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Next week the NYC Department of Education begins it's high school choice seminars around the city. I've been and not excited about any of the choices, and was wondering if Catholic High Schools have something similar. I'd like to learn more about them.
I know a lot of parents with children attending St. Francis Prep, Archbishop Molloy, Mary Louis Academy.
Are there others worth investigating?
How about private/prep schools?
I know opting out of public school will be an expense but I have to fully explore the alternatives.
I'm not in Queens, but since no one else answered - my son went through the process last year. We mainly looked at public schools in Manhattan because there's not many good ones in the Bronx. There are decent schools there without Manhattan priority, including Beacon, Bard, the iSchool, Manhattan Hunter. Queens also has a Bard campus. The commute would have been long, but it seems pretty common here in high school. Again, I didn't research Queens specifically, but I know that there are some other good public schools there.
Catholic schools around here ranged from 7K+ to about 17K - it's probably similiar in Queens. It's definitely an option. Most have some merit scholarships too, and many have their own tests in addition to the TACHS. My son did an SHSAT class but didn't have time to prepare for the TACHS, and on the day didn't complete one portion. Even though, he got into all the Catholic schools where he applied. His grades were good but not wonderful. My general feeling is that Catholic schools are easier as far as admissions - not the same competition as the more sought after public schools. About half the kids from his middle school are going to Catholic schools for high school. Some were offered full scholarships.
I didn't realize that the Catholic schools want a big deposit right before you get the public school results - like 6pm the day before... It's a racket and in the end, we didn't put one down. Luckily he ended up happy with the results of the public school process.
Researching and applying to many options is tiring, but probably the best thing. It will give you or your child the best choice. Ask the guidance counselor for that big book of high schools and go through it thoroughly. There are some schools that give extra points for going to the open house, so you need to pay attention to the schedule if you're also applying to public schools. Best of luck.
I'm not in Queens, but since no one else answered - my son went through the process last year. We mainly looked at public schools in Manhattan because there's not many good ones in the Bronx. There are decent schools there without Manhattan priority, including Beacon, Bard, the iSchool, Manhattan Hunter. Queens also has a Bard campus. The commute would have been long, but it seems pretty common here in high school. Again, I didn't research Queens specifically, but I know that there are some other good public schools there.
Catholic schools around here ranged from 7K+ to about 17K - it's probably similiar in Queens. It's definitely an option. Most have some merit scholarships too, and many have their own tests in addition to the TACHS. My son did an SHSAT class but didn't have time to prepare for the TACHS, and on the day didn't complete one portion. Even though, he got into all the Catholic schools where he applied. His grades were good but not wonderful. My general feeling is that Catholic schools are easier as far as admissions - not the same competition as the more sought after public schools. About half the kids from his middle school are going to Catholic schools for high school. Some were offered full scholarships.
I didn't realize that the Catholic schools want a big deposit right before you get the public school results - like 6pm the day before... It's a racket and in the end, we didn't put one down. Luckily he ended up happy with the results of the public school process.
Researching and applying to many options is tiring, but probably the best thing. It will give you or your child the best choice. Ask the guidance counselor for that big book of high schools and go through it thoroughly. There are some schools that give extra points for going to the open house, so you need to pay attention to the schedule if you're also applying to public schools. Best of luck.
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