No rest for entering 8th graders: HS workshops in July

June 27, 2012 Brooklyn Eagle Staff

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By Mary Frost
Brooklyn Daily Eagle

For New York City's public school children, summer vacation officially starts on Thursday, but students entering 8th grade don’t get a break. It’s time for them (and their families) to start thinking about what high school they want to attend in 2013 and learn about various deadlines by attending summer workshops run by the city's Department of Education.

Now is not the time to slack off. Though students can list up to 12 high school choices on their applications, last year more than 7,000 unfortunate students — about 10 percent of applicants — did not get into any of their choices. These students have to go through a second round process, choosing from what is left over.

DOE will hold two types of summer workshops for families throughout July to help them learn about the application process.

• Admissions: “High School Admissions: Where Do I Start?” will provide an introduction to admissions and the different types of high school programs. Two admissions workshops will be held in each borough. In Brooklyn, the first takes place on Thursday, July 12, at the Prospect Heights Campus, 883 Classon Ave.; the second is on Tuesday, July 17, at Abraham Lincoln HS, 2800 Ocean Parkway, near Coney Island. For information about workshops in other boroughs, visit http://schools.nyc.gov and click on “Choices and Enrollment.”

• Specialized high schools: This workshop will focus on admission to the nine exclusive specialized high schools. Students and parents will hear from specialized high school representatives and get tips on how to prepare for the exam. In Brooklyn, only one workshop takes place, on Tuesday, July 24, at Prospect Heights Campus, 883 Classon Ave. Check the website mentioned above for locations in other boroughs.

If students didn’t receive a 2012–2013 directory of high schools at their middle school, they can pick one up at the nearest enrollment office (or find it online at the above website). Inside this thick book is information about every high school in the city, including admission requirements, school hours, individual school rules and school statistics.

Finally, make sure to consult InsideSchools.org, an invaluable resource for New York City parents. More about the high school admissions process can be found at: http://insideschools.org/blog/item/1000376-summer-hs-workshop-dates-set-new-directory.