Comments on: Bronx Mom: In search of the “perfect” middle school http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/11/04/bronx-mom-in-search-of-the-perfect-middle-school/ Sat, 20 Mar 2010 15:27:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Bronx Mom http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/11/04/bronx-mom-in-search-of-the-perfect-middle-school/#comment-9846 Bronx Mom Mon, 30 Nov 2009 23:27:27 +0000 http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/11/04/bronx-mom-in-search-of-the-perfect-middle-school/#comment-9846 Wow, this is rather intimidating. My situation seems really troubling and complex. My daughter goes to PS 209 in queens which is a great school. I got her there through the school choice program(No child left behind). Now they are saying that middle schools may or may not provide yellow bus service for her to get to school in Queens next year. It depends on the school that she selects. So I am in the process of bringing my daughter back to school in the Bronx or manhattan since these boroughs are more accessible as far as public transportation is concerned. This way if the school does not provide yellow bus service she will still be able to get there in a decent amount of time. Any ideas about a good school would be helpful. I feel so confused right now. Wow, this is rather intimidating. My situation seems really troubling and complex. My daughter goes to PS 209 in queens which is a great school. I got her there through the school choice program(No child left behind). Now they are saying that middle schools may or may not provide yellow bus service for her to get to school in Queens next year. It depends on the school that she selects. So I am in the process of bringing my daughter back to school in the Bronx or manhattan since these boroughs are more accessible as far as public transportation is concerned. This way if the school does not provide yellow bus service she will still be able to get there in a decent amount of time. Any ideas about a good school would be helpful. I feel so confused right now.

]]> By: Queens Parent http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/11/04/bronx-mom-in-search-of-the-perfect-middle-school/#comment-9797 Queens Parent Sun, 22 Nov 2009 06:35:01 +0000 http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/11/04/bronx-mom-in-search-of-the-perfect-middle-school/#comment-9797 Although we live in Queens, my son attended Manhattan East, and was not mugged or otherwise threatened while walking to and from the school. Same with his other friends from Queens who also attended. He took the bus from the school to the subway station, or sometimes walked with friends from ME to the subway. He never had a problem in transit. I would point out that it is possible to be mugged near Stuy (which recently happened to a student there), or near any number of other good schools in NYC. The most important thing is for students to leave school on time, and arrive on time, and then leave in groups. By the way, there is a private carrier that serves the Bronx, with door to door service to ME, so as a Bronx parent, I am not sure what you are really complaining about. If you wish such service it is available. Otherwise, there is a bus, one block away from ME, in front of Metropolitan hospital (with constant traffic of patients, nurses, doctors, ME teachers, etc.), that goes to the subway. It is very safe. There is another bus that stops right in front of the school, where there are security guards from the school who watch the children get on the bus. Although we live in Queens, my son attended Manhattan East, and was not mugged or otherwise threatened while walking to and from the school. Same with his other friends from Queens who also attended. He took the bus from the school to the subway station, or sometimes walked with friends from ME to the subway. He never had a problem in transit. I would point out that it is possible to be mugged near Stuy (which recently happened to a student there), or near any number of other good schools in NYC. The most important thing is for students to leave school on time, and arrive on time, and then leave in groups. By the way, there is a private carrier that serves the Bronx, with door to door service to ME, so as a Bronx parent, I am not sure what you are really complaining about. If you wish such service it is available. Otherwise, there is a bus, one block away from ME, in front of Metropolitan hospital (with constant traffic of patients, nurses, doctors, ME teachers, etc.), that goes to the subway. It is very safe. There is another bus that stops right in front of the school, where there are security guards from the school who watch the children get on the bus.

]]> By: bxju http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/11/04/bronx-mom-in-search-of-the-perfect-middle-school/#comment-9745 bxju Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:33:44 +0000 http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/11/04/bronx-mom-in-search-of-the-perfect-middle-school/#comment-9745 In addition to wonderful instrumental music program at Manhattan East, there is a regularly scheduled after-school beat the geek ambush program implemented by neighborhood kids. The school is located far enough from public transportation that the walk from school to the train provides ample opportunities for the ME students to be jumped on, mugged, punched and otherwise threatened. I couldn't live with myself knowing that my son is being thrown in physical danger every single day on his walk to and (mostly) from school. No thank you. In addition to wonderful instrumental music program at Manhattan East, there is a regularly scheduled after-school beat the geek ambush program implemented by neighborhood kids. The school is located far enough from public transportation that the walk from school to the train provides ample opportunities for the ME students to be jumped on, mugged, punched and otherwise threatened. I couldn’t live with myself knowing that my son is being thrown in physical danger every single day on his walk to and (mostly) from school. No thank you.

]]> By: Queens Parent http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/11/04/bronx-mom-in-search-of-the-perfect-middle-school/#comment-9724 Queens Parent Tue, 17 Nov 2009 01:00:43 +0000 http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/11/04/bronx-mom-in-search-of-the-perfect-middle-school/#comment-9724 Please consider looking into Manhattan East School for Arts and Academics (MS 224); it is a Citywide unzoned G&T program, and has a wonderful instrumental music program (City's best middle school jazz band) and terrific science classes (with a high school level new science lab), among others. Please consider looking into Manhattan East School for Arts and Academics (MS 224); it is a Citywide unzoned G&T program, and has a wonderful instrumental music program (City’s best middle school jazz band) and terrific science classes (with a high school level new science lab), among others.

