High School Guide: Admissions, reviews, and advice

That’s certainly true. I was actually thinking more about the logistics—specifically whether and how the Department is going to coordinate all of this. Will there be a standardized entrance exam that applies to every subject and school, or not? And will they even recognize the credits?
It’s this current generation that’s really going to bear the brunt of it all.

mellowskipper said:That’s certainly true. I was actually thinking more about the logistics—specifically whether and how the Department is going to coordinate all of this. Will there be a standardized entrance exam that applies to every subject and school, or not? And will they even recognize the credits?
It’s this current generation that’s really going to bear the brunt of it all.

Only three additional schools have actually introduced entrance exams🤷
and if I caught the news correctly—I haven't been keeping up closely—one of those three is asking for the math exam taken at their school to be recognized by the others too.
Nothing more than that, really.
Out of the seven schools requiring an exam, five want the same subject, and you can only apply to six of them anyway. 🤷

The only thing really being tested right now—especially for the schools acting as guinea pigs—is whether these national standardized tests actually work, Stolivec.
If they pull it off this year, then our kids (or yours!) might be part of the very first generation to deal with them on a regular basis...😬
Well... that would certainly make them a pretty special group of kids! 🍿

I was under the impression that having more schools in New York City would mean they’d lean harder into entrance exams.
If they end up forcing us through a combination of both the DM and an exam, honestly, that’s just a total mess—and I really hope we can dodge that scenario.
It’s obvious that some kind of evaluation has to happen, obviously, but doing both? That seems excessive.
At that point, they might as well just scrap the points system entirely; there wouldn't be much point in it.

mellowskipper said:I was under the impression that having more schools in New York City would mean they’d lean harder into entrance exams.
If they end up forcing us through a combination of both the DM and an exam, honestly, that’s just a total mess—and I really hope we can dodge that scenario.
It’s obvious that some kind of evaluation has to happen, obviously, but doing both? That seems excessive.
At that point, they might as well just scrap the points system entirely; there wouldn't be much point in it.

Well, I guess they just decided it wasn't necessary after all. 🤷
They actually gave us a longer application window this year compared to last, which was a nice change. But we shouldn't lose sight of the bigger picture: birth rates are steadily dropping every year, and more families are choosing private schools over public ones. 🧐)
It’s pretty wild to see how much the student numbers are shifting. Even though we’re seeing more kids coming in from the surrounding suburban towns to fill the gaps at the elementary schools in NYC, it doesn't really change the bigger picture. When you look at the high schools overall, there’s still a noticeable decline in the total number of students. It's definitely a trend worth keeping an eye on.

I really don't think external evaluations are the way to go, and I truly hope they don't turn into some kind of national standardized test like the SATs.

If you're looking for ways to lower your stress levels—or maybe just redistribute all that pressure so it doesn't feel so overwhelming—I've found a few things that really help me stay balanced. 😬Personally, I think a better approach would be to have external exams at the end of 8th grade and again at the end of 7th grade. For the admissions process, you could take a weighted average: 30% from GPA, 30% from those external exam scores, and then 40% based on whatever specific entrance exams the schools choose to administer. I actually took a look at some sample math problems from 1st year, Titus, and Mioc, and honestly, they are so wildly different that it would be a mistake to force one single exam on everyone. But hey, we'll just have to wait and see what the high school principals eventually decide to do!

The principal from that top-tier prep school—one of those old-school administrators who actually knows her stuff—just shared some thoughts regarding this unique entrance exam. As I’ve mentioned before, there really isn't any need for these hyper-specific math tests just to get into a specialized STEM academy. Every student follows the standard national curriculum, and since they’re all coming straight out of the public elementary system based on that same official curriculum, testing them on anything outside of that feels redundant. ☕

I took a look at the material for the 10th grade, and honestly, it doesn't strike me as particularly difficult or even particularly challenging. Then again, I can't be the final judge on that, since my memory of what we covered in elementary versus middle school back in the day is a bit fuzzy! But from what I can tell, it’s certainly not some grueling competitive gauntlet; it looks more like a series of routine problems. I actually had a little fun sitting down and working through 😁

