NYC SIFT and the High School Search: What Data Can (and Can’t) Do

By Audrey and Abigail

We are self-proclaimed and unapologetic data nerds. When NYC SIFT was launched by a disgruntled, software-savvy 8th grade parent in 2023, it felt like an answer to our prayers: a New York City public high school directory with all the data in one place. Sure, the PI-level detective work of navigating endless dropdowns and DOE spreadsheets had its charm, but SIFT challenges us to do our jobs better. It frees up time from data hunting so we can focus on what matters—touring schools, talking to students, connecting with administrators, and yes, even waiting on hold with the DOE. Most importantly, it gives us more time to do the real work: helping families move from overwhelmed and unsure to grounded, informed, and even excited about what lies ahead.

Selecting a school for your child is a human process. Data has its place, but it doesn’t tell a school’s story. SIFT can show you AP offerings or four-year college rates, but it can’t capture the teachers who change teens’ lives or the vibe of post-school park hangs. It can generate a list based on filters, but it can’t ask follow-up questions or explain what “culinary arts” actually looks like.

We use NYC-SIFT. We want you to use NYC-SIFT. Just use it wisely – as one tool within a very human process.

What NYC-SIFT Gets Right:

NYC SIFT pulls from MySchools, School Quality Reports, school websites, and even FOIL requests. It is very, very good at data. And with nearly 1,000 NYC public high school programs, you need a place to start. SIFT helps you narrow the field, by distance, size, and other “must-haves,” and generates a workable list.

Of course, it won’t include that one perfect-fit program just outside your radius, or flag a lesser-known honors track you can place into sophomore year, but it’s a starting point – and a good one at that. 

Our Favorite Feature: Offer Prediction

We are huge proponents of getting ahead of the high school search. Building a long list early helps families avoid the fall scramble and instead focus on school fit. The challenge? You need your lottery number and screened group to assess your chances, and those don’t arrive until October, just two months before applications are due.

Before SIFT, families relied on applicant-to-seat ratios in MySchools – numbers that often raise more questions than answers. Brooklyn Millenium may have 2,000 applicants for 127 seats, but how many were in your screened group? SIFT’s prediction tool lets you model scenarios using lottery numbers and screened groups to estimate likelihood of admission. It’s not perfect, and data can shift year to year, but it offers meaningful transparency that supports planning early. 

Where NYC-SIFT Falls Short

NYC SIFT can support parts of the process, but it cannot guide you through it. It can’t quiet your worries, offer perspective, or ask the right questions to help you make sense of what actually matters for your child. 

In fact, in our experience, SIFT can sometimes add to the noise. Without context, data can push families to fixate on metrics, like college outcome and  AP counts, and hyper-compare school’s specific data points in ways that don’t meaningfully impact daily experience or students’ academic success. We make important life decisions all the time without SIFT-levels of data! More information is not always more clarity.

Adding Context: Academic Score 

In SIFT, schools default to being ranked by an “academic score,” a percentage based on metrics like test scores, grades, and four-year college placement. It’s an easy shorthand, and often becomes a primary filter for families. Attempts to rank NYC public high schools are frequently flawed, buoying well known options, without highlighting lesser known, high quality ones, and this is no exception.

In the case of SIFT’s academic score, you’ll see familiar names at the top – Stuyvesant, Brooklyn Tech, Eleanor Roosevelt – along with other selective programs.The 30 programs with the highest academic scores all share one trait: they admit students based on additional criteria like test scores, essays, or grades. In other words, they’re selecting for students who already perform well on the metrics used to calculate the score. I am no data expert, but seems like a potential case of correlation and not causation. Meanwhile, schools whose admissions methods yield academic diversity – even beloved programs like Essex Street or University Neighborhood – can appear weaker on paper, despite being deeply supportive, engaging environments filled with motivated students.

The Bottom Line: Human > Data

We believe in free, accessible, resources that support families through the NYC High School application process. SIFT is just that, a powerful resource. But your high school search won’t come from data alone. It comes from conversations – conversations with school experts, with current students, and with families who have gone through it all before. It comes from staying open-minded and curious. From touring. From understanding your child beyond their academic performance, and reflecting on the environments in which they thrive. 

And, of course, if you’re looking for support making sense of all the data and noise, we’re here to help streamline that research process. Come with your SIFT-filtered list, or with no research at all. We will share stories, ask the right follow-up questions, provide context, and even have some fun along the way. Like we said, selecting a school for your child is a human process.

