TOURING: Art and Design

Art and Design is hosting both in person and virtual open houses. Click on the box on their home page for more info/to register: https://www.artanddesignhs.org/

in person:

Tues, 10/6 • 5-8 pm

Sat, 10/17 • 9 am to 12 pm

Wed, 10/28 • 5-8 pm

virtual:

Tues, 11/24 • 6-8pm

Note: High School 411 tracks 50 plus schools (including all specialized) in terms of touring opportunities. For other schools you might be interested in, make sure you’re checking school websites, the MySchools calendar, and/or SIFT-NYC (most comprehensive option) for info.

Touring terminology

One you get in the touring groove you’ll start to notice that each school has its own take on how to welcome prospective families, even in how they describe what their offerings are—for example the differences, if any, between tours and open houses. 

Generally speaking, tours are when you explore the building, either with an assigned guide (student or someone from the school) or by yourself. Open houses often means a big group meeting in an auditorium or perhaps cafeteria where you sit and hear people speak. But, some schools combine the two or offer some sort of hybrid.

Some schools welcome families during the school day, or after school, in the evening, on weekends. Some tours are led by students, or school employees. Some open houses have teachers or students or even PTA members stationed to talk to families. 

Going into any viewing opportunity, it can help to have your own questions on hand. The tour log below can be great to print out and bring with you, or it might inspire questions of your own. 



fall holding pattern

First day of school and what will likely be a very busy fall are just about here. Thinking about you all and that getting ready to get back on track energy.

Even though kids will be back in school and schools are announcing/hosting tours (more than usual for this time of year), the high school process doesn’t officially kick off until Tuesday, 10/6. That’s when should be getting personal info at MySchools including random lottery numbers, screened and ed opt groups, and more. 

Note for private/charter school families: it’ll take longer for your info to populate.

Once you have that info you’ll be able to make more informed decisions about what schools you might want to include or how to rank. Keep in mind, now families can list as many schools as they want (a change last season), and that might change how you think about things. 

TOURING: Aviation Career and Tech, Harvest Collegiate, Townsend Harris

Aviation Career and Tech is hosting two in person open houses. Info is at MySchools: https://www.myschools.nyc/en/calendar/?school=24Q610&tag=1&page=0&page_size=10

Sat, 11/7, 9-11:30am

Sat, 11/21, 9-11:30am

Harvest Collegiate is hosting both in person and online touring options. Click here for more info/to register: https://www.harvestcollegiate.org/admissions

in person:

Fri, 10/23, 8:45-9:35am

Fri, 10/30, 8:45-9:35am

Fri, 11/6, 8:45-9:35am

Fri, 11/13, 8:45-9:35am

online:

Thur, 11/5, 7-8pm

Townsend Harris is hosting on in person open house. Click here for more info: https://www.thhs.qc.edu/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1269371&type=d&pREC_ID=1485963

Tues, 11/10, 5-7:30pm


the Bards

There are now 4 Bards: Manhattan, Queens (Long Island City), Brooklyn, and the Bronx.

You only have to do one assessment that will be considered by all 4 schools. You can take the assessment at any of the schools. Sign ups happen in the fall.

Here’s info about what to expect on the assessment:

After that some students are invited back for an in person interview. 

Manhattan and Queens have been around for year. Brooklyn and the Bronx were recently established. You can expect the same curriculum at all schools. 

TOURING! Eleanor Roosevelt, HS Fashion Industries

Fall 2026, here we go! As more go live I’ll be sharing out. 

You can also find touring info on school websites, on the MySchools calendar, at NY-SIFT. 

Eleanor Rooseveltis hosting both in person and virtual open house. Click here for more info/to register: https://www.erhsnyc.org/apps/pages/?userGroupREC_ID=27970&uREC_ID=27970&type=d&title=Admissions+Information&un=SEC-ADM&rn=3453345074

In person

Wed, 10/14 @4:30pm

Wed, 10/14 @5:30pm

Wed, 10/14 @6:30pm

Wed 10/28 @4:30pm

Wed 10/28 @5:30pm

Wed 10/28 @6:30pm

Virtual

Sat, 11/14 @11am

HS of Fashion Industries is hosting a day of in person open houses. Click here for more info/to register: https://www.hsfi.nyc/events?id=61614565

Note: all this info will be posted on the HS411 calendar, important dates section, and an online spreadsheet. You’ll find them all in the members section.

Questions? Please be in touch.


all the ways random numbers are used

Want to make sure everyone is clear about the different admissions methods and how random numbers are involved, in big and small ways. I’ll share this out again in the fall but it’s never too early to be thinking ahead.

Admissions methods

Open/Lottery

  • At these schools nothing is considered beyond your random number.

ED OPT - educational option

  • There are 3 tiers: low, middle, and high based on 7th grade end of year grades.

