The middle school hunt

Students and faculty enter the lower level of the Robert J. Christen School,PS 81, from the school yard on June 22.

By Kate Pastor

A Press special report

Standing with their toes gripping the edge of the Sky Club's swimming pool last June, a group of rising sixth graders prepared for the plunge.

The ominous clouds that had threatened to move the recent graduates from The Robert J. Christen School, PS 81 indoors had passed. And as the students launched themselves from poolside into the air, tensions from the school year that had gone before seemed to dissipate. The school show had been a hit, graduation had come and gone and decisions about where they would go to school in the fall had been made. So they jumped up carelessly, still on a high from their graduation ceremony in the school's auditorium only days before.

Despite their youth, the children seemed to sense that one segment of their life was done, and that the decisions made by their parents and themselves in the last year would bring dramatic change. The first day of school in the fall would be the first step into a new world.

Where as most children may once have simply followed a path through schools in their neighborhood, nowadays parents often make plans while their kids are still crawling and re-evaluate their options at every stage of the game.

And the process that faces families in the transition from elementary to middle school can be extremely challenging.

"I've heard some people say that applying to middle school is worse than applying to college and I know what they mean, especially if they're not well informed," said Pamela Wheaton, director of the popular schools non-profit information Web site insideschools.org.

The system entirely depends on parents taking the initiative. If a parent doesn't ask about school fairs, talk to other parents for tips or poke at a guidance counselor for help or information, all they will get is a piece of paper that comes home in a backpack and says 'please show up at (The David A. Stein Riverdale/Kingsbridge Academy, MS/HS 141) or IN-Tech include full name [depending on where you live] in September.' No other options will be presented, and families will not find out about a school that is a perfect fit for their child until long after the application deadline has passed, was how one parent described his family's experience.

Crucial years

Middle school years are crucial for both academic and emotional development, experts say.

During these years students will likely find their way to and from school by themselves for the first time (busing usually ends by sixth grade). The elephant in many classrooms - puberty - is also making its debut.

These are the first years many students will experiment with dating, as well as drugs and alcohol. And with tests taken in middle school helping determine what high schools they'll be able to attend, these years are a high-stakes time for academics, too.

"Middle school is very short, so you have a small window of opportunity and seventh grade scores are what really count for high school admissions," Ms. Wheaton said.

All of it adds up to an enormous amount of pressure surrounding a single choice.

Navigating the landscape

The system of private schools is relatively straightforward, a combination of standardized test taking, essay writing and interviews, though each school has its own deadlines and particular guidelines.

But with costs exceeding $38,000 per year at some prestigious schools, such as Fieldston, Riverdale Country School and Horace Mann, and limited financial aid, the appeal of these schools is limited.

Parochial schools are a less expensive private option. While all parochial schools accept applications directly, all Catholic schools in New York City use the Archdiocesan application available at http://www.adnyeducation.org/elementary/new-universal-studentapplication/.

Middle school is a bit of an anomaly in the New York City public school system. Kindergarten admissions - standardized for the first time this year - allow parents to apply for any school they'd like, while reserving spaces for them in zoned schools. Most high schools allow students from all over the city to apply. The middle school process is a mishmash of rules, dependent on many things, including what geographical district a student hails from.

And while the Department of Education standardized the admissions timeline for certain middle schools for 2007/8, there are also schools parents must apply to directly because they are not on the Department of Education's central application. So admissions requirements vary widely.

In District 10, which encompasses Riverdale and Kingsbridge and beyond, families can choose from schools with three different types of admissions processes:

• District 10-zoned middle schools, for which parents apply through the Department of Ed and are given priority based on living within the zone.
• Middle schools located within both districts 9 and 10 that allow out-of-zone applicants to apply through the Department of Education's standardized application.
• District 10 students can apply to certain citywide schools outside of District 10. The Department of Education lists some of these schools in its publication, though it is not necessarily exhaustive. Parents must do their own research, as each has its own set of deadlines and requirements.

Choices, choices, choices

In some districts there are no zoned middle schools. All students participate in the "choice process," allowing parents whose children aren't zoned for a particular school to apply to them anyway. In others, most students are zoned for middle school and don't have much choice. According to Andy Jacob, a Department of Education spokesman, District 10 falls someplace in the middle. Most students in District 10 have a zoned middle school where they are guaranteed a seat, but also are eligible to apply to some "choice" schools through the Department of Education's application.

Different types of schools

Because middle school comes at such a critical moment in a child's development and the choices are vast, it is important to understand what each student's strengths and weaknesses are and which schools are best suited to help them grow. Some questions parents may want to ask themselves and their children include: Are students ready to be sent far away from home? Will they flourish in a small-school setting? Or is it time for them to get the experience of navigating a larger school with increased possibilities for social interaction and academic choice? Will a student benefit from staying near home with their peers from elementary school?