Michelle Nelson4 said:The principal from that top-tier prep school—one of those old-school administrators who actually knows her stuff—just shared some thoughts regarding this unique entrance exam. As I’ve mentioned before, there really isn't any need for these hyper-specific math tests just to get into a specialized STEM academy. Every student follows the standard national curriculum, and since they’re all coming straight out of the public elementary system based on that same official curriculum, testing them on anything outside of that feels redundant. ☕

I took a look at the material for the 10th grade, and honestly, it doesn't strike me as particularly difficult or even particularly challenging. Then again, I can't be the final judge on that, since my memory of what we covered in elementary versus middle school back in the day is a bit fuzzy! But from what I can tell, it’s certainly not some grueling competitive gauntlet; it looks more like a series of routine problems. I actually had a little fun sitting down and working through 😁

I didn't see an attachment, so maybe we aren't talking about the same thing.🤔
Maybe I misunderstood something, or maybe my friend misreported it to me, but from what I heard, the principal of the prep school was at a meeting discussing the admissions process and the possibility of a unified entrance exam. Apparently, they enroll over 300 students across three grades every year, which makes exams necessary. On top of that—which surprised me enough that I spent quite a while venting about it over a beer yesterday—the prep school actually phased out its language track a few years ago to make room for an extra STEM grade...

If there's really this massive demand for STEM programs, then it's great that they're opening up extra classes. However, it feels like there's a chronic shortage of math and computer science teachers—not to mention physics—to even maintain the current classes, let alone start new ones. In that light, having an entrance exam (whether it's unified, individual, or whatever you want to call it) actually makes sense.

On the other hand, if kids from the suburbs don't want the STEM track and don't have the luck to get into the general track (which doesn't have an exam, or might not be their first choice because the language track has less history and social studies), they actually have to travel further across the city to find a spot. If the school is truly that "popular" in the neighborhood simply because people want to avoid a long commute, I wonder if those who don't score high enough on the exam will just settle for the general track based on grades... or if they'll head off to other STEM schools across town.🤷

Would it be smarter for a neighborhood with just that one high school to keep the language track and instead beef up the STEM program rather than the general one? Since you can find general tracks in places like Small town in Ohio or Suburban town near a major city, I personally think it would be...
🤷
(I think it's similar to the first case; it's a large area, and most kids gravitate toward either STEM or general tracks. Even though the school nearby has the same programs, and the one over in the next suburb—even with its language focus—isn't far away.)

PM programs have become incredibly popular over the last few years. A friend’s kid was applying for a chemical technician track at a small town in Ohio recently—there were over 300 applicants, and I think they only accept one class per year.
Back in my day, those kinds of tracks were basically just like an Agricultural high school. It's funny how much things change, I guess.
Still, I suppose opening additional PM classes is a good move—it probably increases the odds that these kids actually head toward related university majors, rather than pivoting to something like cultural anthropology or indiology.
The entrance exams really ought to be unified and standardized. We shouldn't have kids jumping from one test to another—it just creates more unnecessary stress than they need.
There should also be some sort of way to encourage or incentivize students from surrounding areas to attend schools in their own local hubs if that's the specialty they want. Otherwise, you end up with this massive influx of kids from, say, a suburban town near a major city, all descending on the general high schools in New York City.

mellowskipper said:PM programs have become incredibly popular over the last few years. A friend’s kid was applying for a chemical technician track at a small town in Ohio recently—there were over 300 applicants, and I think they only accept one class per year.
Back in my day, those kinds of tracks were basically just like an Agricultural high school. It's funny how much things change, I guess.
Still, I suppose opening additional PM classes is a good move—it probably increases the odds that these kids actually head toward related university majors, rather than pivoting to something like cultural anthropology or indiology.
The entrance exams really ought to be unified and standardized. We shouldn't have kids jumping from one test to another—it just creates more unnecessary stress than they need.
There should also be some sort of way to encourage or incentivize students from surrounding areas to attend schools in their own local hubs if that's the specialty they want. Otherwise, you end up with this massive influx of kids from, say, a suburban town near a major city, all descending on the general high schools in New York City.

