In July we wrote about community efforts to open a selective high school on the Upper West Side to be named after the late educator and writer Frank McCourt. Yesterday, Chancellor Joel Klein gave...

One day this week, my daughter brought home a book from her kindergarten class entitled "A Fine, Fine School" by Sharon Creech. It is the story of a well-meaning principal who is so proud of his...

Our hearts go out to the families and students affected by the violence that took the life of a 13-year-old  freshman at the Humanities and  the Arts High School in Cambria Heights. According to...

Once you finally get passed the grueling search for a New York City public high school -- the tours, tests, interviews and rankings finally over -- a settling-in period begins. But getting...

If you've got an 8th-grader looking for a high school -- or a 9th-grader looking to change high schools -- you may want to join the throngs at the citywide high school fair this weekend at Brooklyn...

When the City Council Education Committee held a hearinglast week on the implementation of the new school governance law, it was the first time that student views on the law were heard by the...

Dear Judy, How many classes are teachers supposed to teach in a day? My daughter's class was merged with another. Now she is in a cramped room, with no desks, just chairs, and more than 30 kids. I...

On the soccer field last weekend, the parent of an 8th-grader casually inquired what it takes to get into one of the city's best high schools. I wanted to laugh, but that wouldn't be fair, because...

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...

What advice can you give me for my 8th-grade son to prepare for Ivy League schools? His reply is "I'm only in 8th grade." But I worry as he is not in honors classes and I think he should be. He did...

After a restful summer unplugged from technology, I’m back to blogging! For new readers, my name is Toni and I’m a senior instrumental major at LaGuardia Arts high school. I am also a member of the...

Last spring we reported that the Department of Education issued a ban on hiring new teachers due to budget cuts. Instead, principals were urged to hire teachers from the pool of excessed teachers...

Voters were divided in our last poll about testing preschoolers for admissions to gifted and talented programs. One thing appeared to be clear, though: you're not happy with the status quo--only 2%...

More than a year after dangerous levels of polychlorinated biphenyls were discovered in several New York schools, the caulk that contains the toxin still lines the windows and doors of some...

Welcome back to school! Seniors will be starting to work on their college applications in a few weeks, and while this should not dominate the most important business of the day -- doing well in...

Dear Judy, My son is just starting kindergarten in a K-8 school. If he is unhappy in a K-8 school can he apply to middle school elsewhere? Or if you are unhappy in a 6-12 school can you apply to...

Today Daily News columnist Juan Gonzalez challenged Mayor Bloomberg's proclamation that the city will open 23 new school buildings, creating 13,000 new seats for students. Gonzalez says that some...

Before the city released the 2008-2009 school progress reports Wednesday, the New York Post braced us for shockingly high results. But after the release, the Post had to update its statistics --...

The start of the school year can be a confusing time for all families,but especially for those who are new to the public school system or who have children with special needs. Enrollment centers...

New York City schools are featured in one chapter of best-selling author Po Bronson's latest book "Nurture Shock," says The New York Times. What landed our schools in the limelight?  Bronson and...

Although the first day of school is just two weeks away, some students, especially those new to the city, still don't know where they will be going to school on Sept. 9. Beginning next Monday,...

Last week, we asked whether you are monitoring the number of hours your kids spend in front of the screen -- especially as this intense heat and humidity could be keeping them indoors. Nearly half...

The New York Times reports today that charter school construction is providing a growing niche for the building and design industries in the New York City area. The article highlights a...

Dear Judy, My daughter has been attending school in another state. Now she wants to finish back in the city. She will be going into 11th grade and she's a good student. What are her...

Arts education has taken a backseat in New York City public schools for the past few years. With emphasis placed squarely on improving reading and math test scores, the arts are too often...