I Have a Baby… Now What About Preschool?

By NYC School Help

Welcoming a baby comes with a big (and often unexpected) question: what’s the plan for childcare and preschool?

The truth is, there isn’t one “right” path—only the one that works for your family. Some parents follow the typical route because it’s simpler and more predictable. Others piece together a more customized plan based on schedule, finances, or philosophy. Both are valid—but understanding your options early makes a huge difference.

Here’s the landscape, in a nutshell:

• Daycares often start in infancy, offer long hours, and support working parents—but come at a cost.

• Private preschools focus on early childhood education (typically ages 2–5), usually with shorter days and a strong developmental approach.

• Public 3K and Pre-K programs are free and can be wonderful—but seats, locations, and hours don’t always align with every family’s needs.

• Kindergarten is the first guaranteed placement—but getting there requires planning the years before.

At this stage, the priorities are simple: a safe, nurturing, and engaging environment. Everything else—location, schedule, continuity—is a bonus, and often a tradeoff.

The real challenge? Figuring out how all these pieces fit together for your child and your life.

If you’re feeling unsure where to start, you’re not alone—and you don’t have to figure it out on your own. Join our Preschool 101 Brooklyn talk (with PSP) to better understand your options, timelines, and how to make confident decisions from the very beginning.

Deciding Between High School Programs: Go with your Gut

By Audrey

I steer away from using my personal NYC high school experience as concrete evidence to inform the decision-making of others. Each student is different. The process and school climate has changed (a lot…). And yet…there is one story I find myself sharing a lot at this exact point in the admissions cycle. 

It is March, 2008 and I am standing in a circle of other nervously excited eighth graders at Laguardia’s admitted students day. I had come home from the fall tour bursting with energy, blabbing about the black box theater, graffiti hallway art, and my tour guide, Anna, with the very cool swoop bangs and slouched leather boots. Now, returning to the school alongside my future classmates, I start to envision my dream high school experience. 

Two high school seniors step into the center of the circle. Time for an improv game. They model pulling an opening line from a hat and working a scene from there. Who wants to go next? Hands shoot up around me in stereotypical “pick me! pick me!” fashion. My heart begins to race. My vision blurs. I silently beg that the game is volunteer only. The larger fear creeps in. I can’t do this for four years.

I want to say I remember the admitted students day of Stuyvesant, the school I chose over Laguardia, but I don’t. There was probably no visceral reaction, just a level of awkward nerves that felt comforting. 

It is worth noting that my parents had their own reasons for thinking Laguardia was the stronger match. I was bubbly, outgoing, crafty, always loved my afterschool classes and extracurriculars more than traditional academics. I was a strong student, but stressed over tests and homework, and felt school pressure in a way they thought would be untenable at Stuyvesant. However, they also knew there was no wrong choice, just two different paths, and made clear they supported either option. In the week following the admissions letter we agonized over pros and cons, poured over school websites, had lengthy talks with current students – but, in the end, it was a five-minute improv game that made the decision. I have never once regretted my choice.

I am not saying skip the pro-con list and, professionally, I think connecting with current students provides unparalleled insights into a school’s day-to-day experience. But, personally, I can vouch that there is also value in going with your gut. Ask your eighth grader how they feel thinking about a school, and the small moments that could be windows into their experience. Maybe a teacher’s speech just sort of clicks, or a potential friend is spotted. Their sixth sense might just be the guiding force that brings clarity. 

Kindergarten Offers are Coming out March 31st 2026

Kindergarten offers are coming on March 31, and for many NYC families this is the first big moment in the public school journey. When you log into your MySchools account, you’ll receive one offer—just one. That offer is the highest-ranked school on your list where your child was able to get a seat, based on your preferences, your child’s priority group (such as zoned or sibling priority), available seats, and the lottery number assigned during the admissions process. Even if you applied to 15 schools, you’ll only see one match. Many families assume that ranking a school first gives them an advantage, but it doesn’t work that way. Ranking a school higher only helps if a seat is available to you. When there are more applicants than seats—as is often the case—priority groups and lottery numbers determine the outcome. So if you don’t get your first choice, it’s not a mistake and it’s not personal.