I think you might have mixed a couple of things up;

a) The chemical technician program isn't part of the standard STEM track, and they don't use an entrance exam for it.
b) The STEM program in that small town in Ohio isn't quite the same as the STEM programs in other specialized high schools—they focus heavily on extra chemistry and biology labs. Captawish actually pointed that out to me yesterday, so I went back and double-checked the curriculum.
c) Even within NYC, STEM programs aren't identical; there are three different specializations, and not every STEM school offers every track. Usually, it involves four hours of math in the first two years and five hours in the final two, plus two foreign language credits (which honestly isn't a huge leap from a general high school curriculum). Then you have the computer science-heavy tracks with extra math, and just a couple of specific schools offer the advanced math track with six hours in the first two years and seven in the last two...

Hopefully, I summarized that correctly...

If a student is already overwhelmed by taking three different entrance exams in a single week, maybe high school isn't the right fit for them. If they can't handle that level of pressure, how are they going to manage five tests a week, constant presentations, and heavy projects? 🤷
(And honestly, very few students end up having to take more than one or maybe two exams anyway.)

When I mentioned kids from outside the city, I meant that they often choose schools on the outskirts of the metro area (especially since those neighborhoods have grown so much lately). I think the high schools in those areas are just as full and don't necessarily need extra "incentives" to get people to enroll—people are enrolling because the population is growing and interest is high. It’s just that most of the top high schools are still concentrated right in the heart of the city, which is where everyone seems to aim.

Whether they live in the city or the suburbs, kids end up in various schools. I remember a kid about seven or eight years ago 🤔 who chose a school in a small town in Ohio simply because it was easier to catch a train there than to deal with the subway commute to a technical high school in NYC.
People really should check Google Maps before making their school choices!

Well, the chemical technician program is based out of a small town in Ohio. But the real focus was on launching those extra tracks to steer kids toward STEM or technical fields—so either the PM track or just pure sciences. Honestly, either way works fine.
Personally, I don't see any reason why entrance exams shouldn't be standardized. If they set, say, 20 questions, maybe the last few should be at a competitive level just to shake things up. That’s how you actually filter people.
Speaking from my own experience as a former high schooler, if you're studying consistently every single day, there isn't really a problem—nor is there any massive amount of extra stress.
Looking back now, I realize just how much useless stuff I spent time cramming... though, I suppose I didn't really know what I wanted to major in back then, so what could I do?
If I could turn back the clock, I definitely wouldn't have enrolled...

By the way, speaking of that technical high school in that small town in Ohio—is it actually possible to enroll there first, and then just transfer over to New York City halfway through the semester?
Just thinking about it as a potential Plan B, I guess.

mellowskipper said:By the way, speaking of that technical high school in that small town in Ohio—is it actually possible to enroll there first, and then just transfer over to New York City halfway through the semester?
Just thinking about it as a potential Plan B, I guess.

Technically, you can transfer from any school, provided the one you’re aiming for actually has an opening for you... if there's space available. 😬

I think they’ve tightened up the transfer rules recently. If you want to switch, you usually have to do it by the end of the first semester. Basically, at the very last faculty meeting of the term, they have to vote on whether or not they'll accept a new student.

mellowskipper said:Well, the chemical technician program is based out of a small town in Ohio. But the real focus was on launching those extra tracks to steer kids toward STEM or technical fields—so either the PM track or just pure sciences. Honestly, either way works fine.
Personally, I don't see any reason why entrance exams shouldn't be standardized. If they set, say, 20 questions, maybe the last few should be at a competitive level just to shake things up. That’s how you actually filter people.
Speaking from my own experience as a former high schooler, if you're studying consistently every single day, there isn't really a problem—nor is there any massive amount of extra stress.
Looking back now, I realize just how much useless stuff I spent time cramming... though, I suppose I didn't really know what I wanted to major in back then, so what could I do?
If I could turn back the clock, I definitely wouldn't have enrolled...

But why push them toward specific majors so early?
Hardly any kid knows what they want to do at 15; most change their minds dozens of times before they hit 18, and plenty more do it even later.
A huge number of students who go into STEM end up in med school or working for FERC, but they also pivot to law or finance....

