Favorite 2nd Tier Privates in NYC/BK?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Browning has a decent sized contingent of very Bro-ish boys. Really rubbed me the wrong way. Not all of them but your kid will have to put up with them which isn't fun.

Poly Prep has new leadership and the jury is still out. I have heard some dissatisfaction. While other schools have moderated their wokeness, they seem to be leaning in. And I am hearing this from Democrats, not overly sensitive MAGA people.

Curious about this poly feedback. I always assumed poly was more right leaning?

In bk heights - every poly parent I know is extremely happy. Parent community is strong and kids are encouraged to be themselves

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Would love to hear more about Packer if anyone has insights? Have heard great things.

We’ve applied to Packer for 9th. I liked it. A lot of unique programs, opportunities for research, all 11th graders go abroad, etc. Got good vibes from the admissions office and the administrators/faculty we met. Our interviewer sent my kid a very nice, very detailed handwritten note after the interview. Packer was the only school that did that. Campus if gorgeous. We weren’t so impressed with our tour guides. We were visiting at the same time as the K applicants were doing their play dates. They basically for the K play dates in the admissions waiting room. It was interesting to observe. The K parents definitely seemed more stressed than the HS parents. Glad those days are over for us!

[Anonymous]

Is Trevor getting more competitive? We thought it was a solid safety but not sure anymore

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is Trevor getting more competitive? We thought it was a solid safety but not sure anymore

They’re definitely rejecting a significant number of people now, if it’s your only safety I’d see if anybody else is still taking applications.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Browning has a decent sized contingent of very Bro-ish boys. Really rubbed me the wrong way. Not all of them but your kid will have to put up with them which isn't fun.

Poly Prep has new leadership and the jury is still out. I have heard some dissatisfaction. While other schools have moderated their wokeness, they seem to be leaning in. And I am hearing this from Democrats, not overly sensitive MAGA people.

Curious about this poly feedback. I always assumed poly was more right leaning?

In bk heights - every poly parent I know is extremely happy. Parent community is strong and kids are encouraged to be themselves

Poly seems great if you want to stay in Brooklyn and have a pile of money to burn. OTOH my relative who sends kids there has probably earned back at least 50% tuition on home appreciation by staying in Brooklyn vs moving to the burbs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We liked Grace a lot. Head of school is excellent, chill vibe, as academically intense as you want it to be.

Friends was also good though a bit too political/progressive, even for a lifelong Democrat.

Trevor has become popular and has nice facilities. Didn't love the curriculum.

DE has a lot of pluses but socially tough to have lots of friends in NJ and get there for events.

Calhoun is kind of quirky but good kids.

Avenues has great resources but is kind of culty.

Global community of UNIS is nice and it is cheaper but you have to be bought into that.

Is there any sign of Friends toning down the progressive rhetoric? Also a lifelong Democrat, so no issue with the content but does seem a little over the top for a K-12 environment. I had heard rumblings that the former head of school was trying to make Friends more of a player as compared to the uptown schools, and would think calming down the rhetoric would be an easy place to start. I know nobody knows how the new head of school will be yet, though...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is there any sign of Friends toning down the progressive rhetoric? Also a lifelong Democrat, so no issue with the content but does seem a little over the top for a K-12 environment. I had heard rumblings that the former head of school was trying to make Friends more of a player as compared to the uptown schools, and would think calming down the rhetoric would be an easy place to start. I know nobody knows how the new head of school will be yet, though...

We went on a tour last year and I'd say the rhetoric was more do-goodery than 'woke' - they were very proud of their homeless shelter, e.g. I actually found the place kind of Ned Flanders-y in general and we did not end up there, but I do think a lot of the progressiveness comes out of that more genuine place rather than being merely performative - Quakers gonna Quaker.

[Anonymous]

What do people think of co-ed K-8s? Town, Bank Street, City & Country, Brooklyn Heights Montessori, St. Luke’s, etc. I know there was just a thread on VCS.

[Anonymous]

Know many happy families at Bank St and C&C

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We've looked at a lot of these schools during the admissions process and there are pros/cons to each. I liked Grace a lot but not sure about the social dynamics. Got a little bit of a cold vibe from Friends but know people that love it. I think the academics are quite good. I liked UNIS and it's much cheaper than the other schools. Cons are location and it's bigger than other schools. Student body is more transient and you have to want IB. Packer is beautiful and has a strong curriculum and a lot of unique programs which make it more similar to some of the TTs. Not sure about the social aspect and it's in Brooklyn. Liked LREI a lot more than I thought I would. It seems like the nicest community and maybe the most welcoming students. I think the academics are fine but maybe not the most rigorous. We went to a curriculum night and it seemed that 9th grade math would be mainly a repeat of what my kid is doing in 8th but the humanities classes seemed good. Liked Browning if you have a boy but it is a little small. Hear mixed things about bullying but everyone we've met there seems warm. Did not get great vibes from Dwight Englewood but the campus is great if you want a campus school. Out tour guide was from the UWS and she said it was a breeze to get to school. DE was one of the few schools we saw where it seemed that kids could keep their phones. We saw a lot of kids glued to phones or other devices.

Can you describe what you observed about social dynamics @Grace?

[Anonymous]

Do we call these 2T because of college ex missions (IVYs and prestigious ) or because of the actual academic curriculum?

[Anonymous]

Is schools offering to link you up with current parents a positive indicator that an offer is eminent? These are not TT schools, more like 2T schools

[Anonymous]

They’re offering that opportunity to everyone.

[Anonymous]

I have the same question, but can also say that not all the schools are offering it to everyone. We were connected to a current family at a school we applied to. I had assumed it was done for everyone. But I recently had a very awkward encounter with a parent in my kids preschool when it became clear that they had not been connected to a current family. So maybe, like so much of this, potentially positive but not all that meaningful?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Columbia Grammar has some very smart kids but also a lot of showy, nouveau riche types who are insufferable

agreed. some of the moms are great, but they tend to be working moms. the other moms... are just UGH