Middle school sizes vary widely. According to insideschools. org, some of the largest ones have been broken down into smaller academies in recent years, providing students with more personalized environments. Others (including locally zoned schools INTech Academy, MS/HS 368 and the David A. Stein Riverdale/Kingsbridge Academy, MS/HS 141) are larger and continue all the way through high school, while locally zoned schools like The Sheila Mencher Van Cortlandt School PS 95 and The Multiple Intelligence School, PS 37 are combined with the elementary grades.

Themed middle schools that aim to focus on a child's particular interest or strength are increasingly prevalent in New York City. Schools focusing on the arts, technology, or mathematics for example can be found both inside and outside of District 10.

According to insideschools.org, MS 224 Manhattan East School for Arts and Academics has historically accepted students from throughout the city and provides ample opportunities for them to get involved in the performing arts. A large number of graduates from Manhattan East end up going to LaGuardia High School of Music and Art and Performing Arts, a selective school many may remember from the movie and TV series Fame. It's one of the schools that parents need to contact directly in order to apply.

Other options that were available to local students last year include West Bronx Academy for the Future, which focuses on technology; Dr. Mary E. Walker Medical Science Academy and The Marie Curie School for Nursing, Medicine and Allied Health Professions and Bronx Dance Academy. The list goes on.

For academically gifted students within District 10 there are honors (accelerated) programs at both MS/ HS 141 and MS/HS 368. Last year there was also a district-wide gifted program at MS 118. Insideschools. org is in the process of putting together a full citywide list of accelerated programs that will be available this coming year.

Getting help

There are no official middle school counselors roaming he halls of elementary schools, though at each school there is somebody, usually the guidance counselor, designated to help point parents in the right direction. The level of knowledge and the helpfulness of school personnel, however, varies widely.

Every year, there are middle school fairs held in each district at which administrators from schools present their curriculum and answer parents' questions. According to insideschools.org, most districts hosted middle school fairs in December last year, not long before the January application deadlines of most schools, and after the deadlines of some of the most prestigious schools. And, if you contact a school you're interested in, there are tours for parents, students and school groups to get a feel for the school.

The bottom line seems to be that the information parents end up getting is largely dependent on how much initiative they take. With several places parents can go to get information, but no one place where it is all stored, family members must become reporters.

Sources where parentreporters can gather information

At PS 81 and PS 24, guidance counselors are responsible for providing middle school information to parents. But parent coordinators help bridge the gap for parents by inviting them and the counselor to information sessions.

Parents associations can also be useful resources. Oonagh DiBetta, mother of one of the celebrating PS 81 students, Ben, who attended the pool party mentioned in the introduction, is a member of PS 81's PA and said she regularly fielded questions about middle school admissions from parents, mostly because they know she has been through the process before, with her daughter.

Also, the Department of Education has started taking on a greater role in gathering and providing information recently. As is the trademark of Mayor Michael Bloomberg's administration, there is more centralized information available than there used to be, but, in this case, it's not enough to end confusion.

Still, the Department of Education's resources are essential for families wending their way through the system. For starters, families can use department's Web site (http://schools.nyc.gov/default.htm), which is flush with information on everything from school budgets to middle school choices broken down by school district.

The wealth of available information, however, can make it hard to find what you're looking for.

To get started looking for a middle school, families can go to the navigation bar on the left of the main page and click on "Choices & Enrollment." Then select "Middle Schools" and then click on "Publications." Under the Bronx there is a document called "District 10 Middle School Directory 2008-2009," which, unfortunately, is from last year. It lists all the public school options for District 10 students by category, though some may have changed since the report was published, more than a year ago.

New schools open almost every year, even as late as February, said Ms. Wheaton of insideschools.org.

"When it finally comes out [it's helpful], but sometimes it comes out a little late," she said.

Ms. DiBetta, the PS 81 parent, began thinking about middle school choices early in the fall, when her son began fifth grade, giving her a chance to collect information before some important deadlines.

In October, directories of schools are distributed (both online and through the mail) to families; middle school fairs are conducted and middle schools hold information sessions and open houses, which continue through the following month.

In November, fifth graders receive applications due in December. Middle school assignments are received by the late spring.

These are general guidelines and only apply to schools listed in the Department of Education's directory. Some public "choice" schools, such as the academically challenging Sarah Anderson School on Manhattan's Upper West Side, keep to their own schedule and process, requiring letters of recommendation from teachers and for students to test in. For sixth grade, there are often fewer than 15 seats available at the Anderson School.

Learning about prospective schools

To get some sense of a school before a visit, parents need look no further than the Department of Education Web site. Search for a school and then click on "Statistics."

A page with a range of evaluation tools is available.