  • You’ll see your ED OPT group in Myschools.

  • Each group is filled with one third of students.

  • Random number ranks kids within their group.

Screen schools

  • There are 5 screened school admission groups

  • You’ll see your group in Myschools.

  • The cut off score changes every year.

  • Once in a group you are ranked by random number.

  • Schools consider all students in group one before moving on to the next group.

Screened schools with additional materials

  • The complete list: https://www.schools.nyc.gov/enrollment/enroll-grade-by-grade/high-school/assessments-for-screened-schools

  • Different schools have different asks and different rubrics. Some materials are submitted at MySchools, some at individual school websites. This info is all available at the link above and also in MySchools.

  • For schools that consider “grades” as part of their rubric, each group has an assigned point number: 100 points for group 1, 90 for group 2. 

  • A student’s final score the weighed average of the grade they get on their admissions materials and the points assigned based on their screened group. 

  • Random number is tie breaker when kids have the same final score.

Audition based

  • Ranking is based totally on audition/portfolio submission.

  • Random number is tie breaker when kids have the same score.

LaGuardia

  • Everyone over minimum GPA is considered equal. Last season it was 65.

  • Random number is tie breaker when kids have the same audition/portfolio score.

Specialized

  • ONLY the SHSAT is used for ranking students.

  • This is the ONLY scenario where random numbers aren’t considered.

quick where to find tours reminder and more

There are tours happening this spring beyond schools HS411 tracks. And it can be helpful to check out a school before the hubbub of the fall kicks in. 

You can find tours posted at the DOE’s MySchools: https://www.myschools.nyc/en/calendar/?page=0&page_size=10

and at NYC-Sift: https://nycsift.com/index.phtml an amazing tool created and run by a NYC parent. 

Individual schools also post info on their websites.

Below is a TOUR LOG I’ll share out again in the fall. Even if you end up not touring any schools until then, it’s never too early to start thinking about questions you might want to ask/info that’s important to you and your family.

some quick thoughts about SHSAT changes for this coming fall

Last season the SHSAT was given digitally for the first time. This coming season they are switching over to computer adaptive testing. 

From the DOE website: https://www.schools.nyc.gov/learning/testing/specialized-high-school-admissions-test

Beginning with the fall 2026 administration, the SHSAT will transition to a computer-adaptive test (CAT). A CAT is an exam that selects the questions that a student sees based on their ongoing performance. For example, a test-taker who performs well on a moderately challenging prompt will then receive a more difficult item; a student who does not answer such an item correctly will then be asked a less difficult question. Students will all be tested on the same grade-level standards, but the level of complexity of each question will be dependent upon the preceding response. Students will not be tested on standards that are above-grade level. Students will not be able to revisit questions or move around within sections and will need to respond to advance in the exam. All students will answer the same number of questions for each subject.  

In addition, for passage-based question sets in the ELA section, students will be able to return to questions within the set and alter their responses; once they complete and submit all questions in the set, they cannot review their responses. In the Math section and for stand-alone items in the ELA section, students must respond to each question before they will be able to move on to the next question. Students will not be able to return to the question after they have advanced in these sections. Once they complete and submit their responses in each subject, they will not be able revisit the questions for that subject.

The big difference from previous years: in the past students could jump around, go back and double check answers, and/or mark off questions to return to.

They won’t be able to do that anymore. 

It was a helpful test taking technique, utilizing time management skills to not get caught up and perhaps spiral if a particular question was too much of a struggle. Kids were encouraged to move on and come back later. But, except as noted above, that will no longer be possible.

If you’re planning on the SHSAT as an option and are doing any sort of test prep, you might want to check in and find out how tutors/companies supporting kids in dealing with this change. 

SHSAT changes for next season

This past season the SHSAT went digital for the first time. 

This coming season, which means the test your kids will take next November will not only be digital, it will utilize computer adaptive testing.

More changes:

after submitting an answer you will no longer be able to go back and change your mind

you cannot skip ahead as as each answer determines what question comes next

From the DOE website: 

Beginning with the fall 2026 administration, the SHSAT will transition to a computer-adaptive test (CAT). A CAT is an exam that selects the questions that a student sees based on their ongoing performance. For example, a test-taker who performs well on a moderately challenging prompt will then receive a more difficult item; a student who does not answer such an item correctly will then be asked a less difficult question. Students will all be tested on the same grade-level standards, but the level of complexity of each question will be dependent upon the preceding response. Students will not be tested on standards that are above-grade level. Students will not be able to revisit questions or move around within sections and will need to respond to advance in the exam. All students will answer the same number of questions for each subject.  

