a review of the DoE new high school admissions videos
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By Joyce Szuflita
You can find the DoE’s new videos here
You can find the video page through this link, but the link doesn’t show up yet on the website. It is nice that they have divided these videos into bite sized chunks. Nothing earth shattering here, but they are clear and simple and it walks you through the process at a saunter. I will highlight some interesting things below.
High School Admissions Video #!: Welcome
It talks very briefly about who can attend NYC schools and English Language Learners, IEP/IESP students and students who have accessibility needs.
High School Admissions Video #2: Two Pathways
The “two pathways” are (#1) your regular application schools (700 programs) and (#2) the Specialized schools (9 schools).
It is misleading, cause it is actually three pathways. Your (#1) regular application schools, (#2) the 8 “testing” high schools that require the SHSAT for entry, and (#3) LaGuardia which requires an audition for entry. It is conceivable that you could get three or more placements (you can actually get multiple offers from LaGuardia if you are super talented), and you get to decide between any and all offers.
Clear enough? Kinda. They do spell out that you apply separately with your regular application and test/or audition to the Specialized HS and get separate placements. The thing that they don’t specify that often confuses families is that any other audition school (not LaGuardia) is part of the (#1) regular application. Any school that is not one of the 8 testing schools or LaGuardia is a potential option on your (#1) regular application. Yes, the Bards, Beacon, Frank Sinatra, PPAS, Elro - they are ALL on that first regular application.
AND any charter school option would be a fourth pathway. Separate application. Separate placement. Now I will stop adding pathways.
High School Admissions Video #3: How to get started
A PDF of the Admissions Guide is online. If you want a hard copy, they will be at schools (middle schools) in the fall. It is actually one book when you see it as a hard copy. Flip it over and you see that it has two covers. One is the general Admissions Guide, and the other side is the Guide to the SHSAT Admissions Test.
You can now print a page from the MY SCHOOLS Directory! Make sure that you select the “print on both sides of the paper” option on your computer if you want to save some paper…and order another ream of paper. Whether you open the star for each program at a school or not, it will print out all the programs. Printing this out for the 2 dozen schools you should be vetting this summer is helpful if you don’t want to constantly be going from one one line page to another. I would also print out the full Inside School page for the schools you are interested in (staple them together) and between these two, you have almost all the data that you need. The only thing left out is your own eyeballs on the school.
The next stop would be the admissions tab for each school on their website. Any updates on admissions criteria should be more current and specific on their own websites.
FINALLY!! ALL MY COMPLAINING FOR YEARS HAS CHANGED THE FILTERS!!! I am taking credit for it, cause I seem to be the only one who cares, but I DID IT!
Now the filter for size lets you screen for schools between 1000 and 2000 (the perfect size in my estimation). The ability to search for a school with 400 kids or 1600 is finally a reality! yeah!
You can also filter for admissions method (also new, finally!), early college, career and technical programs, uniforms, and diversity in admissions policies. Now THOSE are some awesome filters!
In the fall, you will get a “Welcome Letter” to create your MY SCHOOLS account.
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More videos coming soon.
