their students well. The school is committed to boys’ education and strives to provide a setting and a program that are responsive to boys’ needs. The High School program ensures that each student develops intellectually, artistically, socially, and physically. As the oldest students in the school, High School boys are role models and leaders for the younger boys. Additionally, with the peer leadership program, a group of seniors are trained to work with younger students in the High School. When students graduate from Browning, they are well prepared for new challenges and responsibilities that college will provide.

Special Features: • Many computer science and robotics classes are available.

• Social-Emotional Learning Program offered in grades 9 and 10 • Service Learning course is offered in grade 12 • French, Spanish and Latin are taught through AP level • Team sports include Cross Country,Soccer, Basketball, Squash, Baseball, Golf, Tennis and Track • Browning is diverse with 43% of its student body young men of color 87

Fordham Prep (Independent Catholic--see Admission Note) 441 East Fordham Rd. Bronx, NY 10458 https://www.fordhamprep.org

Founded in 1841, Fordham Prep is a Catholic Jesuit secondary school (grades 9-12) for young men located on the historic Rose Hill Campus in the Bronx, adjacent to Fordham University. The school is ethnically, racially and economically diverse.

It offers 20 AP classes including: Latin, English Language, English Literature, Music Theory, Studio Art, Art History, Calculus AB, Statistics, Chinese Language, Spanish Language-Culture, Biology, Chemistry, Physics 1, European History, Macroeconomics, Psychology, U.S. Government & Politics, U.S. History, and World History.

Special Features: Qualified seniors can attend college classes at Fordham University. All Prep students may have access to the University Library for research with approval and a pass from the Prep librarian.

Seven foreign languages are offered: French, German, Italian,Greek, Latin, Chinese (Mandarin) and Spanish of which only the last three are offered at AP. Team Sports include: Baseball, Swimming and Diving, Bowling, Crew, Football, Cross Country, Soccer, Basketball, Ice Hockey, Squash, Indoor Track and Field, Wrestling, Volleyball, Lacrosse, Rugby, Tennis and Golf Excellent theatre and visual arts program.

Admission: Fordham Prep accepts results from several entrance exams, including the TACHS, CO-OP, ISEE, CHSEE, HSPT, and SSAT. However, to be considered for a Merit-Based scholarship, you must take the HSPT. Please refer to the school’s admissions page for more details about how to apply.

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Chapter 9

BOARDING SCHOOLS Boarding schools are “sleep-away” schools.

Your child will sleep, eat, and live at school. Boarding school students go home on the occasional weekend and have much longer vacations--about a month in December and again in March, as well as a three-month summer---to allow them to spend lots of time at home with their families.

Boarding schools offer an exceptional opportunity for a young person to develop academic, artistic and athletic skills. They have no commute. They have no chores to speak of. They are able to spend their entire time developing their abilities, interests and independence.

Because they live with their classmates, boarding school students develop unusually close and deep bonds that often last a lifetime.

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CHOATE ROSEMARY HALL 333 Christian Street Wallingford, CT 06492 URL: www.choate.edu

Twenty-five reasons to attend Choate!

Just the right size. We are a boarding and day school of approximately 864 students and 131 teaching faculty.

The average class size is 12. Our student /faculty ratio is 6:1.

A rich curriculum. We offer 260 courses with honors sections in all disciplines; we have advanced placement in 25 areas.

Talented faculty. The majority of our faculty hold advanced degrees; 90 percent live on campus. Faculty get to know you not just in the classroom but on the playing fields and through the many club activities they advise.

Centers of learning. Our 458-acre campus has separate centers of learning for the humanities, sciences, languages, mathematics, and the arts.

Opportunities to get involved. Our students care. Each term, more than one-third of our students do community service from Big Brothers/Big Sisters to Adaptive Swim Program to tutoring in local elementary schools.

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See the world. Approximately one-fourth of our students study abroad in France, Spain, Italy, Jordan, Japan or China at some time during their years at Choate.

