Dear Judy,

I am a nervous wreck. My son is going to 8th grade in September and I feel anxious about the whole high school admission process. I know schools like it if you attend their open houses or tours, but how do I find out about them? How do I find out enough about the schools to make a choice? Is there anything we should be doing this spring?

Worried, anxious parent

Dear Worried, Anxious parent,

You are not alone. Thirteen is the age of anxiety for NYC parents and kids  When kids reach that age, the  prospect of high school applications looms in the not too distant future and provokes more than the usual concern over state tests and report cards.There is no getting around the challenges of high school admission, but there are ways to lessen the worry. As with most problems, being informed is the first step.

Read all about the schools on Insideschools and watch our slideshows.You have plenty of time, so you can survey the whole landscape, but it is wise to set boundaries based on feasibility of travel and your child’s strengths and interests. Look at our high school page for links to several videos which will help you during the selection process. For schools that appeal to you, click through to the Department of Education school data pages where you can find school surveys, Progress Reports and quality reviews to fill out the picture.

Take a look at the online directory of high schools (last year’s for now, next year's should come home with your child at the end of the school year.) The directory lists every school in the city and gives you details about the admissions process including how many students apply and how many are accepted. Some kids mark the pages they are interested in, or even pull them out of the fat directory and put ithem nto a separate notebook. Use whatever organization tactic works for you. It'll be easiest for you if you take a list of schools to  the annual high school fair  late September or early October.

Watch the videos of the summer 2011-12 high school admissions sessions. Plan to attend in person when this summer’s sessions are announced. The DOE usually offers information sessions for 7th graders and their families in the spring. We'll post dates as soon as we get them.

All the while, check with individual school's websites or call to see if there are open houses or tours scheduled. The overwhelming majority take place in the fall -- but are often oversubscribed. Be an early bird.  At this writing, the  open houses announced for spring are Bard Early College and Bard Early College, Queens – but it is too late! They filled up almost instantly. However, still availiable is Bayside Hiigh school,  May 9, at 6:30,  Information Session starts @ 7 pm  The fall open houses are  October 23 at 7:00pm and Novemer 1 at 7:00pm. Beacon High School has also set fall 2012 open house dates: Oct. 4 and 18. No reservations are required but if you are interested, you can mark the date on your calendar.

I did a quick, random survey of some popular high schools' websites but did not find any other events announced for the spring. Many schools still had their fall 2011 dates up -- that at least gives you an idea of what may be offered.

If your child plans to take the Specialized High School Admissions Test, he may want to use part of the summer to prepare. There are some free courses offered at community centers and many private tutoring and test prep centers. Check our high school forum for some suggestions -- this is a popular topic for parents.

For some lively reading, and guidance from someone who has been through this process twice, read our blogger Liz Willen's High School Hustle. And keep checking back to Insideschools. The DOE usually offers information sessions for 7th graders and their families in the spring. We'll post dates as soon as we get them.

Relax. You have all summer to bone up on the system and the many high school choices. You may even enjoy it.

Judy