If you're not already in the throes of a high school search for your 8th-grader, now is the time to kick into high gear.

The Department of Education Enrollment Office is hosting two parent workshops about specialized high schools admissions this week:  tonight, September 27 at Sunset Park High School and Wednesday, September 29 at Stuyvesant High School, from 6:30-8 p.m.

On October 12, the DOE will begin another series of general high school admissions workshops with evening events in every borough.  See the flyer with dates and locations here.

If you missed the summer workshop series about applying to different types of high schools, read the handouts here (you'll have to scroll down a bit).<!--more-->

High school tours and open hours

Break out your calendars (and consider asking your boss for time off) because many high schools have posted their open house and tour dates on their websites.  Some schools require families to register for  limited tour spots,  so it's best to sign up early.

If you haven't done so already,  clear some time this week to check schools' websites about dates and times for tours.  Use our advanced search to access school profiles for contact information.

Specialized high school tours start soon

All eight specialized high schools that admit students based on the Specialized High School Admissions Test (SHSAT) have announced the dates for  open houses and tours.  LaGuardia High School, the specialized arts high school, will not have an open house this fall, but will host one in February for accepted students only, according to the school's website.

With the main testing dates for 8th graders only a month away -- on October 23 and 24 --  the open house and tour dates  start next week.  Here's a full rundown:

Several of the schools require families to sign up for tours or open houses, so check each school's website, or contact them for details before showing up.

SHSAT registration deadline is October 6

Eighth graders who plan to take the SHSAT will need to register for the exam through their middle school guidance counselor.  If your child's  guidance counselor has not distributed information about the SHSAT already, contact the school this week. The deadline to register is October 6.  Guidance counselors will distribute admissions tickets on October 15.  Students will not be admitted to the testing center, or to auditions at LaGuardia, without a ticket.

Don't forget the citywide high school fair, with representatives from nearly every school in the city, will be held this weekend, Oct. 2-3, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Brooklyn Tech!

Borough high school fairs will be held the weekend of Oct. 16-17. See the schedule here.

For a full list of important dates and deadlines, check out the DOE's high school admissions calendar.