Become fluent in a language. Choate offers instruction 7 foreign languages with in-depth study in: Arabic, Chinese, French, Latin, and Spanish. We offer courses in Intensive Beginning Greek and Italian. Steele Hall, our languages building, has a 32-station digital language laboratory featuring the Virtuoso System by Sony. Last spring we had 12 medalists in the annual COLT Foreign Language Poetry Recitation Contest.

The Right Stuff. A traditional powerhouse, Choate’s Fed Challenge economics team has won the New England District Championship in 11 of the past 12 years. In 2009, Choate’s team won the national title. We also have a State and New England Championship Math Team and an award-winning Robotics Team that captured First Place in the 2011 VEX FUTURE Foundation Design Challenge.

Shining Stars. The Class of 2012 had 9 students advance as Finalists in the National Merit Scholarship Competition. One student was named a Semifinalist in the 2012 Intel Science Talent Search Competition. In the last five years Choate has had four Semifinalists in the Intel Science Talent Search, two of whom were named Finalists. And in 2012, Choate had another Presidential Scholar (for a total of 5) and its first Google Scholar. Annually, more than 83 percent of students score a 4 or 5 on the college-level Advanced Placement Examinations.

Finding the perfect match. We have six full-time college counselors who work with our students to help shape the best possible college match. The most popular colleges from 2008-2012: Georgetown University, 48; New York University, 40; Yale University, 38; Boston University, 32; Columbia University, The George Washington University, 31; Boston College, 30; Wesleyan University, 29; Cornell University, 24; Princeton University, University of Pennsylvania, 21; Brown University, Trinity College, 20.

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Capstone program. Finish your Choate career with a Capstone project. Seniors may create an individualized program, which typically includes two related courses in both the fall and winter terms and an independent project (the “capstone”) in the spring term. Some recent capstones include international economics, historical trends in American foreign policy, China/U.S. Relations and creative writing.

State-of-the-art Fitness Center. The Johnson Athletic Center has been renovated and expanded to include a fitness center, an aerobics/dance studio, athletic training and rehabilitation facilities, additional international squash courts, and more.

Try a new sport. Including football, soccer, and ice hockey, we offer 80 interscholastic teams and opportunities to play at every level. Most have varsity, JV, and thirds teams; sports choices include crew (rowing), lacrosse, squash, archery, water polo, and more.

Golden Opportunities. Bob McVey ’54 was the School’s first Olympic medalist as a member of the 1960 U.S. Hockey Team which brought home the United States' first Olympic Hockey Gold Medal. Since then four more female graduates have played Olympic Hockey. Four-time Olympian Angela Ruggiero ’98, three-time Olympian Julie Chu ’01 and Olympians Kim Insalaco ’99 and Hilary Knight ’07. Ruggiero brought home the Gold Medal from the 1998 Nagano Olympics while she was still a Choate senior.

A Green Learning Environment. The Kohler Environmental Center, opened in fall 2012 , is a one-of-a kind LEED-Platinum residential facility dedicated to interdisciplinary environmental study and research. Study at the academic center provides the opportunity for students to pursue environmental science in preparation for further study at the post–secondary level.

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Good food and conversation. Hill House Dining Hall with its round oak tables is more than a place to eat our great food; it’s where students and faculty gather to discuss the day’s events and life in general.

Learn about journalism. Besides The News (published continuously since 1907), we have weekly student publications ranging from The Press, a twice-weekly summary of team results, to Horizons, an academic review of student essays. Our graduates have gone on to write for: The Yale Daily News, the nation’s oldest college daily, and professionally for The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, and The New Yorker.

Highbrow, lowbrow. We have a 97-year-old literary magazine called, what else, The Lit. But if DJ-ing is more your thing, our FCC-licensed, student-operated radio station, WWEB, has been on the air since 1969.

Bruce Springsteen sang at the PMAC. Our I.M. Pei-designed Paul Mellon Arts Center has a 775-seat theater with proscenium stage, an experimental theater, a recital hall, music practice and production studios, art studios and art gallery, and dance and film studios. You can study digital video, playwriting, directing, and technical theater as well as acting.

