< Return to Talk
07.15.08, 07:39 AM New York City
26 replies
Is 7th the only entry point for Hunter High School? DC's school goes through 8th grade and we are hoping to stay. [ Reply | Watch | Flag ]
New York City 07.15.08, 07:39 AM Flag
 

Dear UrbanBaby community,

Thank you so much for being a valued member of the UrbanBaby community. We wanted to inform you that we are shutting down the site on July 6th. We are grateful for your participation and support that has helped make UrbanBaby such an important resource to parents for many years.

If you have any questions or concerns, you can email us at urbanbaby-support@cbsinteractive.com.

Thanks so much,

UrbanBaby Support

»
7th is the only entry point for the HS. 6th graders invitations to take the test is based on their 5th grade standardized test scores. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 07.15.08, 07:41 AM Flag
»
yes [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 07.15.08, 07:42 AM Flag
»
yes, 7th is your last chance. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 07.15.08, 07:42 AM Flag
»
I hate to say it, but since about 2000 6th graders take the test and less than 200 get in to Hunter HS, odds are a dc would end up staying at their current school through 8th. Yours, BTDT. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 07.15.08, 07:46 AM Flag
»
that is not bad at all, actually. well, compared to K entry. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 07.15.08, 07:48 AM Flag
»
But it's all about the test score. Strictly by the numbers, they never meet your kid or see their school record. Cut and dried. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 07.15.08, 07:51 AM Flag
»
Which can be good or bad, depending on how good of a tester dc is. BTW, it is the same for selective HSs for 9th grade entry. Just one specialized HS test result decides where dc goes. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 07.15.08, 07:56 AM Flag
»
true. But the vast majority of the 20,000+ kids who take the Specialized HS test are doing it with no prep or pre-selection whatsoever. For a smart kid, it's a preppable test, old versions are available, there are courses and books. The Hunter test is kept under strict wraps, no one really knows what's on it (aside from the general format and length) and the pool of "competitors" is strong. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 07.15.08, 08:01 AM Flag
»
false -- every kid i know took a prep course for the specialized HS admissions exam. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 07.15.08, 09:19 AM Flag
»
^^also, the hunter exam is definitely prep-able, with courses available. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 07.15.08, 09:20 AM Flag
»
Yes, everyone I know took the prep classes for the Hunter test. There are tons of them here in Manhattan as well as in outer boroughs. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 07.15.08, 09:46 AM Flag
»
There are not prep classes for Hunter exam that have exams - just general beefing up of skills. And BTW most kids who were prepped didn't get in because they lacked the creative writing skills that Hunter seeks. They take in a quota of those that excel in math to keep up their competitiveness, but are really seeking the kids who aren't prepped (relatively talented in math logic) but who show their own creative voice in writing (with good grammar and syntax, of course.) That can't be prepped in a course. If they don't have it naturally it's just not going to happen from a tutor. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 07.16.08, 12:46 AM Flag
»
What's false? According to the DOE about 28,000 kids took the SHSAT this past fall. Only 5,391 were offered seats at a test-in Specialized HS (i.e. not counting LaGuardia here). Of that number, only just over 2200 got into their first-choice Specialized HS. It's not that hard to figure out that the majority of the test takers either never had a shot or never prepped, or prepped poorly compared to the kids who got into the schools they wanted most. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 07.15.08, 09:35 AM Flag
»
Most kids take prep classes for both Hunter HS exam and specialized HS exam. Hardly anyone goes into it cold, even kids of poor immigrants from Queens do take the prep classes. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 07.15.08, 09:46 AM Flag
»
^^^BTW, I hear you on more kids applying without seemingly having any shot, but unlike with Hunter exam there is no prerequisite to try for Stuy etc. I know someone who was never a good student and got into Stuy because of acing the test and thrived there. So you never know who has a shot or not, it is all or nothing deal. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 07.15.08, 09:48 AM Flag
»
I don't disagree and know of a few unexpected successes as well. But the odds are on kids who've prepped well (and that says NOTHING about whether or not they were immigrants...the DOE offers free prep from the summer after 6th until the test in 8th, but it's a big time committment and there are only so many seats...definitely not 20,000 seats in the free prep class.) [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 07.15.08, 10:27 AM Flag
»
Not true. Have a child in Hunter and one in Private. MANY private school kids take the test and do no prep because they don't care if they get in or not. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 07.15.08, 10:23 AM Flag
»
Right, but the kids and families that do care about getting in (which is a huge majority) do prep a lot. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 07.15.08, 12:43 PM Flag
»
NP: I was just out in Flushing, there are TONS of streetfront test prep places in Queens, SCORE, KUMON etc, poor immigrants in Queens are FAR more likely to spend on test prep for specialized HS. They are also more likely to be laid back about elementary and keep kids in local zoned schools until it really matters, while investing heavily in tutoring and test prep for specialized HS. Take a look at the stats on InsideSchools for the top specialized HS, disproportionately high level students from Asian and Indian backgrounds. Lots of families that care deeply about education keep kids close to home in zoned schools while supplementing with tutoring and then when kids are older, they test in to Stuy, Hunter, Bronx Sci, Brooklyn Tech, and many good schools in Queens. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 07.15.08, 05:16 PM Flag
»
it is not so good, given that a dc can't even take the test unless you pass the 5th grade score cutoff. In other words, the 2000 is already way winnowed down. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 07.15.08, 07:53 AM Flag
»
Winnowed down from the entire population of 5th graders in NYC, but still, nearly 2000 take the test. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 07.15.08, 07:54 AM Flag
»
yes, well, but when your dc doesn't make the cut-off to be able to take the exam because dc got two questions, instead of one question, wrong on 5th grade ELA or math, it is very irritating. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 07.15.08, 08:32 AM Flag
»
I hear you, BTDT too with dc #1. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 07.15.08, 08:56 AM Flag
»
I am sure but sitting for the exam, spending a couple months studying for it, and then coming close and not making it is worse, IMO. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 07.15.08, 09:51 AM Flag
»
good point. will try to focus on that silver lining. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 07.15.08, 10:03 AM Flag
»
The 2000-3000 (depending on the year) represent those that scored in the 90th percentile on the 5th grade test in BOTH ELA and Math. [ Reply | More
]
General Topics 07.16.08, 01:11 AM Flag
Refresh » New Post »
Select Category
close [X]

close [X]

Select a Category (only 1)

category
Stages
Regions