Timing squeeze, middle school G&T
We’re hearing from middle school parents who’ve had happy news from a Manhattan citywide gifted and talented school — but, as of Monday, hadn’t yet had word regarding district G&Ts in their Brooklyn neighborhood.
The deadline to accept offers at citywide gifted and talented middle schools is tomorrow, but the decision is impossible to make with incomplete information — without knowing the local options. (Attending the citywide in Manhattan would involve a commute of at least an hour each way for one family in this situation.) So the day before a critical deadline, families don’t have all the information they need to make informed choices for their children.
Whether or how the Department of Education plans to respond to their own notification delays isn’t yet known — but if you’re a prospective middle-school parent still waiting for G&T placement news from your district schools, please let us know.
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Can you say which Middle School has sent out acceptances? We’re still waiting to hear about NEST +M for our son going into Middle school and thought we’d receive all the letters this week. Also Mark Twain hasn’t sent out letters yet as far as I can tell from their website and our mailbox.
Comment by brooklynmom — May 26, 2009 @ 11:44 am
We in the Bronx have heard nothing from citywide G&T either. Didn’t DOE say they were sending out notifications the week of May 26th? How is it possible that some parents already got their “happy news” so quickly?
Comment by Anonymous — May 26, 2009 @ 3:06 pm
we just got a rejection email from Nest today - tuesday. No letter. Haven’t heard from brooklyn schools.
Comment by Anonymous — May 26, 2009 @ 9:17 pm
I know that we have not yet received anything from the Brooklyn programs we applied to in District 21. I also know that my friends, most of whom reside in District 22, have not heard anything yet either. We are all very anxious at this point and any further delay is truly in excusable and intollerable.
Comment by Graduating 5th graders Mom — May 27, 2009 @ 9:50 am
It is very difficult to have qapplication for citywide gifted and talented. My daughter is in astral in district 18 and still feels that she is not getting challenging enough. Since she is in 3rd grade and I know ther is a program calling citywide gifted, I was thinking she can get the application form to get tested so that she can be where she can be challenged.
It is very sad to have a child who scored a level 4 in reading and that child cannot be placed where she belong.I believe when a child is not having the quality support to grow is like having that child in a dark closing room with no hope.
What can someone possibly do in a dark closing room? One can do nothing simply stay there without seeing, moving, or growing. This is exactly what is happening now for our young kids.
I hope the chancellor have a consideration for these young kids who live in Booklyn. Mahattan has 3 citywide gifted and talented while Brooklyn has none. Can someone with a soft heart listen to those Brooklyn parents who are crying out for help.
Comment by Myriam Charles — May 27, 2009 @ 9:52 am
My daughter is in G & T 5th grade waiting to hear about middle school acceptance. We are in district 3 in manhattan. I just found out (via telephone) from one of the independent schools that she has applied and tested for that she is waitlisted. The school will begin the process of calling waitlisted students and offer a spot NEXT WEEK. They informed me that if my daughter is accepted then i would have to make a decision on the spot. How can i make a decision without knowing if she has been accepted to the other schools she has applied for through the DOE. Does anyone have a phone # at the DOE to find out when they are REALLY going to send out the acceptance letters?
Comment by Balkis Boulanger — May 27, 2009 @ 11:11 am
Does anyone have any idea how long NEST+m’s waitlist is, and what are the chances of getting a spot if a kid is on it?
Comment by Anuta — May 27, 2009 @ 11:44 am
someone just posted on the forum that she called the Enrollment Office and was told acceptances will not be mailed until the week of June 1.
Comment by fifthgrade parent — May 27, 2009 @ 4:43 pm
….Does anyone have any idea how long NEST+m’s waitlist is, and what are the chances of getting a spot if a kid is on it?…
Unless somebody DECLINE their seat at NEST+M, there’s NO CHANCE of getting a spot.
Comment by Anonymous — May 27, 2009 @ 10:14 pm
We have a 5th grader who scored very well on the ELA tests and was invited to take the entrance exams to the various gifted programs in district 3. We are waiting to hear if she got into her first choice school (from the DOE). She was never interviewed by her second and third choice schools. If she does not get into her first choice, it seems that she is left with no other options.
Comment by anonymous — May 28, 2009 @ 5:14 am
In response to anon #9’s reply & Anuta’s question. Obviously I don’t know about this year, but when my older daughter was applying a few years ago we knew a number of kids that turned down NEST to go to district schools. Plus, there is always attrition due to moves, etc. I would wonder if NEST could let you know where you are on the list and what you might be able to expect.
Comment by Anonymous — May 28, 2009 @ 7:07 am
re: Nest middle school wait list. It’s going to be different every year, but last year, I do know that at least 20 children who were initially wait-listed got into NEST middle school and they were contacted before the end of June. There may have been more, since they will continue down the list and call people throughout the summer and I think even into the first week of school if they have any more openings.
Comment by Anonymous — May 28, 2009 @ 3:09 pm
The letters have come!
Comment by Anonymous — May 30, 2009 @ 2:07 pm
Considering the K-5 students are likely to continue their education at the NEST, how many seats are really available for incoming 6th grade class?
Comment by Anonymous — May 31, 2009 @ 12:47 am
We’re at NEST. The current 5th grade class has about 70 students. That would leave 55-60 seats available if they stick to the 125 figure that they’ve been giving us.
Comment by 212Parent — May 31, 2009 @ 11:02 am