My son is in 6th grade this fall. Is it too early to be thinking about high school admissions? What can I do to get prepared?

Anxious dad.

Dear Anxious Dad:

It's never too soon for a middle school family to start thinking about high school, however, 6th grade is a big transition year for kids – they are  figuring out  how to fit into a new school and trying to keep up with academic demands. For a while, at least, I would keep thoughts about high school to yourself, even as you familiarize yourself with the admissions process.

Having navigated the search for middle school, you are already somewhat of a pro, and there is much information to help ease you into  high school admissions.  There is a lot to learn.  For starters, track down a copy of  New York’s City's Best Public High Schoolsby Clara Hemphill and the Insideschools staff, which has in-depth reports on some of the city's finest schools.  Become familiar with the Find a School section on Insideschools, where you'll find profiles of every city high school.  Think about which school will suit your child’s interests and strengths, but realize that kids change a lot in middle school. <!--more-->

Pick up a copy of the annual Directory of the New York City Public High Schools. You can find it online but I recommend getting the very hefty paper copy from the local borough enrollment center.  This telephone-book-size publication is easier to browse and includes various tips that I do not find online.

The High School Directory lists the admission requirements for each school, while the Specialized High Schools Student Handbook is devoted to the eight specialized exam high schools, as well as LaGuardia, the arts school. It includes general procedures on how to apply and a sample exam.

By the way, if the specialized schools are on your radar, and your child qualifies based on his standardized test scores and family income, look into the Specialized High Schools Institute. Your son may apply in the 6th grade, and, if accepted, begin to attend classes during the summer between 6th and 7th grades.

Next year, consider attending the Department of Education admissions workshops for 7th and 8th graders and their parents. Check the DOE website and the Insideschools calendar for schedules. The enrollment office sponsors summer workshops to introduce different types of high schools.

Keep in mind that the 7th grade scores are the ones that appear on the high school application, so help your child focus on studying and maintaining good attendance.  You might also start attending high school fairs in the fallwhere you can meet faculty and students from most schools. New small high schools are usually introduced at fairs in February.

This year, be informed, but not obsessed. Let your son enjoy acclimating to middle school before you start moving on to the next phase.

Good luck!

Judy