Off-cycle admissions to TT schools

[Anonymous]

My child got into more than one TT school when we applied for K. We live far from the UES. After talking to multiple parents in our area whose kids make the commute, we decided against the TT schools and sent her to a neighborhood private school, which was the right choice at the time. However, we've grown unhappy with the lack of rigor, she has matured to the point where she can handle a commute, and we now want to apply her off-cycle to TT SS and co-ed schools in Manhattan. We have only ever applied in entry years and have no clue how the process works for non-entry years. 6th grade is quite far away for her, and I suppose we could wait until then, but don't necessarily want to.

When do the schools know they will have openings? Our school sends out re-enrollment contracts in Jan. Do all the schools do it at this time?

When do we apply? In the fall, like a regular admissions cycle, or in the new year when they know whether or not they will even have an opening?

Assuming there are no openings, does the school keep our app on file for the following year and reach out if they have something down the road, or do we have to complete the apps again over and over each year?

When should my child take the ISEE?

I assume her teachers will have to fill out the ISAAGNY evaluation forms, so our current school will know we are applying out. If she doesn't get in anywhere, has anyone heard of the current school opting not to re-enroll a child because they're upset with the parents for applying out? Seems crazy, but who knows.

[Anonymous]

Contact the Parents League. They are very helpful with things like this.

[Anonymous]

We did this last year for 5th and 7th.

Openings: nobody had anything to tell us in January, a couple of places knew enough to accept or waitlist or reject us with the regular ISAAGNY deadlines in February but others filtered in through out the spring, we were still getting invited for interviews in April and the two best offers didn't come until May.

When to apply: normal cycle is best, though some of them offer reduced fees if they're not sure if they have an opening.

ISEE: likewise normal timing; you want to have a completed file for them at whatever point they're ready to look at it.

You do have to apply again each year. Depending on the teacher they might be willing to keep it confidential from administration, but at any rate I've never heard of a school refusing to re-enroll a kid who was looking elsewhere; still, you could take half a glance at zoned public schools just in case. (this might also be something to look at viz-a-viz academic rigor and commute, a lot of them offer better academics and smarter kids than a neighborhood private does)

[Anonymous]

I've gone to some of their events when I was preparing for K applications, but don't necessarily want to engage them as consultants.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We did this last year for 5th and 7th.

Openings: nobody had anything to tell us in January, a couple of places knew enough to accept or waitlist or reject us with the regular ISAAGNY deadlines in February but others filtered in through out the spring, we were still getting invited for interviews in April and the two best offers didn't come until May.

When to apply: normal cycle is best, though some of them offer reduced fees if they're not sure if they have an opening.

ISEE: likewise normal timing; you want to have a completed file for them at whatever point they're ready to look at it.

You do have to apply again each year. Depending on the teacher they might be willing to keep it confidential from administration, but at any rate I've never heard of a school refusing to re-enroll a kid who was looking elsewhere; still, you could take half a glance at zoned public schools just in case. (this might also be something to look at viz-a-viz academic rigor and commute, a lot of them offer better academics and smarter kids than a neighborhood private does)

Thank you, this is very helpful. Did your kids both end up getting placements at schools you were happy with? Our zoned elementary is totally fine, nice families, several people we know send their kids there. Middle school is not good in our district, though, so I would have to reapply her at 6th, which frankly seems like it's been a bloodbath this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thank you, this is very helpful. Did your kids both end up getting placements at schools you were happy with? Our zoned elementary is totally fine, nice families, several people we know send their kids there. Middle school is not good in our district, though, so I would have to reapply her at 6th, which frankly seems like it's been a bloodbath this year.

7th grader did; 5th didn't, but we weren't as worried about that since it was only a year before middle school. (which has not gone as well as we hoped private-school-wise - it is indeed a bloodbath - but we're in D2 so we have good public options at least)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you, this is very helpful. Did your kids both end up getting placements at schools you were happy with? Our zoned elementary is totally fine, nice families, several people we know send their kids there. Middle school is not good in our district, though, so I would have to reapply her at 6th, which frankly seems like it's been a bloodbath this year.

7th grader did; 5th didn't, but we weren't as worried about that since it was only a year before middle school. (which has not gone as well as we hoped private-school-wise - it is indeed a bloodbath - but we're in D2 so we have good public options at least)

Glad to hear you got at least one result you are happy with. It's tough to have two kids applying, both in non-entry years. We are D13 and middle school is a total mess here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've gone to some of their events when I was preparing for K applications, but don't necessarily want to engage them as consultants.

It is fairly cheap and money well spent. You have actually gotten pretty good responses here but they know the lay of the land. Some of their people are better than others - we started with one who was meh and switched and were happier. They will not do everything but are a good resource.