Navigating the NYC Schools Admissions Scene

by Laura Matiz 

NYC parents have the difficult task of navigating the complex search for schools. There is the research, the forms, the testing, and the dreaded interviews. Anyone outside of NYC is astounded by the hassles that NYC parents go through to get their kids into their preferred school, but there are a lot of sources for help. I frequently share the sites below because they were helpful to me as I navigated the public school and independent school systems with my own children. I hope you find them useful as well.  

• NYC Department of Education - runs 1,800 schools serving 1.1 million students. Pre-K is the latest addition. The site offers many guides and tips for parents. 
  
• InsideSchools - offers great statistics for every school from the Center for New York City Affairs at The New School.
• Independent Schools Admissions Association of Greater New York (ISAAGNY) - excellent guide for NYC independent schools
  
• The Parents League of New York - since 1913, this non-profit organization has been providing advice, publications, and lectures for families interested in independent schools.
• Build Bold Futures - a guide to Catholic schools in NYC
• SchoolDigger -  a nationwide site that offers information for all schools along with rankings
  

Category: Schools