Call 718-246-7900 ext. 343 for more information on the high school selection process and to find out about schools that may interest you or your student!

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Click here to download the press release and report recently released by WestEd, which examines the success of New Small High Schools.

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Facts about New Small Schools

Over the past few years, many new small schools have opened in NYC. These schools are different than most other City schools and have a lot to offer students.

Note: When necessary we use the phrase “brand new small schools” for schools that will open in fall of 2007. All other new small schools have opened over the past several years.

What are New Small Schools?
The new small schools offer additional high quality educational options to all students in New York City based on the principles of academic rigor, personalization, and partnerships:

• Academic rigor: Students are provided with a clear definition of the knowledge and skills they must attain, and classes are designed to ensure that all students are held to high standards and graduate.
• Personalization: The schools will enroll approximately 500 students or fewer, enabling teachers, principals, and peers to support the needs of all students.
• Partnerships: The majority of schools collaborate with an Intermediary organization (such as a university, youth development agency, non-profit or educational organization). These partners bring educational resources to schools, enabling both increased quality and scale. In addition, local partnerships with community organizations, cultural institutions, and businesses strengthen the connection between the schools and the communities they serve.

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Note: In June of 2006 15 New Small Schools that were opened in 2002 graduated their first classes. This past June, the principals of each school were asked to report what they estimated would be the graduation rate at their school for the 2006 cohort of students. The average preliminary graduation rate of all 15 schools was 73%. Though this rate is a self-reported preliminary estimate, it does provide insight into how well the New Small Schools are performing.

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Researching Small Schools

Before you decide to put any school down on your High School Application, be it a small school or otherwise, you should always research the school/program first.

1. Talk to your guidance counselors and teachers about the schools you are considering and ask for more information.

2. Many schools hold information sessions to give students an opportunity to learn more about the school. Attending these sessions will give you priority over a student who did not attend a session should you decide to apply to the school. Attending a New Schools Information Fair will give you priority as well.

3. Visit the school’s website at schools.nyc.gov.

4. Visit www.insideschools.org to see what students, teachers, and parents say about the school.

5. Check out the school’s report card at schools.nyc.gov.

6. Schedule a tour at the school to see how it really feels to be there during a school day.

7. Visit www.newvisions.org to find out more about small schools.

Other things to think about when considering a small school:

• Many small schools have a uniform dress code requirement.
• Because of their size, some small schools cannot offer the same range of electives, sports, and other extracurricular activities that the larger high schools do.
• Some small schools require students to participate in a community service project or internship.
• Most small schools have an unscreened admission process.

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Applying to a New Small School

If you would like to apply to a small school that has already been up and running for a year or more, you will need to apply to that school as you would any other school in the city, taking into consideration its admission requirements.

In the winter of your 8th grade year, the New York City Department of Education will make public the list of brand new small schools that will open the following fall. If you would like to apply to any of these brand new schools, you must fill out a New School Choice Form, which you can get from your guidance counselor. On the new form, you can add the new schools in which you are interested, while keeping some of your original choices. Once you have chosen your schools, put them in order of priority on the New Schools Choice Form. As with the original application, you can choose up to 12 schools. Turn in the New Schools Choice Form to your guidance counselor. You will receive a letter notifying you of your match in late March. You will be matched with your highest ranked school that also ranked you. (See attached example of a New Schools Choice Form)

Remember, if you fill out a New Schools Choice Form, you must still include any high schools you chose in December if you are still interested in them. You may add any brand new small schools (that are opening the following fall) to this new list. You may not add other schools that were not on the original choice form you filled out in December—ONLY BRAND NEW SCHOOLS CAN BE ADDED. Rank your twelve choices from the school you want to attend the most at the top of the page to the school you are least interested in at the bottom of the page.

Note: Should you choose to apply, attending an information session/open house at the brand new school that you are interested in will greatly improve your chances of admission. You must speak with a staff member and put your name on the sign-in sheet to be given priority.

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Sections of this website have been taken directly from the New York City Department of Education website*