It’s time for New York City eighth-graders to pore over a smorgasbord of 400 public high schools — and apply to a dozen.
But getting into one of the best is a lot tougher than it looks.
“There are not nearly enough seats in the most desirable schools for all who want them,” says Maurice Frumkin, a former Department of Education admissions guru and president of NYC Admissions Solutions, a Brooklyn-based firm that advises families navigating the Big Apple’s complex high-school admissions process.
Here’s his advice to land in one of your top picks:
- Start researching high schools, ideally, by seventh grade. Later, you will need time to visit schools — and some give preference to those who attend information sessions. You will prepare for interviews or auditions, and compile portfolios of your seventh-and eighth-grade work.
- Going to an elite, specialized school like Stuyvesant and Bronx Science means prepping for the tough SHSAT exam — the only admission criterion. Ambitious families start tutoring their kids in elementary school. Take practice exams to get familiar with the format, and learn test-taking strategies.
Shutterstock - Make a list of 12 schools where you have a reasonable shot at getting in — and keep notes on their pros and cons.
- Know everything about the admission priorities and requirements of the schools on your wishlist. As The Post’s listings show, the top schools require applicants to have high grades, good scores on state math and English exams, and excellent attendance. High schools base their decisions largely on 7th grade performance — so do your best that year.
- On school visits, ask administrators about their admission “rubric”— how much weight they give to factors like grades, exams, and auditions. This key information is not included in the Department of Education’s telephone-book-sized high school directory.
- Be realistic, but don’t underestimate your chances. “A gifted musician may dilute the significance of test scores,” Frumkin says. Or a student may overcome lower grades with stellar attendance — a sign of effort.
- Don’t fall into the “achievement trap,” he says. Many top schools — or special programs within them — give priority to certain students. Some limit enrollment to those who live in the borough or district. Many 6-12 schools give priority to ongoing eighth-graders. “So, even if you’re a very strong candidate, it can still be a long shot,” Frumkin says.
- Aim to put all 12 possible choices on your application in order of preference. Those who limit their list to the most popular high schools — like Eleanor Roosevelt, Beacon and Millennium — compete with thousands of other good students for limited seats.
Hedge your bets by finding other suitable schools. Consider special honors programs within big schools — oases of excellence that give kids a greater sense of belonging. Each selective program requires a separate listing on the high-school application.
“The more choices you put down, generally, the risk goes down of getting nothing in Round 1,” Frumkin says.
Students not matched to any schools in Round 1 get a second chance in Round 2, but the choices and seats are sparse. Don’t get stuck.
Eighth-graders should attend today’s citywide high-school fair at Brooklyn Tech HS and upcoming borough fairs — see our calendar (left) — and start signing up for open houses and tours.
Check out our rankings, and research choices at InsideSchools.org, an independent source of information about city schools. Sites on each school include reviews, statistics, and comments from students. Grill your guidance counselor. Good luck.
Important dates for high school applications:
- Today, Sept. 27: Citywide high school fair, Brooklyn Technical HS, 29 Fort Greene Place.
- September to December: Attend open houses and information sessions. Visit schools. Go on interviews and auditions.
- Sept. 12 to Oct. 22: 8th graders register with guidance counselors to take the Specialized High School Admissions Test (SHSAT), an exam used by eight specialized high schools such as Stuyvesant, Staten Island Tech, and Bronx HS of Science. Also registration for auditions required by Fiorello H. LaGuardia HS of Music & Art and Performing Arts.
- Oct. 17-18: Attend borough high school fairs, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Bronx: DeWitt Clinton campus, 100 West Mosholu Parkway
Manhattan: MLK Jr. campus,122 Amsterdam Ave.
Brooklyn: Sunset Park HS, 153 35thSt.
Queens: Francis Lewis HS, 58-20 Utopia Pkwy.
Staten Island: New Dorp HS, 465 New Dorp Lane. - Oct. 21: Tickets to take the SHSAT available from counselors for students who registered.
- Oct. 24-25 : SHSAT given to current 8th grade students.
- Oct. 31 to Nov. 22: LaGuardia auditions. Check specialized high school handbook for dates by borough.
- Nov. 7: SHSAT given to first-time 9th grade students, and 8th and 9th grade students with individual education plans (IEPs) or approved accommodations.
- Nov. 15: SHSAT makeup for students with verified conflicts, 9th grade Sabbath observers, Sabbath observers with IEPs or approved accommodations.
- Dec. 1: Deadline to submit all high school applications.
Students list up to 12 choices in order of preference. Schools rank applicants; others, matched by computer matches. - March: Students receive a Round 1 match letter, including results of the SHSAT and LaGuardia auditions.
Students can choose between matches with a specialized high school and a high school from their general application. Students not matched to any of their choices or wishing to apply to change their Round 1 offer, can go to Round 2. - March: Round 2 fair, which includes new schools or programs. Submit Round 2 applications.
- May: Students receive Round 2 match letters. Appeals to change schools — based on a documented hardship — can be filed.
Note: The DOE application does not include charter high schools. Contact each charter school directly for application information.