Parents will have access to:

• Recent Learning Environment Survey reports (NYC School Survey), which draw on responses from parents, teachers and students to an annual questionnaire.
• The Quality Review Report, an attempt to capture what life is like inside the school.
• Progress Report, which measures students' year-to-year progress based on a comparison to peer schools.
• Annual School Report Card, which includes the Accountability and Overview Report and a Comprehensive Information Report.

Below you can find some of the highlights for popular middle school choices in Riverdale and Kingsbridge:

Locally zoned middle schools

IN-Tech Academy, MS/HS 368 got Bs for both the 2006/7 and the 2007/8 academic years on their overall middle school progress reports provided by the Department of Education. The 2008/9 NYC School Survey report showed the school was close to or surpassed the city average across all categories of questions answered by parents, teachers and students. The relatively new middle/high school has a journalism program and two technology programs.

According to insideschools.org, it has a college-size track and tennis courts. The school is also equipped with the latest in teaching technology, such as smart boards and projector screens. Students who continue on to the high school take a virtual business class and some get to participate in a Microsoft internship. The school serves grades six through twelve and is located in Kingsbridge.

The David A. Stein Riverdale/Kingsbridge Academy, MS/HS 141 in Riverdale got Cs on progress reports for its middle school during both the 2006/7 and 2007/8 academic years. While parents rated the school above the citywide average on the NYC School Survey in 2008/9, both students and teachers rated it below the citywide average in all categories. The school, located in Riverdale, is also home to a popular honors program that many Riverdale families vie for slots in, and is also across the street from PS 24, one of its feeder schools.

The Multiple Intelligences School PS/MS 37, a kindergarten through eighth-grade school located in Kingsbridge, got an A on its 2006/7 progress report, and a C in 2007/8. On the latest NYC School Survey, parents rated the school near or above the citywide average. However, teachers seemed to believe the school did not maintain order and discipline well, with only 50 percent of them answering yes to that question, compared with 74 percent citywide.

The Sheila Mencher Van Cortlandt School PS/MS 95 in Van Cortlandt Village got Bs on its 2006/7 and 2007/8 progress reports. But teachers rated it lower than the citywide average in two categories, including only 54 percent of them who answered yes to whether school leaders invite teachers to play a meaningful role in setting goals and making important decisions for the school. Students also rated the school on the same level or below the citywide average.

The New School for Leadership and Journalism, MS 244 in Kingsbridge is locally a zoned school that specializes in media. The school got Bs on both the 2006/7 and the 2007/8 progress reports, but parents rated their satisfaction with the school at or near the citywide average over three categories. Teachers rated the school well below the citywide average, and students, slightly below.

Outside the box

Though Riverdale and Kingsbridge are home to some good, zoned options, Ms. Wheaton, of insideschools. org, said she believes parents should keep an open mind about middle schools.

"If I were a parent in Riverdale and the Bronx, if they're not happy with the neighborhood schools, I would look at citywide applications," she said, meaning schools that take individual applications, rather than going through the Department of Ed.

She recommended The Urban Assembly Schools, one of which accepts students from District 10; Manhattan East, which according to insideschools.org is "a small, progressive [middle] school that prides itself not only on its racial diversity but also on the range of different abilities and income levels represented," and the Institute for Collaborative Education.

Bronx Early College Academy (BECA) was also mentioned as a good option, though with the school's move from the Whitehall annex in Riverdale to a new location on East 164th Street, it's unclear how the school may change. This year, BECA was considered the most improved school in New York City based on the NYC School Survey.

"I think parents should take a look at some of these other schools," said Ms. Wheaton.

However, she wasn't surprised to learn that most Riverdale families only consider a short list of schools outside Riverdale.

"Especially in the Bronx, it seems that people don't want to go outside their comfort zone or outside their neighborhood," she said.

Her suggestion was not to rely on the schools that happen to come to a child's elementary school with public-relations style presentations. The way to do it, she said, requires a little bit more shoe leather.

"Go visit the school yourself," she said.

"You may see something that other parents don't see." Another good barometer of a school- "Go to a PTA meeting," she said. They are open to the public.

Getting in

After families have selected where they would like to send their prospective middle schoolers, the admissions process begins.

There are different requirements for different schools. The ones that require students to apply directly may each have different methods for choosing their incoming classes and there is no uniformity to their requirements or their deadlines. Parents must keep track of test and audition dates, application deadlines, information session dates and tours. Once parents venture beyond the schools that participate in the Department of Ed application process, things can easily become hard to keep track of.

Having a strong first choice is also important when considering schools other than those that are locally zoned.

"The controversial part of the application is the ranking of schools… because many schools will only look at you if [they're your] first choice and if you don't get your first choice you're kind of in no man's land," said Robin Aranow, a school choice consultant who runs a practice on the Upper West Side.