In addition, for passage-based question sets in the ELA section, students will be able to return to questions within the set and alter their responses; once they complete and submit all questions in the set, they cannot review their responses. In the Math section and for stand-alone items in the ELA section, students must respond to each question before they will be able to move on to the next question. Students will not be able to return to the question after they have advanced in these sections. Once they complete and submit their responses in each subject, they will not be able revisit the questions for that subject. 

NOTE: if you are preparing for the SHSAT, think about checking in with programs/tutors you might be working with to find out how they are changing things to reflect these changes.

TOURING: Academy for Careers in Television and Film, Harbor School, West End Secondary

Academy for Careers in Television and Film is hosting in person open houses. Info plus registration is available at MySchools: https://actvf.org/admissions/

Thur, 10/16, 5:30-7pm
Tues, 10/21, 5:30-7pm
Sat, 11/15, 9:30-12pm
Thur,  11/20,  5:30-7pm

New York Harbor School is hosting in person open houses. Click on the open house information to register: https://www.newyorkharborschool.org/admission

Tues, 10/7 at 3:15pm
Tues, 10/14 at 3:15pm
Thur, 11/6 at 3:15pm

West End Secondary is hosting open houses. Click here to register: https://www.westendsecondary.com/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=4391631&type=d&pREC_ID=2607435

Thur, 10/30, 6pm
Tues, 11/25, 5pm 
Thur, 12/4, 6pm

more TOURING: Columbia Secondary, HS for Language and Diplomacy, Manhattan Village Academy

Columbia Secondary is hosting in person open houses (info is available on MySchools): https://myschools.nyc/en/calendar/?school=05M362&tag=1&page=0&page_size=10

Tues, 10.28, 6-7:30pm

Thur, 11/13, 6-7:30pm

Sat, 11/15, 11am-12:30pm

HS for Language and Diplomacy is hosting in person open houses (info is available on MySchools): https://myschools.nyc/en/calendar/?tag=1&school=02M399&page=0&page_size=10

Thur, 10/23, 5:30-7pm

Thur, 11/6,  5:30-7pm

Manhattan Village Academy is hosting in person open houses (info is available on MySchools):  https://myschools.nyc/en/calendar/?tag=1&school=02M439&page=0&page_size=10

Tues, 10/7, 4-5:30pm

Thur, 10/9, 8:30-9am

Sat, 11/8, 10am-2pm

 

TOURING, Academy for Software Engineering, Aviation HS, Environmental Studies, Health Professionals and Human Services, Manhattan Hunter Science, School of the Future

Academy for Software Engineering is hosting in person open houses. Click here for more info/to register: https://www.afsenyc.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1219644&type=d&pREC_ID=1455035

Wed, 10/1, 5pm

Thur, 10/16, 5pm

Wed, 11/5, 5pm

Note: first was is today

Aviation HS is hosting 2 in person open houses> Click here for more info: https://www.aviationhs.net/

Sat, 11/1, 9am—11am

Sat, 11/15, 9am—11am

HS Environmental Studies is hosting both in person and virtual open houses. Registration info to come. Right now there’s a pop up window  with dates on their home page: https://www.envirostudies.org/

in person

Sat 10/25  @9-11am

Sat 10/25 @11:30am -1:30pm

Mon 11/10 @5:30pm - 7:30pm

virtual

Wed 11/19 @5:30-6:30pm

HS for Health Professionals and Human Services is hosting in person open houses. Click here for more info and to RSVP: https://www.hphsnyc.org/apps/news/article/2114273

Thur, 10/9,  5-7pm

Thur, 10/30, 5-7pm

Sat, 11/1, 11am- 1pm

Sat, 11/8, 11am- 1pm

Manhattan Hunter Science is hosting a virtual open house for all and an in person for SWD plus students. Click here for more info: https://www.mhshs.org/application-information

virtual for all 

Tues, 11/4 at 10am

in person for SWD plus: 

Mon, 11/10 at 9am

School of the Future is hosting in person open houses. Click here to register:  https://4.files.edl.io/4079/10/01/25/143435-172e188a-1f0f-480f-a30b-74b6ee59eeb3.pdf

Wed, 10.22, 4:30-6:30pm

Sat, 11/8 from 12:30-2pm

an ask and some more stuff about the Beacon rubric changes

First, I’m looking for a volunteer to share their MySchools log in info so I can go behind the scenes and see what you all are seeing in real time. Of course I won’t share any personal info. If you’re willing, please let me know and many thanks.

Ok, back to Beacon related info. In the past 5 schools shared a single essay: Beacon, ICE, School of the Future, East Side Community, and University Heights. Looks like Beacon is keeping the same essay prompt but having it done in person. Here is the prompt and grading rubric: https://www.beaconschool.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=604580&type=d 

We will see if the other 4 schools who used those same essay prompts in the past: East Side Community, School of the Future, ICE, University Heights, will keep the same set up - submitting essays through MySchools and the same prompts.