If music’s your thing . . . We have a Festival Chorus, male and female a cappella groups, ensembles, chamber chorus and chamber orchestra, and jazz band. You’ll find them all among our many arts extracurriculars.

Just in the past two years, our chorus and orchestra have toured throughout Europe and the chamber orchestra performed at a Christmas celebration at The White House.

Students Help Students. The Student Council, Judicial Committee, Peer Educators, and Prefects are opportunities for student government and leadership. We even have a club called Students Helping Students, which raises money for financial aid.

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Speaking of which, the School awarded more than $10 million in need-based financial aid for 2012-13.

About 33 percent of our students receive financial assistance.

Great location. We are located in Wallingford, Connecticut, just two hours from Boston and New York. New Haven, only 12 miles away, is a major stop for AMTRAK (including the new high-speed Acela train) on the New York- Washington, DC-Boston run. A major airport is just 45 minutes away. New Haven and Hartford also offer concerts, theaters, museums, and restaurants.

Feel at home. Our students come from 44 countries and 37 states; 35% identify themselves as students of color. Our student body represents the great religious traditions of the world. Our Campus Ministry includes Protestant, Jewish, Muslim and Catholic chaplains as well as student worship groups, Buddhist Meditation, Christian Fellowship, and Hillel.

Deerfield Day. The Wild Boars get to strut their stuff against rival Deerfield Academy. It is one of our great traditions. We have many more!

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POMFRET SCHOOL 398 Pomfret Street Pomfret, CT 06258 URL: www.pomfretschool.org Founded in 1894, Pomfret School is an independent coeducational college preparatory boarding and day school for 350 students in grades 9 through 12 and postgraduates. Set on a stunning 500-acre campus in Northeastern Connecticut and brought to life by an exceptional faculty, Pomfret offers a rich and rewarding experience for students from various cultural and socio-economic backgrounds. Through a rigorous and engaging education, a commitment to service beyond self, and numerous opportunities for personal growth in academic, athletic, artistic, and residential settings, students emerge as ethical and active citizens of the world.

The school offers 19 AP courses and 16 Honors Courses. This school offers a sound education and a warm and friendly school community with many opportunties for personal growth and development in sports, academics and the arts. Class sizes are small with an average of 10 students.

A well-rounded education At Pomfret participation in the athletic program is important, for it contributes to the total growth of students. Pomfret requires all students to participate in the athletic program at a level consistent with ability. Its rigorous program strives to teach students how to work well with others, to test themselves mentally and physically, and to exhibit sportsmanship and fair play. All athletic practices and games are considered school obligations. Sports offered include: Cross Country, Field Hockey, Football, Soccer, Volleyball, Basketball, Ice Hockey, Squash, Wrestling, Baseball, Crew, Lacrosse, Softball, Tennis and Track and Field.

Tuition is $64,000. Financial aid is available.

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JUNIOR BOARDING SCHOOL: EAGLEBROOK SCHOOL 271 Pine Nook Road Deerfield, MA 01342 URL: www.eaglebrook.org This all-boys school is an excellent option for a promising young man who is still “getting himself together.” Perhaps he is in a middle school slump. Perhaps his grades do not reflect his academic potential. By opting to send him to a junior boarding school to repeat grade 8 and complete grade 9, he may have the time and support to mature and develop academic, athletic and artistic skills.

The result may be that he will be able to attend a more rigorous high school than he would currently get into---and be better prepared to succeed in high school.

Eaglebrook is a school for boys in the sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth grades. In a warm, caring, structured atmosphere boys learn more than they ever thought possible, discover inner resources, develop self-confidence, and have fun along the way. Eaglebrook welcomes boys of any race, color, nation, or creed, and all share the same privileges and duties.

Eaglebrook has astonishing athletic facilities: its own ski hill, an ice hockey rink, two swimming pools, tennis courts and countless fields for sports. It also has wonderful faculty who teach students in extremely small classes, usually no larger than 8 students.

It is a world leader in the education of middle-school boys. Faculty know how to motivate, encourage and challenge young men in this critical stage of life.

