The following message was posted on Hunter's website today:
This year's modified Stanford-Binet V testing for Kindergarten 2012 admissions has concluded. The eligibility score for progression to Round 2 (on-site assessment) has been set at a Sum of Scaled Scores (SSS) of 148.
Letters will be mailed on December 19th informing eligible families of their appointments for Round 2.
Congratulations to everyone going on to the 2nd round!
An email on one of my parent listserves a few weeks ago said "Help! Confused about the K admissions process." This is not uncommon feeling at this time of year as many parents are knee deep in the private school applications process. However, many are surprised to hear that, with the exception of Hunter and G&T programs, the public school application process doesn't happen until the beginning of the next year, long after the private school process has ended.
The public elementary admissions timeline for 2012 is:
| January 9, 2012 – March 2, 2012 | Kindergarten Application Period |
| March 19, 2012 – March 23, 2012 | Families Notified About Assignment Offers |
| March 26, 2012 – April 20, 2012 | Offer Acceptance Period |
Recently, Scott Stringer, Manhattan's Borough President, has undertaken an initiative to help simplify the kindergarten admission process, something near and dear to all New York City parents. Nothing casues more anxiety to NYC parents than where to send their child(ren) to kindergarten and how to go about getting in and registering. In a letter to School Chancellor, Dennis Walcott, Mr. Stringer provides suggestions about how to simplify the process for both families and schools. These include adjusting admissions timelines to eliminate waitlists, automating admissions, standardizing applications and offering school directories tailored to each district.
Full story and copy of letter can be found at Gotham Schools, here.
We want to hear your comments. Tell us your suggestions on how to make the process better for all involved below in our comments section.
School admissions in New York City is not for the faint of heart. Gone are the days of just walking to your neighborhood school and signing your child up to attend. Instead, we have school choice, where parents and children get to choose from the many offerings. But sometimes too much choice is not a good thing.
Witness the high school choice admission process. A diagram of the process can be seen in this Gotham Schools article from a year ago.
Parents and students are fed up with the complexity of the process. This Inside Schools article provides suggestions on how to simplify the process and make life easier for parents and students.
What do you think? Are you going through the high school process? Share your thoughts below.
'Tis the Season...the school application season...and everyone is talking about schools -- at the playground, on anonymous online message boards, at the supermarket-- but are you talking to the right people and are you getting the right information?
We have done the research for you and have put together a group of parent experts from the schools that you want to attend, who are ready to share their experiences. Let’s Talk Schools is having a social mixer, to provide parents applying to schools an opportunity to connect with other parents in an informal setting to 'talk schools’ with each other.
Come mix and mingle at our School Information Speed Date Night with parents that will give you the real, unedited scoop on schools and answer your questions live, one-on- one. Our Parent Experts have knowledge of ongoing schools*, experience of successfully completing the application process and they don’t mind talking about schools all night long!
Come join our conversation.
*Schools represented include the following:-
Hunter College Elementary School (HCES) has announced that it has added a second weekend to its kindergarten Round 2 admission dates and has eliminated the two weekdays.
HCES had originally set January 28, 29, 30, 31 as the days that parents should save for Round 2 onsite assessment. Round 2 sessions will now be held on the weekends of January 21/22 and 28/29.
If you have a child that scores high enough on the modified Stanford-Binet V test that HCES uses to screen applicants during Round 1 of the application process, (in recent years the cut off has ranged from 143 to 149) such that the child MAY be invited to Round 2, please take note of this change.
Families with an unchangeable conflict on January 21/22, including scheduled DOE Gifted and Talented (G&T) OLSAT testing, should send an email to HCESAdmit@hccs.hunter.cuny.edu noting the conflict. HCES will not take special requests for appointment times, but will ensure that all qualified children are able to attend a Round 2 assessment session.
Also note, the deadline to apply to HCES is this Friday, November 4, 2011. Hunter is accepting applications from children who are born in 2007 and reside in Manhattan only.
There is still time to enroll in a Pre-K program for the 2011-2012 academic year!
You can still enroll your four-year-old in a Universal Pre-kindergarten (UPK) program at a public school or an early childhood community-based organization (CBO) program. Universal Pre-kindergarten programs are free for children who turn four by December 31, 2011 and live in New York City.
To find a UPK program in your area you can:
The deadline to register is October 28, 2011. Be sure to contact the Pre-kindergarten programs in your area to find out about availability. Openings will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis.
When you go to register, bring the following:
For more information about Pre-kindergarten programs, visit the Department of Education's website, review Early Childhood resources, or call 311.
See previous post for additional details on the NYC 2011-2012 Public Pre-K Admissions process.
Source: DOE Website
If you are interested in learning more about school options for your kids, plan to attend a wonderful free education seminar hosted by The Metropolitan Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc. Learn about the many opportunities available for children in some of New York's top independent public schools. Meet Admissions Directors and Faculty Members. Hear about their approach to education. Have your diversity questions answered.
