Middle-school families across New York City now join the ranks of high-school applicants and their parents: The waiting game is in full flower, with everyone on tenterhooks, hoping for good news from their schools of choice. The deadline for middle school applications was this past Friday, January 9th, but for a few ultra-cool customers, the middle-school wait may be over far sooner.

That's because ICE, the Institute for Collaborative Education, has borrowed a page from higher-ed, offering students who they describe on their websiteas exceptionally strong candidates a chance to apply -- and be accepted -- early, well ahead of the middle school admissions pack. Applications for Early Admission at ICE were due on January 5th; acceptance is granted on a rolling basis, which means that students can hear news, good or bad, within weeks of their application. Other students' applications are reviewed only after the early-admissions batch is complete.

We're curious to learn more about ICE's admissions practices: How many students apply early? Of those who choose the early timeline, how many are accepted? Long-established as a progressive school with a personalized, unconventional culture, is ICE a pioneer, the tip of a new admissions wave? Even its regular admissions calendar is unique: Students can apply for a seat at the secondary, 6-12 school up to March 5, well beyond the DOE's high-school and middle-school deadlines.

We also wonder how, logistically, ICE can offer both early admissions and an extended admissions calendar in a DOE-determined climate of centralized middle-school admissions. If you have answers -- or more questions -- let us know.