The result is a young man who has come into his own and is ready to bring the best of himself to the challenge of high school.

Tuition is over $60,000. Financial Aid is available.

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HOW TO APPLY TO BOARDING SCHOOL 1.Visit the school’s website for specific information but the general process is as follows: 2.Visit the school. Tour the campus. Interview with the Admissions team.

3.Send a hand-written thank you note to the person who interviewed you.

4.Register for and take the ISEE or the SSAT. These are standardized exams.

5.Print out the forms from the school’s website and ask your school to complete teacher recommendations and to send your transcript.

6.You will have to write a personal essay and complete the application.

7.Apply for Financial Aid if you need it. The school's website and admissions team will show you how to do this.

8.Be sure to submit all materials by the deadline.

9.Typically the decisions are announced in March or April.

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Chapter 10

Things to Keep in Mind Once You're In!

10 THINGS I WISH I’D KNOWN IN HIGH SCHOOL

by Mackenzie Cooper

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3.Ask for help. Learn how to forge relationships with teachers and guidance counselors. Ask for help on a concept you’re trying to grasp after class, meet with your English teacher to talk about an upcoming essay. Getting comfortable with talking to teachers will help once you get to college. You will need help outside of class sometimes, and you have to be able to ask for it and interact with your professors. Relationships with them may help you get a job or get into grad school.

Of course, your high school teachers will also likely write your college recommendations; it doesn’t hurt to get to know them early so they can have good things to say about you.

10 Things I Wish I’d Known in High School Sometimes high school seems like a necessary evil, that step between childhood and the structure of elementary school and adulthood and the freedom of college. I remember feeling like I was just ready to be done – and that was only the beginning of sophomore year. Now at the end of my college journey, I know that while I did well in high school, there are some things in particular that made high school and college easier for me. And there are still more things I could have done to make my high school experience more fun, more manageable, and more beneficial.

4.Find your own de-stress routine. Another essential skill to begin building in high school is how to manage work and stress. In college, you will not have homework to turn in every day, making sure you’re on track with what you’re supposed to be learning. A good deal of the learning will be up to you to complete on your own time.

Inevitably, you will get behind and stressed out sometimes; knowing how to deal with that stress can make all the difference. Maybe you deal with stress by going for a run, or taking a break to watch a silly sitcom. Talk with a friend for a while or play with your dog. Find out what relaxes you and take short breaks from amounts of work that seem unmanageable to de-stress. You’ll find that it will be easily manageable.

1.Stretch your brain. Take a class that scares you at least once during high school. Don’t let preconceptions about the class or the teacher sway you from taking a class that you know you can do well in. Maybe you’ll decide to take an honors class instead of going the regular route; maybe you’ll opt for Chemistry AP when you’re done with your science requirement. The experience will definitely make you a stronger student and prepare you for future academic chal-lenges. If you can face those challenges, if you can bring them on yourself and enjoy them, you will succeed.

2.Don’t sweat your grades too much. Getting a B here and there is not the end of the world. In fact, it’s kind of a good thing.

I started college at a top university with straight A’s since seventh grade, and it was hard to deal with not being able to repeat that.

I shied away from taking some harder courses I might have done well in because I was afraid of doing poorly. Now, I can fully accept that if I try my hardest in a class and get a B+, that is still something to be proud of.

5.Do something good. Volunteer. Not every day, not to fulfill a class requirement, not because you can use it on applications. Volunteer because it makes you feel good, and because you're a lot luckier than a lot of people out there. Make a once a month commitment at a daycare center; be an organizer for the annual holiday pageant at the Women's Shelter. Find time to give back. It'll put everything else into perspective and it’s a good habit to get into when you’re young.

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And if you find something you really love, do not give it up when you get to college. There will be an outlet. Basically, find something you like doing and pursue it - it doesn't have to be what you want to do with your life, just something you want to do right now. Be passionate about something. …but do it for fun! Don’t do things just to put them on your applications and please, please don’t make it too serious! High school sports and clubs should be fun, not a competition to get the most awards to put on your applications. Don’t join the yearbook staff because you want to be the editor next year to make your resume look better; don’t join the four sports teams just to win Athlete of the Year. Take part in activities and sports and clubs because you like them, and because the experience will make you a better, stronger, more well-rounded person. You will get into college, so don’t spend your time trying too hard.

