abacusmom Admissions, Manhattan Private Schools, NYC, NYC Private Schools, NYC Public Schools

NYC School Buildings Last Longer Than Schools

I was quoted this week in a New York Times article by James Barron about a former Catholic school building in Sunset Park that will soon become the permanent home of a charter school. You can read the article here: Where a Catholic School Closed, a Charter School Opens As I told The Times, "One … Continue reading NYC School Buildings Last Longer Than Schools

abacusmom Admissions, Kindergarten, Manhattan Private Schools, NYC Private Schools

What Spence’s Expansion Says About NYC Private Schools

As a school consultant and former Carnegie Hill resident, I enjoyed Matthew Sedacca's recent Curbed article on The Spence School's proposed expansion plans. Beyond reporting the facts, Sedacca does something increasingly rare: he captures neighborhood atmosphere. Reading it reminded me a bit of Jimmy Breslin's work, where the people and the place are as important … Continue reading What Spence’s Expansion Says About NYC Private Schools

abacusmom Manhattan Private Schools, NYC Private Schools

What NYC Private School Teachers Actually Earn

Rikki Schlott in The New York Post highlights something that surprises almost every family I work with: in some NYC private schools, teachers are earning less than the tuition being paid by the students sitting in their classrooms. I was quoted in the article about this perception gap, and it’s one I see constantly. Families … Continue reading What NYC Private School Teachers Actually Earn

abacusmom Manhattan Private Schools, NYC Private Schools

Classical Education Is Growing in NYC Private Schools

There’s an interesting development on the Upper West Side that says a lot about where things are heading. Nearly a year after Manhattan Country School closed, its building may be taken over by the Geneva School of Manhattan, a growing Classical Christian school. Erin Hudson at Bloomberg covered the proposed $20M deal. I said: Classical … Continue reading Classical Education Is Growing in NYC Private Schools

abacusmom Brooklyn Private Schools, Manhattan Private Schools, NYC Private Schools, Uncategorized

NYC Private Schools Left Behind: NYT Highlights Gaps in NYC Emergency Alerts

Matthew Haag of The New York Times reports on a critical gap in New York City’s emergency communication system that leaves NYC private schools without timely safety alerts. Read the full article here: A Text System Sent Safety Alerts to Private Schools. Now, It’s Silent. As a parent and educational consultant deeply invested in school … Continue reading NYC Private Schools Left Behind: NYT Highlights Gaps in NYC Emergency Alerts

abacusmom Manhattan Private Schools, NYC, NYC Private Schools, NYC Public Schools, Private Schools, Public Schools

NYC Families Navigate a System That No Longer Works for Everyone

Troy Closson’s New York Times piece, Rising Costs and Competition at NY Private Schools Have Parents on Edge, offers a clear view of how New York’s school system actually works. Families with resources move smoothly through the process, while everyone else is left navigating a system that is opaque and uneven. There is no exaggeration … Continue reading NYC Families Navigate a System That No Longer Works for Everyone

abacusmom Admissions, Kindergarten, Manhattan Private Schools, NYC Private Schools, Private Schools, Riverdale Private Schools, Westchester Private Schools

The End of the “Common Calendar”? What It Means That Top NYC Schools Have Left ISAAGNY

In a meaningful shift that hasn’t gotten enough attention, Horace Mann, Ethical Culture Fieldston, Riverdale, Collegiate and Brearley have left ISAAGNY and are no longer following the shared admissions calendar. That calendar used to create some order in an otherwise stressful process—everyone applied, heard back, and decided on roughly the same timeline. Now, these schools … Continue reading The End of the “Common Calendar”? What It Means That Top NYC Schools Have Left ISAAGNY

abacusmom Admissions, Brooklyn Private Schools, Manhattan Private Schools, NYC Private Schools, private school admission consultant

Success Stories: Middle School Admissions Triumph

From a successful middle school applicant family today: Emily, I hope you are well. We wanted to share the good news that <Child> has been accepted to both <top Brooklyn> and <top Manhattan school> for the coming year. At this point, <top Manhattan school> feels like the strongest fit for <Child>, and he is genuinely … Continue reading Success Stories: Middle School Admissions Triumph

abacusmom Admissions, Manhattan Private Schools, NYC Private Schools, Private Schools

Soaring Private School Tuition in NYC: What to Know

Private school tuition in New York has reached a point that would have seemed unimaginable a decade ago. Schools that once hovered around the $40,000 mark — even Avenues charged about $40,000 per year when it opened and in its early years — are now demanding well over $70,000 a year. Thanks to Amanda Gordon … Continue reading Soaring Private School Tuition in NYC: What to Know