After offers are released, waitlists open automatically for every school you ranked higher than the one you were offered. This is where things often get confusing. Waitlists use a completely new random lottery number, which families cannot see, and your original lottery number no longer applies. Your position on a waitlist is determined by this new number within your priority group, which is why movement can feel unpredictable. It’s also completely normal to find yourself on multiple waitlists at once. For example, if you receive your fifth choice, you will automatically be waitlisted for choices one through four. You can stay on all of them, remove yourself from any, or even add yourself to additional waitlists—including schools you didn’t originally apply to.

Waitlist movement varies widely from school to school and doesn’t always happen right away. In the spring, many families hold onto their initial placements, so movement can be slow. As the summer progresses, more seats may open as families make different decisions—some move, some choose charter schools. Because of this, movement often increases in late summer and can continue into the fall, even after school has started. The families who tend to have the most success with waitlists are often the ones who stay patient and keep an eye on the process, even when others have mentally moved on.

When offers are released, take a breath and give yourself a moment to process. Review your offer carefully so you understand the program and logistics, and take a look at your waitlist positions—but try not to panic, as those positions can change over time. Most importantly, accept your offer, even if you plan to remain on waitlists. Accepting your seat does not remove you from any waitlists, and it ensures your child has a secure placement while you continue to explore other possibilities.

Kindergarten admissions can feel incredibly high-stakes, but it’s important to remember that this is just the beginning of your child’s school journey, not the final destination. Every year, families end up in places they didn’t initially expect and find wonderful school communities where their children thrive. What matters most is not just where your child starts, but how they grow once they get there.

When Admissions Don’t Go Your Way (And Other Things that Feel Like the End of the World)

By Audrey and Abigail

8th graders are nothing if not dramatic. Therefore, it’s no surprise that when your teenager opens their admissions decision and it’s not what they hoped for, time may briefly stop. There may be silence. There may be tears. There may even be some declaration of “my life is over.” Similarly, if your child was accepted to multiple schools and now is faced with the prospect of making a decision, they might be overwhelmed and temporarily paralyzed by the big choice in front of them. 

Acknowledge the disappointment without minimizing it, and normalize rejection and resilience:

For many kids, this is their first real experience of rejection and it lands right on their identity. To help them cope, your first step is to repeat to yourself that their life is NOT actually over. Before you spiral directly into “what does this mean for college and their future” take a deep breath. Your teen is watching you and they need the message that this is disappointing and that we’re okay. 

Shift to what’s next:

Often landing at a school that isn’t a first, second, or even third choice can provide opportunities you might not have even imagined. There might be a future best friend waiting in their first period class, an afterschool club that unlocks a passion, and an opportunity to connect with a strong educator who might turn out to be a mentor. Reframing a lower choice school with possibility and hope can help your 8th grader see this in a new light, no matter how much they roll their eyes at your optimism. Remind them you’re proud of them and that this decision doesn’t determine their self-worth.  

For your teen who was accepted to multiple schools and needs to make a decision but is overwhelmed and torn in different directions, remind them that this is a huge opportunity and that choice is a good thing. There is no “wrong” decision. High school is not a lifelong contract, even if it feels that way right now. It’s a four year chapter of their story. Help them focus on what school is the most exciting for them.  

No matter what news you receive this week, we can help sort through the noise with a calm, strategic voice and empower you to feel good about the next four years. 

What You Should Be Focusing on in 7th Grade to Help Prepare you for High School

As the high school process starts to get in full swing, it’s tempting to focus on grades, test scores, and future applications. But 7th grade is also about building the skills students need so high school doesn’t feel like a shock to the system. 

1. Building friendships is seriously important to seventh graders. Kids are figuring out how to navigate changing social dynamics, occasional (or not so occasional) drama, and what it means to be a good friend. These sometimes messy lessons are setting them up for high school, where social bumps in the road happen, but kids can hopefully bounce back quicker.  
   
   

2. Executive functioning - our favorite two words! These skills become even more important in high school as homework piles up, long term assignments become more common, and discovering a project the day before it’s due becomes a big problem. Seventh grade is a great time to practice organization and time management before the stakes get higher. 
   
   

3. Experimenting with interests should be encouraged! Not every 12 year old has a passion for something. Try new activities, clubs, books, subjects. This helps kids figure out what they actually enjoy instead of what their friends or enjoy, or what they think will look good on paper. 
   
   

4. Fostering Independence this is the quiet goal behind everything else. Kids should start taking more responsibility for the schedules, schoolwork, and communication. It’s a great time to make sure your kid is emailing their teacher instead of you! Confidence grows when kids realize they can handle hard things. 

to G&T or not to G&T?