]]> By: Laura http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/11/04/bronx-mom-in-search-of-the-perfect-middle-school/#comment-9711 Laura Mon, 16 Nov 2009 02:16:01 +0000 http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/11/04/bronx-mom-in-search-of-the-perfect-middle-school/#comment-9711 Sonia, you can search for citywide schools on this site. Go into the advanced search feature, select, citywide (instead of a specific borough) and limit your search to "unzoned" and middle schools. This should yield a comprehensive list of schools that are open to students from outside their own district. Good luck! Sonia, you can search for citywide schools on this site. Go into the advanced search feature, select, citywide (instead of a specific borough) and limit your search to “unzoned” and middle schools. This should yield a comprehensive list of schools that are open to students from outside their own district. Good luck!

]]> By: Sonia http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/11/04/bronx-mom-in-search-of-the-perfect-middle-school/#comment-9704 Sonia Fri, 13 Nov 2009 02:45:50 +0000 http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/11/04/bronx-mom-in-search-of-the-perfect-middle-school/#comment-9704 i am in district 15 in brooklyn but am interested in finding OTHER middle schools that accept CITYWIDE. inside schools doesn't seem to have that search capability. is there a list somewhere?? getting no help from daughter's private elementary. heeelllpp! i am in district 15 in brooklyn but am interested in finding OTHER middle schools that accept CITYWIDE. inside schools doesn’t seem to have that search capability. is there a list somewhere?? getting no help from daughter’s private elementary. heeelllpp!

]]> By: district 13 parent http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/11/04/bronx-mom-in-search-of-the-perfect-middle-school/#comment-9677 district 13 parent Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:49:36 +0000 http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/11/04/bronx-mom-in-search-of-the-perfect-middle-school/#comment-9677 The District 13 middle school fair did very little to change the minds of any parent I spoke with. It was very loud and almost impossible to have a conversation. There were some sweet and well-spoken kids from one of the schools in the district, but this was not a forum through which one could learn anything new. There is no substitute for school tours and conversations with other parents. I did find myself wondering if NYC could be held in violation of Brown vs. Board of Ed. through its insistence on maintaining the districts, which in turn seem to maintain an impressive degree of racial segregation, at least here. Depressing; parents I know want true diversity. Given that NEST and similar schools have 10 applicants for every seat at the middle school level, why are there not more citywide middle schools? They really seem like the only choice if there are no first-rate schools in one's district. The District 13 middle school fair did very little to change the minds of any parent I spoke with. It was very loud and almost impossible to have a conversation. There were some sweet and well-spoken kids from one of the schools in the district, but this was not a forum through which one could learn anything new. There is no substitute for school tours and conversations with other parents. I did find myself wondering if NYC could be held in violation of Brown vs. Board of Ed. through its insistence on maintaining the districts, which in turn seem to maintain an impressive degree of racial segregation, at least here. Depressing; parents I know want true diversity. Given that NEST and similar schools have 10 applicants for every seat at the middle school level, why are there not more citywide middle schools? They really seem like the only choice if there are no first-rate schools in one’s district.

]]> By: Bronx Dad http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/11/04/bronx-mom-in-search-of-the-perfect-middle-school/#comment-9675 Bronx Dad Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:52:48 +0000 http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/11/04/bronx-mom-in-search-of-the-perfect-middle-school/#comment-9675 I was wondering what your thoughts were on D10 Middle schools. I was wondering what your thoughts were on D10 Middle schools.

]]> By: Roberta http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/11/04/bronx-mom-in-search-of-the-perfect-middle-school/#comment-9671 Roberta Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:35:22 +0000 http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/11/04/bronx-mom-in-search-of-the-perfect-middle-school/#comment-9671 Ah, the middle school admissions process! I remember it well. We also had a 2-district situation and it was tough--but wait til you get to 8th grade and get the book with 400+ high schools! One thing I found helpful with my daughter was to say absolutely NOTHING to her during the tours. Sometimes I knew she knew I liked a school and it was better to empower her to come to her own conclusions. I've found that to be even more so during the high school process. If you've had the opportunity to talk to students at the fair, I think that alone may have made it worthwhile--sometimes there's no such opportunity on tour. Good luck! Ah, the middle school admissions process! I remember it well. We also had a 2-district situation and it was tough–but wait til you get to 8th grade and get the book with 400+ high schools!

One thing I found helpful with my daughter was to say absolutely NOTHING to her during the tours. Sometimes I knew she knew I liked a school and it was better to empower her to come to her own conclusions. I’ve found that to be even more so during the high school process.

If you’ve had the opportunity to talk to students at the fair, I think that alone may have made it worthwhile–sometimes there’s no such opportunity on tour.

Good luck!

]]> By: Aura http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/11/04/bronx-mom-in-search-of-the-perfect-middle-school/#comment-9670 Aura Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:32:33 +0000 http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/11/04/bronx-mom-in-search-of-the-perfect-middle-school/#comment-9670 Have you realized that many of the after school programs are being paid by the parents/guardians? Have you realized that many of the after school programs are being paid by the parents/guardians?

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