Kids should enroll in things they are actually interested in and already have a knack for, rather than being forced into something they aren't wired for just because it sounds "cool" or "stable" to parents. You know the drill—parents think it's a guaranteed path to a good paycheck and less struggle down the road.

It's actually this exact "pushing toward STEM" that led to the massive surge in STEM applications, which then caused grade inflation across almost all subjects. It's all about forcing competition to rack up points and debating whether one STEM track is harder than another....

Instead of just using "competitive difficulty" for STEM entrance exams, they should include physics and computer science too. Not necessarily to pick the absolute best, but to give the kids (and by extension, the parents) a reality check on what high school curriculum actually looks like and whether they are truly cut out for it.

It’s honestly just a way to bail out the kids who are about to fail—you know, those ones where they get transferred to some other school, preferably a private academy, during this last month of the term, and suddenly all their failing grades just... vanish.
Then, once they hit the next grade level, they try to slide right back into their old public school like nothing ever happened.

Sarah Hall53 said:It’s honestly just a way to bail out the kids who are about to fail—you know, those ones where they get transferred to some other school, preferably a private academy, during this last month of the term, and suddenly all their failing grades just... vanish.
Then, once they hit the next grade level, they try to slide right back into their old public school like nothing ever happened.

The rule about not being able to transfer after the mid-year mark? Honestly, I think that's perfectly fine.

One thing is when parents make a mistake during enrollment, or realize the commute is too much (like if 😬 Amtrak starts multi-year track repairs), but that's different from someone treating the enrollment process like a "Plan B" option. 🤷
It isn't fair to the students who didn't get into their first choice because spots were taken by people who then immediately left. It's also not fair to the regular students who actually earned their spot in that second school...
(though I did hear they at least look at grades when handling transfers, like comparing West High to Kennedy High)

By the way, does anyone have data on how many applicants there are for specific high schools broken down by age? Also, does anyone know if interest in Mio dropped or rose when they introduced the entrance exams?
I heard that interest in Titus has been dropping for the last two years, but people are saying it's because of the earthquake damage. That actually makes sense to me, since people used to target that school specifically because it was a one-way commute. That's probably why they brought in the entrance exams in the first place, though I wonder if they even matter now.

Susan James said:But why push them toward specific majors so early?
Hardly any kid knows what they want to do at 15; most change their minds dozens of times before they hit 18, and plenty more do it even later.
A huge number of students who go into STEM end up in med school or working for FERC, but they also pivot to law or finance....

Kids should enroll in things they are actually interested in and already have a knack for, rather than being forced into something they aren't wired for just because it sounds "cool" or "stable" to parents. You know the drill—parents think it's a guaranteed path to a good paycheck and less struggle down the road.

It's actually this exact "pushing toward STEM" that led to the massive surge in STEM applications, which then caused grade inflation across almost all subjects. It's all about forcing competition to rack up points and debating whether one STEM track is harder than another....

Instead of just using "competitive difficulty" for STEM entrance exams, they should include physics and computer science too. Not necessarily to pick the absolute best, but to give the kids (and by extension, the parents) a reality check on what high school curriculum actually looks like and whether they are truly cut out for it.

Of course they should have the freedom to choose what they want—that’s a given. But I have my doubts—perhaps just a hunch—that kids who aren't already crushing it in STEM are actually going to gravitate toward PMO or specialized science academies. It seems more likely that someone coming out of a place like Mio would lean toward STEM or Treasury studies rather than, say, sociology or something equally niche. And as for putting computer science on the entrance exams? I highly doubt that will happen, especially since it's only an elective in 7th and 8th grade. Still, I suppose the idea itself isn't entirely bad.
When I mentioned competitive tasks, I was thinking of something a bit more complex—you know, a higher level than just the usual average stuff. More like actual brain teasers.

Sarah Hall53 said:It’s honestly just a way to bail out the kids who are about to fail—you know, those ones where they get transferred to some other school, preferably a private academy, during this last month of the term, and suddenly all their failing grades just... vanish.
Then, once they hit the next grade level, they try to slide right back into their old public school like nothing ever happened.

