High school news out
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This afternoon, the city’s 86,169 8th graders finally got news about their high-school placements for September. According to the Department of Education, just over half got good news from their first-choice school, three-fourths got one of their top three picks, and 86 percent got one of their top five. (Students who received offers from the eight specialized exam high schools and LaGuardia got their news in February.)Despite a process that permitted student to rank up to 12 general-education schools, 7,455 students came home empty-handed, without having matched to a school on their list. These students will participate in a supplementary round, which launches with a school fair on March 31 from 6 pm - 9 pm at the Martin Luther King Jr. Educational Campus in Manhattan.While the first round of the high-school process spans months, the decision-making window in the supplementary round is short: Applications must be returned to 8th grade guidance counselors on or before April 3.
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When will ninth graders get their letters.
Comment by Evoulution — March 26, 2009 @ 4:55 pm
what if we don’t want to go to that school?
Comment by leeNE — March 27, 2009 @ 6:37 pm
If you don’t want to go to the school you were matched to, you can fill out a letter of appeal. See our story about “No High School Match? Here’s What to do?” which explains the process.
Ask your guidance counselor for an appeal letter - however, be aware that there is no guarantee you’ll get a match.
Comment by Pamela Wheaton — March 28, 2009 @ 11:13 am
What do you do if your appeal is denied? Also what if you then decide to move to the suburbs (Brooklyn). Can you ask for a transfer in the summer? And how do you go about this process? From a concerned parent!
Comment by upper westside parent — March 31, 2009 @ 9:12 am
If you move over the summer you can apply for a “travel hardship” transfer if the address you move to is 1.5 hours or more in travel time from the school you were matched to at your old address. The DOE opens up special enrollment centers at the end of August and sometimes you can make a case for a different placement (or apply for certain kinds of transfers) there. They don’t make it easy, however. If your appeal is denied, you will be asked to accept the school to which you were matched. You can also keep persisting — even over the summer - to try to get a more appropriate school. Sometimes there is movement even in August or September. Best to choose a school (on appeal) where you think you have a chance of acceptance.
Comment by Anonymous — March 31, 2009 @ 4:08 pm
my son was in the second round and i just found out he pick one of the school that is failing school. could i still tranfer him out from that school. he is a honer roll student. is a shame that my son didn’t get pick the frist round.what can i do to help him get in the school he really want.
Comment by sue — April 20, 2009 @ 8:06 am
I AM SO UPSET MY SON GET IN A HIGH SCHOOL WHICH IS A NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND. WHAT CAN’T I DO TO GET MY SON OUT THAT SCHOOL.PLEASE HELP ME.
Comment by SUE — May 1, 2009 @ 4:38 pm
Sue - You may appeal his placement by May 7. Ask your guidance counselor for an appeal form and contact Insideschools.org directly and we’ll give you more specific advice.
Comment by Pamela Wheaton — May 1, 2009 @ 5:24 pm
how do i get contact with you? i need information on how to appeal. i call d.o.e. and my son school . i feel like there is nothing i could do. please let me know how dose it work. thanks
Comment by sue — May 2, 2009 @ 6:30 am
please explain to me the appeal . i try to contact but always an error. please tell me how to appeal .thanks
Comment by sue — May 4, 2009 @ 7:13 am
Ask your school’s guidance counselor for an appeal form. If you have trouble getting one from the guidance counselor, go to the nearest DOE enrollment office. You should write a letter explaining exactly why you wish to appeal — for example, the school is not the right fit, your son has a good record and needs a school that offers advanced courses, the school is too far away, or whatever the reason might be. You might also try to attach a letter from the school (a favorite teacher maybe?) explaining why the school to which your son has been matched is not a good fit. The letter must be turned in to the guidance counselor by May 7. In your appeal, you can list the school(s) that he would like to attend — but make sure that he has the qualifications for the school (for example, if you don’t live in Manhattan, don’t appeal for a school that gives priority to Manhattan residents or District 2.) If you have specific questions, try calling the helpline at Advocates for Children - 1-866-427-6033. You’ll have to have patience because the helpline is often very busy. Also - if you live in Brooklyn, be aware that there is a new school fair there today from 4-7 p.m. at Brooklyn Borough Hall. There are a few new schools that will be represented that look promising. Good luck!
Comment by Pamela Wheaton — May 4, 2009 @ 8:51 am
i went to guidance counselor to appeal. on the appeal form i put that my son have asthma and iwant him close to home and i don’t want him in a school that is no child left behind .i don’t no what else i can do please help.
Comment by sue — May 4, 2009 @ 9:32 am