NYC Private Schools, Public Schools and Colleges Latest News

Calhoun School and Metropolitan Montessori School announce merger for Fall '23.Elite private schools thrive, while smaller, less fancy-pants schools are in some cases struggling for enrollment and calling us for advice...Public school changes continue at a rapid clip: Mayor Adams has now expanded G&T programs to include every district and added 1000 seats at 3rd … Continue reading NYC Private Schools, Public Schools and Colleges Latest News

New York City Public School Students Moving to Private School

Breakneck admissions changes in the New York City public schools...no G&T testing for kindergarten, no selectivity measures for middle school admissions, uncertainty over the Hunter test, contention over the Stuyvesant/Bronx Science/Brooklyn Tech test... have unfortunately driven more and more NYC public school parents to consider private school for the first time. At Abacus Guide, we're … Continue reading New York City Public School Students Moving to Private School

NYC Public School Families Continue to Seek Out Private School

NYC public schools, which historically offer a lot: in many schools, strong academic instruction, true urban, inclusive communities, and the chance to go to school with your neighbors or with other bright kids, are sadly suffering due to Covid. Many public school parents are disappointed in current instruction, inadequate and aging facilities, and the lack … Continue reading NYC Public School Families Continue to Seek Out Private School

From A Happy Mom with a Child Moving from NYC Public to Private School  🥰 

From an Abacus Guide client whose child is moving from a NYC public school to a top tier private: Thank you so much, Emily!!! I shared the news with <child> last night and he was overjoyed!!! His spirit has been lifted in a way that boosts his confidence and relief from all the private school … Continue reading From A Happy Mom with a Child Moving from NYC Public to Private School  🥰 

NYC Private School Admissions Trends in 2018

NYC Private School Admissions Trends in 2018 What We Noticed This Year ISEE and SSAT: My students applying to NYC private schools are taking these tests more than once, and typically seeing score gains on the second administration.The ISEE is required for admission to NYC private middle or high school--you can also take the SSAT, … Continue reading NYC Private School Admissions Trends in 2018

Is Hunter’s Admissions Test Fair?

As a Hunter College High School alum, I was very interested to read Monica Disare's article in Chalkbeat about Hunter College High School's admissions procedures: Prestigious and public, the Hunter College schools charge hefty fees and admit few poor students Disare writes: <Hunter College Elementary School and Hunter College High School> look very little like … Continue reading Is Hunter’s Admissions Test Fair?

Specialized Science High Schools’ and Harvard’s Admissions Controversies

Lisa Belkin does a great job summarizing elite schools' admissions controversies that have recently been in the news: Two school admissions policies made news last week for opposite reasons — Harvard University, because it is accused of admitting too few Asian-American students, and New York’s most selective public schools, because the city’s mayor thinks it … Continue reading Specialized Science High Schools’ and Harvard’s Admissions Controversies

Specialized Science High Schools Exam To Change

The Specialized Science High Schools Exam will change this October, but the new questions are unlikely to increase the schools' diversity. My former colleagues, Akil Bello and Brendan Mernin, have a thought-provoking article in the Daily News:  De Blasio's SHSAT test changes: Too timid to improve diversity at Stuyvesant, Bronx Science, Brooklyn Tech and other … Continue reading Specialized Science High Schools Exam To Change

“Tested” Film about Selective School Admission, Free Screening

Lincoln Center will host  a free screening of the movie "Tested". The documentary closely follows about 20 NYC middle schoolers from varied backgrounds as they attempt to obtain a seat at a specialized high school. Experts discuss admissions policy and its implications for underrepresented minorities. From the website: As part of the Roundtable’s focus on … Continue reading “Tested” Film about Selective School Admission, Free Screening

Should Stuyvesant’s Admissions Criteria Be Changed?

Responding to low enrollment by Hispanic and Black youth, the NAACP Legal Defense Fund has filed a civil rights complaint challenging the admissions process at  Stuvesant High School.  Stuyvesant's admissions requirement now consists of prospective high school students needing to garner high scores on a single multiple choice math and verbal exam called the SSHSAT. … Continue reading Should Stuyvesant’s Admissions Criteria Be Changed?