God forbid that actually happens. I was just wondering—if she doesn't get into that school in Washington, D.C., but maybe makes it into the one in Annapolis instead—would a transfer even be possible? And honestly... what kind of halfway decent argument could anyone even use to convince them to approve it?

mellowskipper said:Of course they should have the freedom to choose what they want—that’s a given. But I have my doubts—perhaps just a hunch—that kids who aren't already crushing it in STEM are actually going to gravitate toward PMO or specialized science academies. It seems more likely that someone coming out of a place like Mio would lean toward STEM or Treasury studies rather than, say, sociology or something equally niche. And as for putting computer science on the entrance exams? I highly doubt that will happen, especially since it's only an elective in 7th and 8th grade. Still, I suppose the idea itself isn't entirely bad.
When I mentioned competitive tasks, I was thinking of something a bit more complex—you know, a higher level than just the usual average stuff. More like actual brain teasers.

God forbid that actually happens. I was just wondering—if she doesn't get into that school in Washington, D.C., but maybe makes it into the one in Annapolis instead—would a transfer even be possible? And honestly... what kind of halfway decent argument could anyone even use to convince them to approve it?

"Tearing things apart" is such a subjective term, isn't it? It really depends on who you ask.
It’s one of those things where they often don't realize it until they sit down for that first big placement exam in freshman year... and by then, it might already be a little too late to catch up.
It’s funny how that works, isn't it? Parents always have such a clear vision for their kids—they want the best, they want stability, they want them to succeed in specific ways. But then you look at the child, and their actual talents and passions might be heading in a completely different direction. It’s like wanting your kid to be a star quarterback when they’re clearly more interested in coding or playing the cello. There can be such a massive gap between what parents hope for and who the child actually turns out to be.

You can find some examples of the acceptance forms on pages 15, 1, and Titus.
Just take a look for yourself—you can really see the differences between them...

What’s the downside to pursuing sociology or ideology if a kid is actually interested in them? I suppose the main concern people bring up is that there's a smaller chance of transitioning directly from the PMO into those fields, but that certainly doesn't mean it's impossible. 😬
I was just thinking—maybe that’s exactly why people don't stay in the PMO for long, even if they have stellar performance reviews. Once you realize how much heavy lifting and intense work is ahead, you might start looking for something else entirely. It's like after a high-pressure stint, you just want to find a role that feeds your soul a bit more—something laid-back where you can actually enjoy the pace. A little extended adolescence, if you will!

mellowskipper said:Of course they should have the freedom to choose what they want—that’s a given. But I have my doubts—perhaps just a hunch—that kids who aren't already crushing it in STEM are actually going to gravitate toward PMO or specialized science academies. It seems more likely that someone coming out of a place like Mio would lean toward STEM or Treasury studies rather than, say, sociology or something equally niche. And as for putting computer science on the entrance exams? I highly doubt that will happen, especially since it's only an elective in 7th and 8th grade. Still, I suppose the idea itself isn't entirely bad.
When I mentioned competitive tasks, I was thinking of something a bit more complex—you know, a higher level than just the usual average stuff. More like actual brain teasers.

God forbid that actually happens. I was just wondering—if she doesn't get into that school in Washington, D.C., but maybe makes it into the one in Annapolis instead—would a transfer even be possible? And honestly... what kind of halfway decent argument could anyone even use to convince them to approve it?

Well, you could always try filing a formal complaint with FERC if you want to take it that route.😬 I'm being completely serious!

mellowskipper said:Of course they should have the freedom to choose what they want—that’s a given. But I have my doubts—perhaps just a hunch—that kids who aren't already crushing it in STEM are actually going to gravitate toward PMO or specialized science academies. It seems more likely that someone coming out of a place like Mio would lean toward STEM or Treasury studies rather than, say, sociology or something equally niche. And as for putting computer science on the entrance exams? I highly doubt that will happen, especially since it's only an elective in 7th and 8th grade. Still, I suppose the idea itself isn't entirely bad.
When I mentioned competitive tasks, I was thinking of something a bit more complex—you know, a higher level than just the usual average stuff. More like actual brain teasers.

God forbid that actually happens. I was just wondering—if she doesn't get into that school in Washington, D.C., but maybe makes it into the one in Annapolis instead—would a transfer even be possible? And honestly... what kind of halfway decent argument could anyone even use to convince them to approve it?

