UrbanBaby

06.07.20, 17:21 PM General Topics
16 replies

Thinking about NYC public high schools. Are there schools that are reasonably academically rigorous AND somewhat nurturing? Is that a unicorn? My DS is smart and is motivated by having a hardworking peer group, but I think would be lost at one of those big SHS schools. Something smaller and not so pressured may be a better fit, but loosey-goosey and academically weak won't work either. [ Reply | Watch | Flag ]
General Topics 06.07.20, 05:21 PM Flag

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If you mean are there smaller schools, yes. With less pressure if academically selective, no. I don't even think in the suburbs that exists. I think somewhere like Lab or Ischool are less competitive, but most people will say not the same level of academics as SHS or Bard. There are smaller SHS likes Lehman and HSMSE, but they are competiive [ Reply | More

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General Topics 06.07.20, 06:17 PM Flag

Elro [ Reply | More

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General Topics 06.07.20, 06:18 PM Flag

Lab [ Reply | More

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General Topics 06.07.20, 07:11 PM Flag

Both ELRO and Lab, maybe more Lab. Elro can be an UES viper pit socially. You should look at SHS High School for American Studies at Lehman. My son loves it. It is small and he loves math and science and gets plenty there. Very small classes [ Reply | More

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General Topics 06.07.20, 11:22 PM Flag

I know families in Brooklyn whose kids chose Midwood, Brooklyn Millennium, Bard, Murrow and LaGuardia over dif combinations of Stuy, Tech and Latin. Not all of those are "small and nuturing" but people chose those schools for a combination of less pressure/more fun, area of interest, and smaller/more nurturing (more advisory, etc). Kids seem happy with their choices so far. Given what your focus seems, I'd think a place like Brooklyn Millennium might work (if you are in Brooklyn). [ Reply | More

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General Topics 06.07.20, 07:31 PM Flag

No. Upper West side [ Reply | More

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General Topics 06.07.20, 07:35 PM Flag

It was too far away for us, but what about Columbia Secondary School? I talked to kids at that school at a high school fair a few years ago and it seems like it might be the kind of place you are looking for? [ Reply | More

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General Topics 06.07.20, 07:56 PM Flag

Thanks - that's a great idea! [ Reply | More

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General Topics 06.08.20, 12:59 AM Flag

Midwood and Murrow are HUGE and run on staggered scheduled. While not as competitive, they do have strong screened academic programs. Midwood was for years the "backup" for Brooklyn kids who didn't make it to SHS - there are more options now. [ Reply | More

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General Topics 06.07.20, 11:34 PM Flag

Maybe one of the smaller ones mentioned but not in the small private school, or low-key suburban school kind of way. The resources just aren't there for it. All NYC public schools are in a sense sink or swim. [ Reply | More

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General Topics 06.07.20, 10:05 PM Flag

My daughter is at High School of American Studies. It's academically rigorous, but the vibe is not very competitive. Also, the teachers know everybody's name because its so small. [ Reply | More

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General Topics 06.07.20, 10:30 PM Flag

there are also small SHS. the baby 4 are all anywhere from 150 to 300 per grade. [ Reply | More

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General Topics 06.07.20, 11:33 PM Flag

ICE - Institute for Collaborative Education [ Reply | More

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General Topics 06.07.20, 11:58 PM Flag

CSS [ Reply | More

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General Topics 06.08.20, 12:19 AM Flag

Smaller SHS - HSMSE or HAS? [ Reply | More

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General Topics 06.08.20, 12:37 AM Flag

Columbia Secondary School. Small grade, STEM focus, nurturing teachers, access to Columbia University classes. [ Reply | More

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General Topics 06.08.20, 12:57 AM Flag