According to Mr. Jacob, of the Department of Education, students can always fall back on their zoned school, but that doesn't help parents trying to decide which non-zoned school on the Department of Ed application to list as a top choice.

"When every school tells you that [they need to be ranked first for a student to get in] it's so overwhelming," said Ms. DiBetta.

Where do all the children go?

Likely because some parents aren't aware of all their middle school possibilities, and because locally zoned students have some well-regarded schools on offer, Riverdale/Kingsbridge families often end up choosing neighborhood schools.

Last year, there were 247 sixth graders in the public school system zoned for MS/HS 141, including those from PS 24 and PS 81. Of those students 193 decided to attend the school.

There were 211 sixth graders zoned for MS/HS 368, many from PS 7 in Kingsbridge. Of those who were zoned, 108 decided to attend MS/HS 368 and 103 attended another school.

Since MS/HS 368 was created in 2000 there has been a lottery that allows students zoned for either of the two schools to swap their seats and attend the other.

But despite the fact that MS/HS 368 is competitive with MS/HS 141 in terms of scores and other Department of Ed measurements of success, most Riverdale families don't join the lottery.

Another factor behind many families' decision to attend local schools is the fact they may not be aware of all the other available options.

Apart from a package she received with middle school information, Ms. DiBetta said she never turned to the Department of Education for help. And while she too got the invitation to tour MS/HS 141 and was taken to see a classroom in action, the gym and had her questions answered, she wasn't aware of any other schools having reached out.

Mostly "you're on your own," she said.

Hedging bets

Ms. DiBetta didn't apply to the school she most wanted Ben to attend, out of a concern that wouldn't even come up for three more years: if he went to Manhattan East, he might have lost out on his chance of attending MS/HS 141 for high school.

This was something Ms. DiBetta learned from her experience with her daughter Kira. Now a rising high school junior, Kira attended Manhattan East School following her graduation from PS 81. Ms. DiBetta had been shocked to learn that by choosing to send her daughter there rather than to her locally-zoned option, MS/HS 141, Kira would not necessarily get priority to return for high school. Instead, John F. Kennedy was listed as her default, or zoned school.

"That was too scary for me," she said.

She said she was not satisfied with student achievement at JFK and found the atmosphere intimidating.

"The environment, to me, was too frightening," she said.

Luckily, she said, Kira was able to migrate to MS/ HS 141 by listing it on the application. However, Ms. DiBetta recalled that Kira was the only Manhattan East student to get in that year and the way Ms. Di- Betta saw it, she had gotten lucky.

She wasn't about to take that chance with Ben.

With luck, a happy ending

By the time Ben pounded a tetherball around a pole to his classmate, Samantha Rosette, that day in June, the decision was far behind him. He would be attending 141 in the fall, and most of his friends would be joining him there.

However his mother, though satisfied with the way things worked out, was still thinking about how flawed the system was.

To her, what middle school Ben ended up attending has consequences that reach far beyond the next three years. It's about where he will go to high school and even college. It will also make the difference between whether Ben continues to thrive socially or becomes the odd boy out, and also whether he continues to participate in the arts.

She settled, quite happily, on the safe choice. With an academic curriculum that enticed her, as well as sports and theater activities her ham-of-a-son could get involved in while staying close to home. She shed no tears over her decision to send Ben to MS/HS 141, where his sister, Kira, had been flourishing.

"We've got our safety net by having him in the middle school there," she said.

From Ben's perspective, the school represented a different safety net. Unlike when his sister Kira entered MS/HS 141, most of his PS 81 classmates would be going to MS/HS 141 also.

When Kira started middle school, Ms. Di- Betta remembers more students being sent off to Catholic schools, private schools, Manhattan East and Anderson in Manhattan. "It was actually kind of sad because the whole group didn't stay together at all," she said.

Toward the middle of this year, Ben will likely start walking twenty to twenty-five minutes each way, to and from school.

"… That's the beauty of Riverdale and Riverdale schools," she said.

Ben and some of his classmates see starting MS/ HS 141 in the fall not as a move, but merely as a step up to the next grade.

"It's gonna be pretty much like an older PS 81 almost," said Samantha about going to MS/HS 141.

Middle school, she said, will be "that much harder and that much more interesting" but she has some idea of what to expect. She had taken a tour of MS/HS 141, sat through an information session and shadowed a sixth-grade class for a day.

Her father, Scott, and mother, Kim Johnson, moved from across the river in Inwood to Riverdale for its elementary schools.

They went up and down the river every weekend checking out neighborhoods and were pleased to discover that there was more to Riverdale than Wave Hill and mansions, Mr. Rosette said.

"We didn't have to move that far," he said. The family remains focused on the education of their children. Mr. Rosette said they might have moved again if 141 had not been an option.

"We don't need to go anyplace else. It's all here," he said.

This is part of the September 3, 2009 online edition of The Riverdale Press.

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