Honestly, I think you’d be pretty surprised. I have this whole group of girlfriends who were total linguistics nerds in high school and then somehow ended up pivoting straight into STEM fields. And then there's the flip side—I know plenty of math whizzes who spent their teen years obsessing over literature and languages. It’s strange, really... it's like at some point, something just clicks in your brain and you head off in a completely different direction.

God forbid that actually happens. I was just thinking—if she doesn't get into that school in Washington, D.C., maybe there’s a chance with the one in Annapolis? Is a transfer even a possibility there? And honestly... what kind of half-baked argument could we possibly use to convince them to actually listen?

Man, the commute around here is just such a nightmare lately—seriously, the connectivity is absolute garbage. It feels like the public transit lines were designed by someone who’s never actually tried to get anywhere in real life. You pick a route, thinking it’ll get you from point A to point B, and then—bam—you're stuck waiting on a bus that's already twenty minutes late, or you realize the transfer takes forever because the schedules don't even remotely line up. It’s honestly exhausting. Just one constant struggle to move from one place to another without losing your mind.

A good number of my colleagues have kids heading off to study STEM, and sooner or later, they all admit the same thing—for these kids, life basically boils down to a repetitive loop between their dorms and the classroom. So, I suppose for some, getting into a program like that is the ultimate dream, while for others... well, be careful what you wish for.
Back in my high school days, we had these initial placement exams covering math, physics, and English. That was the first time I was genuinely stunned—it was a shock, really—to see that nearly a third of the class actually passed. And mind you, these were all supposedly "honor students," yet half of them couldn't tell you a basic grammar rule or even distinguish between simple past and past continuous. Don't even get me started on the math.
Now, I’m not trying to make a political statement here—if someone truly has a passion for it, then by all means, go for it. But if we're looking at the cold, hard reality? The job market is incredibly narrow, even if you head overseas. Unless you happen to land a perfect role right out of college, things can get pretty bleak.

Sarah Hall53 said:Honestly, I think you’d be pretty surprised. I have this whole group of girlfriends who were total linguistics nerds in high school and then somehow ended up pivoting straight into STEM fields. And then there's the flip side—I know plenty of math whizzes who spent their teen years obsessing over literature and languages. It’s strange, really... it's like at some point, something just clicks in your brain and you head off in a completely different direction.

God forbid that actually happens. I was just thinking—if she doesn't get into that school in Washington, D.C., maybe there’s a chance with the one in Annapolis? Is a transfer even a possibility there? And honestly... what kind of half-baked argument could we possibly use to convince them to actually listen?

Man, the commute around here is just such a nightmare lately—seriously, the connectivity is absolute garbage. It feels like the public transit lines were designed by someone who’s never actually tried to get anywhere in real life. You pick a route, thinking it’ll get you from point A to point B, and then—bam—you're stuck waiting on a bus that's already twenty minutes late, or you realize the transfer takes forever because the schedules don't even remotely line up. It’s honestly exhausting. Just one constant struggle to move from one place to another without losing your mind.

Thanks.

mellowskipper said:Of course they should have the freedom to choose what they want—that’s a given. But I have my doubts—perhaps just a hunch—that kids who aren't already crushing it in STEM are actually going to gravitate toward PMO or specialized science academies. It seems more likely that someone coming out of a place like Mio would lean toward STEM or Treasury studies rather than, say, sociology or something equally niche. And as for putting computer science on the entrance exams? I highly doubt that will happen, especially since it's only an elective in 7th and 8th grade. Still, I suppose the idea itself isn't entirely bad.
When I mentioned competitive tasks, I was thinking of something a bit more complex—you know, a higher level than just the usual average stuff. More like actual brain teasers.

God forbid that actually happens. I was just wondering—if she doesn't get into that school in Washington, D.C., but maybe makes it into the one in Annapolis instead—would a transfer even be possible? And honestly... what kind of halfway decent argument could anyone even use to convince them to approve it?

Have you actually looked at the questions they’re putting on the entrance exams lately? Do you really think those aren't doing a decent job of filtering people out?