The Education Seminar will be held on Saturday, October 1, 2011 at The Dalton School, 108 E 89th Street, (Madison & Lexington).
Parents of 4 year olds, applications for the New York City public schools gifted and talented programs for kindergarten admission in the 2012-2013 school year have begun. Deadlines for city’s program is are much earlier this year than last so now is the time to take action.
There are 2 different gifted and talented (G&T) programs available – the NYC Department of Education's (DOE) public school G&T program and Hunter College Elementary School. Each program has it’s own distinct screening test.
Hunter College Elementary School (HCES) is a NYC elementary school for intellectually gifted students administered by Hunter College, not the DOE. If you’re thinking of applying to HCES you will need to complete the application and have your child tested now. See our timeline here. HCES uses the Stanford Binet screening test.
If you’re applying to a NYC DOE G&T program, you have a bit more time, but you will need to complete and submit a Request for Testing (RTF) form by October 28, 2011.
All details are available in the DOE G&T handbooks online.
Important dates:
September 26, 2011 - Families begin submitting RTF Forms
October 28, 2011 - Deadline to submit RTF Forms
October 2011 - Gifted and Talented Parent Information Sessions – see flyer for dates and locations
January 3–February 10, 2012 – Current K-2 Public School Students, OLSAT/BSRA testing at school sites
January 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22, 28 & 29, 2012; February 4 & 5, 2012 - Current DOE Pre-K Students and Non-Public School Students OLSAT/BSRA testing at selected sites
Mid-April 2012 - Score reports and applications with available G&T sites communicated to eligible students
April 20, 2012 - Applications due
Week of May 21, 2012 - Placement offers communicated to families
Week of June 4, 2012 - Deadline for families to accept/decline placement offer
The DOE will be conducting G&T information sessions in all 5 boroughs starting next week. DOE staff will give a comprehensive presentation and answer parent questions. G&T Handbooks will be provided.
Manhattan, October 5, 2011, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., Brandeis High School, 145 West 84th Street
Staten Island, October 6, 2011, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., New Dorp High School, 465 New Dorp Lane
Queens, October 11, 2011, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., Long Island City High School, 14-30 Broadway
Bronx, October 12, 2011, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., Theodore Roosevelt Educational Campus, 500 East Fordham Road
Brooklyn, October 18, 2011, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., MS 113 Ronald Edmonds Learning Center, 300 Adelphi Street
Bronx, October 19, 2011, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., P.S. 121 Throop, 2750 Throop Avenue
Things to note:
Test used is the OLSAT/Bracken, same as last year.
Kids who attend Pre K at DOE public schools are tested at their current schools.
Non-Public and Charter School Students must submit the RTF form online or to one of the Enrollment Offices listed on the back of the form by the deadline.
We had a full house at our first ever private schools admission panel in Harlem last night. Thank you to everyone who attended.
The discussion got started with tips on how to research and organize your schools and moved into testing, applications, interviews and financial aid. By all accounts the evening was filled with helpful, informative conversation with admission directors, faculty and parents from NYC independent schools and Hunter College Elementary.
Here's what some members of our audience had to say:
"People were very helpful in sharing personal experiences"
"The entire event was very informative. Every aspect of the process was detailed"
"Every question and answer was useful and the speakers helped alleviate some of the intensity surrounding this process."
"I really felt all of the panelists were interested in helping/informing"
A lot was discussed but there is a lot more that can and needs to be discussed. Keep checking back here for additional events around this and other topics.
Best of luck to those who will be applying this admission season. I'll leave you with a few things to consider along the way:
1. Most people apply for 8-10 schools
2. Between parent tours, parent interviews and child playdates, there will be 24-30 visits to these schools during a three month period
3. Including a modest 30 minute travel time, working parents will miss 56-65 hours of work during this time (not including time to complete applications and other required paperwork)
I can't stress enough the need to be organized and to plan. See our AdmissionTimeline handout for an overview of the process.
Were you there? Please provide your feedback on the event.
The New York private school admission season is upon us and we want to help make sure that all our parents are well informed. We are hosting an event on Tuesday, August 23 that will enable you to start the search off organized and well informed. Here are the details:
Let's Talk Schools & Kidberry present a panel discussion on the NYC private school admission process.
This workshop will provide families with an explanation of the private schools and Hunter Elementary School's admissions process.
Hear from a panel of experienced parents and professionals who will offer "words of wisdom" on navigating the process, including:
- when to start
- how to develop a list of schools to look at
- the application process
- screening Tests (ERB & Stanford Binet)
- what to look for on tours and what to expect
- essay writing tips
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Time: 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Location: 106 W 117th Street, Ground Floor (Corner of Lenox Avenue)
Open to the public. Registration is required. We have a limited capacity so be sure to purchase your tickets early to reserve your space.
Tickets $20/person
Sponsored by KidBerry and Harlem Vintage
