Choosing a School
There are hundreds of possible schools you can choose from: independent, public, public gifted and talented, or religious schools. The current thinking is that you should apply to 8 -12 schools if you want private ("independent") school. It would also be wise to identify at least one "back-up" public school that would work well for you. Narrowing your choice in schools is helpful because the entire admissions process is time consuming. The sooner you target the schools you will apply to, the easier the process becomes. So, your first job is to decide what you are looking for so you can narrow the field.
Really knowing your child is key to focusing your search. Use this knowledge to consider the key characteristics of an ideal learning environment for him.
Don't fall into the trap of applying to schools with the most prestigious reputations. There are no "best" schools. There are only schools that are best for individual children. We cannot stress this enough. If you can get your child into a school that is a great fit, it will make a lifelong difference. If the fit is wrong, no matter how prestigious the school, the negative effects can take years to overcome. There are lots of great up-and-coming schools that you've probably heard little about. Don't discount them.
What to consider
You'll want to do some soul searching and ask yourself what really matters to you in the school you choose for your child. No school will have every quality you want. So if you go into the process with an idea of what matters most to you, you're more likely to strike gold.
Do you definitely want an independent school, or are you also interested in the best public school options? In both cases, you'll need to do your homework. There are two excellent books to give you a great start in understanding independent school and public school options. They are The Manhattan Guide to Private Schools, by Victoria Goldman and Catherine Hausman and The Parents' Guide to NYC's Best Public Elementary Schools, by Clara H. Hemphill.
Listen to your nursery school director about where she sees your child. She can help you assess your child's needs with a sensible and objective perspective, and can suggest the type of school that she believes will be a good fit. When recommending schools, some nursery school directors have a more local focus. Their familiarity with some schools versus others, and their closer connections with certain Admissions Directors, may limit the selection of schools they suggest. You should just be aware of this.
For parents who would prefer more personal attention while considering school options, educational consultants are a lifeline. They have an appreciation for the wide breadth of public and private school programs available, and can help you assess and direct your efforts toward schools offering just the qualities you seek - those that are truly a good match for your child and family.
What to look for at your visit
When you tour a school, there are many things to look for. We provide our clients with a checklist to use as a reminder of what to discreetly look for during visits. We also recommend using some non-traditional approaches for getting a truer assessment of a school. For example, if the school goes through high school, observe the older girls and boys. If your child attends this school, these will be her peers. Knowing your child and family, does it feel like a good match?
How we can help
If you choose a one-on-one session with a Smart City Kids Advisor, one of the first things we'll help you do is narrow your focus. Before we meet, we'll send you a questionnaire to complete that will help you think through and decide on qualities in a school that matter most to you.
During our meeting, we will spend time with you and your child and talk further about your goals. We will get to know your child, which will help us assess schools that would be a good match. If you have any materials that you believe will help us understand your child's learning style or development more clearly (i.e. ERB scores or Stanford-Binet results, other assessments), please bring these to the meeting.
When we get together, if you want information on single sex vs. coed, educational philosophies of schools, how to assess your child's preferred learning style, public vs. private, or any other relevant topic, we will provide it. Based on all of our impressions after we spend some time with you and your child, we will recommend schools that we believe would offer the best fit. Frankly, the first step towards improving your child's chance to be accepted at the schools you want is to apply to schools where the fit is right. Schools will be assessing fit as carefully as you will be, so if you get that right, you are already one step ahead.
We'll talk with you about why we think the fit is right, what the environment and culture are like at these schools, and how competitive each school is. If, after you visit the recommended schools, you feel the need for more choices, we can suggest other options. But our goal is to point you to the right options immediately so you don't waste time or feel overwhelmed with possibilities.
For more information, call Smart City Kids at (212) 249-4066 or e-mail us at info@smartcitykids.com