Some families are beginning to feel the fear of uncertainty and the dread of disappointment with the upcoming release of lottery numbers on October 6. The recent article in the New York Times by Nikole Hannah-Jones has not helped this anxiousness.
There are several issues that are highlighted by the high school admissions process. The process exposes the inequities of: inadequate school instruction, a lack of care for students, and most importantly (and an often overlooked piece), luck.
The best we can do to refocus these fears into actionable items is to understand the system, match expectations to reality, and work towards the best result. Once we reach the end of the application process, it doesn’t mean the end of effort. You will need to assess and fill in any deficits during your student’s high school career. This applies to all schools, whether it’s a SHSAT school or one that is considered “low scoring.” We strive to improve our schools to meet our ideals, but remember to set expectations accordingly. Passing off all academic responsibility to an institution should be done at your own risk.
So what is the system? I would separate it into two pieces: the admissions process and the schools. I hope you’ve read through every guide, watched every video, and attended every information session to the point where you can run one of them yourself. Do you know the significance of Ed. Opt. and Screened Groups? What is DIA, SWD, and how do they affect admission outcomes? How do you get into SHSAT and audition programs? How are waitlist positions determined after the main admissions round? All these relate to the admissions process. It might sound complicated, but it’s manageable.
In 2025, the DOE made a change to the admissions process which reduces the need to understand all these nuances. The change was an unlimited application list. This means you can list every program (over 900) on your application if you so choose. All you need to do is to order them by preference. If you do that, you won’t need to think about your lottery number or how the program ranks applicants (except, of course, those with specific requirements like auditions and additional assessments). You can just submit your list and forget it. I actually think all families should do a version of this. List 50 programs. List 100 programs. The only thing you’ll have lost is the effort spent on researching and listing those programs.
The second piece is to understand the schools and their programs. There are specializations in art and music, CTE programs and STEM focused programs. This is where you identify the programs that fit your student. This is also where NYC-SIFT plays a crucial role. Figure out what types of support your student needs, whether it’s IEP or SWD support, social supports like clubs, athletics, or specific academic classes. Most importantly, understand the school’s environment. Compare homework loads (if available), survey scores, and impact scores (a DOE-defined score designed to measure teaching effectiveness). For some reason, families are skeptical of survey results, but I’ve found them to be quite accurate when it comes to student and teacher satisfaction. Remember to compare these scores relative to other schools, not as absolute numbers.
Hopefully, the points made above will help calm any fears you may have. Don’t hesitate to ask for help through these message boards or the comment form.
Good luck!