There are parents whose children will have a wide variety of experiences in elementary school, including students who have had mixed experiences in G&T and gifted kids who have flourished in gen ed classrooms where teachers are skilled in differentiation. I don't dislike the environments in many gifted classrooms. I just want families to understand the full picture as well. G&T isn't the only path for a bright, talented or hard working kid.

There are many students at Stuyvesant, Brooklyn Tech, or Bard who have never seen the inside of a G&T classroom and there is no "feeder" aspect in admissions to gaining entry at coveted middle and high schools from a gifted elementary classroom. G&T essentially ends in 5th grade. Do not be fearful that a bright child from a supportive home who is attending a safe general ed elementary filled with talented teachers can find their way to rigorous high schools and highly selective colleges. I have watched thousands of kids follow these various paths. LIfe is long, and kids grow in many different ways on their own timelines, academically, physically, artistically, and emotionally. The NYC G&T admissions process has a significant random aspect to it and it doesn't follow conventional timelines. In most places in the world, G&T would begin at 3rd grade and move into middle school. We start at K and it ends at middle school. Odd to me.

It is an alternative option and you are right to do your due diligence in investigating what is out there. A G&T classroom is not inherently a higher quality classroom, although it can be an interesting alternative to your local zoned program. There is no NYC Public School "G&T curriculum." What happens in that classroom goes teacher by teacher. They are not generally smaller classes, they don't necessarily have 'better' teachers (although there are lovely teachers in many of those classrooms) and they are not all accelerated in the way that parents may expect. In my experience the one thing that they do have in common is that they are a curated classroom of parents. They are parents who understand how to apply and can navigate going to a school that may be far from their home. The programs generally end at 5th grade with the exception of the very few seats available at the Citywide gifted programs like NEST+M, Anderson, BSI, TAG and Q300. Hunter is a different thing altogether and while free, is not part of the NYC Public School system. Generally the DoE describes these classes as "accelerated" but in my experience the strongest G&T classrooms are more enriched than accelerated. Deeper investigation in an enriched classroom is often more productive for gifted children than faster investigation in an accelerated classroom. Good G&T classrooms can do both. Good differentiated general ed classrooms can as well.

high school search mistakes you could be making in 7th grade

By Joyce Szuflita

1. Waiting until the fall, when your random number is assigned, to make your list.

2. Searching for schools using Niche, Great Schools or US News.

3. Only looking at one type of school; for example, only small schools, only screened schools, etc.

4. Disregarding schools that contain CTE programs or have very specific themes.

5. Focusing on the schools you wish your child was suited for instead of schools where they will really thrive.

To understand how to avoid these and other pitfalls, watch Joyce’s Public High School Choice: Loud & Clear on demand video.

middle school students can rank any school in the city

By Joyce Szuflita

This is a change. For many years, 5th graders have only been able to rank schools where they lived and attended school, and in addition a finite number of boroughwide or citywide schools…but not every school in the city.

The DoE has announced that starting this season, MYSCHOOLS will allow you to rank any school anywhere on your application. This seems like a big deal, but is it? The important distinction is that the schools’ priorities are remaining the same. For example, if a popular school has priority for District 2 students and residents, a student applying from outside of the district is considered for a seat after ALL the students and residents in District 2. If the school can easily fill with people from their own district, you are never getting a chance from out of district.

Occasionally very big and popular schools may have seats available after all district students have been placed. That will be an opportunity for people across the district line.

Also, sometimes strong schools are not recognized by their own district students, but other people may really like them relative to the options they have in their own districts and may feel like a small commute is worth it.

Sometimes, because of the vagaries of geographic boundaries, you might be closer to schools in the next district than you are in your own. Now you can rank them.

Is this a great thing? The answer is “it depends.”
One question that has been asked and so far remains unanswered: Does the same priority remain for “students and residents”? This equal priority has been misunderstood and is constantly mistaken by DoE employees and parents alike. It has always been the case that STUDENTS AND RESIDENTS HAVE EQUAL PRIORITY. It is assumed that Residents are preferenced. They NEVER HAVE BEEN. I don’t see any good reason for this to change, and like other years, people are telling me second hand that they have heard that “students” are not considered with the same priority as residents. I will believe it when I see it.
We need to wait until the MYSCHOOLS directory is finished being edited, but if it continues to say, “Priority to students and residents” - then take them at their word.