Ivy Tutors Network’s founder, Lisa Speransky, recently sat down for an information-packed webinar with admissions experts, Katie Miller and Chantal Aflalo. The subject was “everything you need to know about New York City high school admissions.” Here’s what we learned:

There are so many amazing high schools in New York City, both public and private. Some of the options include:

Specialized High Schools (the ones you take the SHSAT for)

LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts

All of these schools have different educational philosophies and admissions modalities, but they are all worth looking into and considering. The wider you cast your next, the more likely you are to find a school your child will be happy at. By not fixating on one school, you keep your options open and avoid any major disappointments. When it comes to casting a wide net, here are our recommendations:

Include public, independent, parochial and or charter schools on your list.

If you are interested in the Specialized High schools, SHSAT prep is very important. Aim for 30-40 points above the cut off score for your child’s first choice school.

Any artistic interest or talent? Consider applying to LaGuardia and public general education audition schools.

We recommend creating a list of 8-12 schools, but it must be 

! This means that your list will include both highly competitive schools with a limited number of seats, and schools that have fewer applicants per seat. You should also consider adding schools with different admission modalities (SHSAT, audition, lottery etc.).

Be aware of approximately how many seats are available to your child at schools of interest. Your favorite school(s) should still find a place on your list, BUT do not weigh your list too heavily with schools that have minimal seats available for your child. Schools with 100(ish) seats will often, realistically, only have about 30-50 seats available to your general education child, and 20ish seats available to your SWD (student with disabilities) child. A K-12 or a 6-12 school may have between 20-40 seats TOTAL available.

Remember, creating a balanced list gives your child the best chance of receiving an offer from a school you choose for them.

Now that you have a balanced list, start a spreadsheet. There’s a lot to keep track of. Public, private, and boarding schools all have different admissions timelines. Different schools require different tests and application materials. It’s useful to have a spreadsheet or other organizational system to keep track of what you need to submit and when.

Whatever test your child is taking, it’s important to have a plan. Here’s a brief rundown of the different tests and what schools they’re for:

 - This is the test for the specialized public high schools. Admission to these schools is based solely on your child’s score. For more on SHSAT prep: 

https://ivytutorsnetwork.com/blog/shsat-test-prep-what-you-need-to-know

 - These tests are required for admission to most independent and boarding schools. Many schools will accept either one, but it’s important to look at the requirements for the individual schools on your list before deciding which one to take. For more on ISEE prep and SSAT prep: 

https://ivytutorsnetwork.com/blog/whats-the-difference-between-the-ssat-and-isee

 - This is the admission test of the Catholic high schools in and around New York City.

 before your test date. Start by having your child take a

 and based on their performance, determine a plan of action. It’s important to know what is on each test and have your child commit to a consistent study plan (approximately 30 minutes of study per day). One of the best ways to prepare is to have your child read. Reading books and periodicals daily (

, etc.) with complex ideas and difficult vocabulary is the best way to study without studying!

Although some schools are now test optional, many schools would still like to see a score. A strong score can be a big admissions boost! That being said, you should evaluate whether or not the test will help or hurt your child’s application.

 and a team of expert, caring tutors to get your child’s 

It’s an Evolving Situation, so be Proactive

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, there’s still a lot that we don’t know about how admissions will work this season. For example, we don’t yet know if there will be in-person open houses for the public schools. Be 

 and regularly check the websites of the schools you’re interested in for updates. This will allow you to make sure you snag a spot at that tour or open house as soon as it becomes available. Although we don’t have all the information yet, you can still be prepared for what’s coming up by following the advice in this post.

Few places in the world have such a wide and diverse array of schools as New York City. Although it may feel like a lot to navigate, you and your child should feel excited about all the incredible educational opportunities on offer. If you stick to these guidelines, you’ll be sure to find the right school for your child, and they’re sure to have an amazing high school experience!

Everything You Need to Know about NYC High School Admissions

As we near the start of the school year, there remain a number of questions around how public high school admissions will operate this fall, namely:

When and how will the SHSAT be administered?

When will the SHSAT and LaGuardia auditions signup window open?

Will auditions, tours, and open houses be live? Virtual? Both? And when will they be offered?

When will the general education high school application be due?

And perhaps the biggest question of all… How will individual schools determine how they will admit students, and when will we know?

Unfortunately, there are no clear answers on any of the above YET. We’re hoping for some clarity in early September, but there are some steps you can take right now to ensure your child is in a strong position going into the fall:

For now, assume the SHSAT will take place in late October, and help your child develop a study plan accordingly. The date MAY shift later, but without knowing that it is important to proceed as if the test will occur in October. Depending on how your child’s SHSAT preparation is going, and what their goal score is, you may want to add a private tutor into the mix. Private tutors can help develop individualized strategies and are the strongest way to boost the SHSAT score.


Prepare for the LaGuardia audition using the information available on the DOE website at 

. The how and what for the auditions may shift, but the metrics listed there will give your child an idea of what will be asked of them. Audition coaches and/or art teachers can be a great help with preparation and confidence.


Develop an over-inclusive list of general education and specialized schools of interest based on your child’s preferences and relevant family priorities (sports, preferred educational model, clubs, proximity to home, etc.). You can find information about schools on 

Collect examples of your child’s best work from 7th grade and/or the beginning of 8th grade (writing samples, lab reports, creative writing pieces, artwork, dance, vocal or instrumental solos, etc.). The writing samples should have teacher comments on them and should have been done individually.


Create a system to keep track of all of the information you have learned/will learn about each school of interest. Bookmark their URLs and check periodically to see if they have posted information on open houses, tours, and/or screening metrics.

Good luck with back to school, and I am here if you need me!

Late Summer 2021 NYC Admissions Update

The SHSAT, or Specialized High School Admissions Test, is not an easy test. Given to 8th graders who are interested in trying their luck at admissions to one of 

, the test has 114 questions to be done in 3 hours. That gives you about a minute and a half for each math question and even less time for the English questions (if you split your time equally between the math and English sections) because you also need time to read the reading comprehension passages.

And, on top of everything, the SHSAT doesn't provide you with a math formulas sheet. That means: you have to memorize them!

We're here to take the anxiety out of your test prep journey. One way to ensure a stress-free SHSAT experience is to have a very strong command over the math formulas you'll need to know in order to solve the 57 math questions. We think that while you're practicing, you'll need this trusty cheat sheet! Enjoy!

DOWNLOAD OUR SHSAT FORMULAS TO MEMORIZE CHEAT SHEET!

SHSAT Math Formulas to Memorize

We’re happy to answer any test question you may have and to help take the stress out of test prep!

Start with the most experienced and inspiring tutors, focus on test subject matter and specific exam tricks efficiently, reach your highest potential scores, and move on with your life! Test prep isn’t only about beating the test, but about developing strong math and English skills, building stamina, and understanding that hard work pays off through a growth mindset.

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