Dear Judy

What is the best way to find out about high school open houses and tours? Is there an updated list on Insideschools.org? How many schools should we visit? Are open houses really helpful?

8th-grade parent

Dear 8th-grade parent:

Attending an open house or tour should be a priority for kids and parents looking for a high school but, try to narrow your list to a manageable number, based on your schedule. Your daughter may be excused from class to tour a school, but can you get a note for your boss?

The high school application allows you to apply to up to 12 schools, not counting the specialized high schools and charter schools. Our advice to families: don't apply to a school you wouldn't attend. Likewise, I can't imagine sending a child to school without first checking it out in a visit. Students frequently venture out of their neighborhoods, and even their boroughs, for high school, so going on a school tour is a great way to test out the travel time and to check out the subway and bus connections. <!--more-->

Insideschools will not be listing open houses by school this year; unfortunately we no longer have the staff to oversee this section of the site. (Individual schools may post tours on our calendar.) The good news is that open house dates are now easy to find on many individual school's websites. If you can't find the information there, call the parent coordinator, usually the staffer who coordinates open houses and tours. Another good source is the high school directory which lists open house dates on many school pages. Some schools, like Lehman, suggest you call the parent coordinator for details, others, such as Cobble Hill School for American Studies indicate a general open house policy and suggest you call the principal or parent coordinator to arrange a visit. Still others, such as Beacon, give specific dates and times. The directory was produced last spring, so some dates may have changed or been added - my advice is to doublecheck with the school before visiting.

At popular schools, open houses and tours can fill up fast so call early. If you are too late, ask that your name be put on a waiting list: high demand may trigger additional dates. Some schools allow you to sign up online for tours; others require that you call the parent coordinator or specify  another person.  For schools that require an audition, test, or interview there are deadlines for signing up for those  as well.

Daytime tours are the most helpful because you can see the school in action. The advantage of evening sessions is that you may hear more from the principal or assistant principal, or even students. However, in the evening you won't see whether the hallways are crowded, the students are civil, or get a good feel for the culture of the school.

The open house season starts in earnest after the citywide high school fair: Oct.3 and 4 this year at Brooklyn Tech. If you go armed with a list of schools you are interested in, you can not only talk to school representatives but you can pick up a flier telling you the dates of the fairs (or jot dates down in your notebook to save paper!) And be aware that some schools give preference in admission to students who attend a school fair or open house. If there's a sign-up sheet at the fair, be sure to have your child sign in. Some schools will e-mail you the dates of upcoming tours.

For a complete calendar of important high school application dates, check out the Department of Education's website. And for more tips on applying to high school, take a look at our Basics.

Good luck!

Judy