6. Spend your summers wisely. Don't take on a full-time job the first summer you decide to work – forty hours a week will be a huge shock and you'll have plenty of time for that in the future. Do find something to do that will make the ten weeks worthwhile. Look into programs that take you to interesting places, internships that will be good experience and connections, or a job that will give you insight into something you think you might be interested in. Don't not take something just because it's unpaid or a volunteer position if you sincerely think you will enjoy yourself or learn something important.

7. Don’t focus too much on popularity. While the idea of the clique is definitely high school specific, there are still loose groups in college. Fortunately these are not based on the vague idea of “popularity” and instead on things you actually have in common – your fraternity or sorority, where you live, classes, sports, clubs and activities.

You do have to be active about making friends, especially at a larger school, but those friends may be much more of a reflection of your values than kids you hung out with in high school because they were your group. Everyone wants to be popular in high school, but don’t waste too much time worrying about it. In four years, you’ll be in a completely new situation, and no one will care what clique you were in in high school.

9. Accept that you may get rejected. In terms of a ‘top choice’ college: just because you don’t get into yours doesn’t mean you won’t have a completely fulfilling experience at whatever school you do choose to attend. Don’t be too dramatic – one friend threatened to go to community college until she could transfer to her top choice. But she went to her second choice and is very happy there. Just make sure you try to make the most of it.

10. Finally, remember to have fun. Your life does not depend on high school – not on the academics and not on the popularity aspect. Do your best, but leave time for fun with friends. You will have plenty of time to work hard in college and beyond. Be pre-pared, but don’t stress out too much about it. If you can make your high school experience fun, you will have no problem doing the same for your life in college and beyond.

8.Join a club/team/activity… Extracurriculars are what make your time in high school worthwhile. A lot of what you learn you will forget or have to learn again in college, but the experience of being on a team or president of a club or writing for the newspaper is what you will remember. You'll learn a whole lot about dealing with others, and about yourself and your own limits. If there's something you're interested in but your high school has no team or club, start one. So what if you and your best friend are the only members for the first year. If you're passionate about it, do it; others will follow.

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Final Thoughts

About the Editor

1. Attendance matters. It can be the deciding factor in admissions. If you have any excusable absences that have not been formally excused, it is a very good idea to address that now. Excused absences are not counted on your attendance record.

Heather Miller is a native New Yorker who runs LPM Education, an education firm based in Manhattan. She is the author of Prime Time Parenting, a book on how parents can support their children’s education on school nights.

2. No high school is perfect. Do not put too much hope and expectation on any high school. At least 50% of your success and happiness in high school depends on your mindset and determination. Students from rather weak high schools who work hard can end up in a top college. Similarly, students from top high schools may not succeed in gaining entry to a selective college. Focus on your goals and working toward them, rather than focusing too much on admission to one particular school.

3. Impress your 7th and 8th grade teachers. They will often be asked to give a recommendation on your behalf. You need them to know who you are and to associate you with something impressive that you have accomplished in their class. Ask for extra work or extra help. Show motivation.

Heather’s work in New York City schools led to her development of the 7th Grade High School Readiness Program which prepares 7th graders for the admissions process.

Heather’s knowledge of New York City schools is rooted in her professional and personal lives. In her own childhood, Heather attended NYC independent schools, an International Baccalaureate School and a boarding school. She has been a NYC public school parent as well as a boarding school parent.

She volunteers her time supporting 8th graders who wish to apply to independent and boarding schools.

She holds degrees from NYU Tisch School of the Arts, Harvard Graduate School of Education and MIT.

4. Enjoy the admissions process as an opportunity to get to know what matters to you, what your short and long-term goals are, and what strikes you as fun and meaningful. The answers to these questions will guide you not just to a good high school experience, but also to a good life!

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