Best private schools in NYC?

[Anonymous]

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I’m also wondering—does Hunter’s curriculum truly cater to gifted children, or is their strong college placement more about selecting top students early on? I’ve heard that the most successful students at Hunter High tend to be those who test in at 7th grade rather than those who stay from K through 12. Is that true?

Totally true and I even had a Hunter teacher say almost those exact words to me last year. That's no one fault- it's just that you cant identify elite talent as well at K vs 7th.

It's no one's fault, but it does make you question the purpose of the elementary school. I personally think the elementary school should only admit low income students from low SES zip codes. There's a case for a free school that can potentially "catch" gifted kids before they slip through the cracks of a poor educational system. I don't see the purpose of offering a free education to parents who can afford Dalton, or live in the PS 6 zone. Sorry.

It is not my experience, actually. Hunter Elementary kids tended to be more well rounded with impressive extracurriculars in addition to grades/scores (especially artsy/music oriented, but not exclusively). Overall had better Ivy acceptance rates than 7th grade admits (though also more true misses); but even kids who didn’t end up at ivies thrived at their colleges and bounced up for grad school. Anecdotally, my Yale Law School class had five Hunter grads (which is kind of insane, statistically speaking) and three were lifers.

Hunter elementary school kids are more well rounded because they're wealthier. Think private music lessons, Broadway shows, acting class....

I have a kid who just graduated Hunter HS and I can say definitively that the lifers did not have better Ivy acceptance rates than the 7th grade entrants, and that's even taking into account some wealthy double legacies.

I always thought the 7th grade entrants consistently did much better than the lifers. They were accepted based on a test that actually is based on academic skills rather than the ridiculous exam given to 4 year olds. Plus as much as Hunter likes to think otherwise, the education the lifers are getting K-6 is not necessarily better than that received by the kids who arrive in 7th, who have often attended the best elementary and middle schools. My knowledge is admittedly dated but I was very underwhelmed by the Hunter elementary curriculum.

The Hunter lifers have also spent their whole lives being told how special they are, which leads to interesting outcomes, and makes life difficult when a bunch of smarter kids show up for 7th grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I’m also wondering—does Hunter’s curriculum truly cater to gifted children, or is their strong college placement more about selecting top students early on? I’ve heard that the most successful students at Hunter High tend to be those who test in at 7th grade rather than those who stay from K through 12. Is that true?

Totally true and I even had a Hunter teacher say almost those exact words to me last year. That's no one fault- it's just that you cant identify elite talent as well at K vs 7th.

It's no one's fault, but it does make you question the purpose of the elementary school. I personally think the elementary school should only admit low income students from low SES zip codes. There's a case for a free school that can potentially "catch" gifted kids before they slip through the cracks of a poor educational system. I don't see the purpose of offering a free education to parents who can afford Dalton, or live in the PS 6 zone. Sorry.

It is not my experience, actually. Hunter Elementary kids tended to be more well rounded with impressive extracurriculars in addition to grades/scores (especially artsy/music oriented, but not exclusively). Overall had better Ivy acceptance rates than 7th grade admits (though also more true misses); but even kids who didn’t end up at ivies thrived at their colleges and bounced up for grad school. Anecdotally, my Yale Law School class had five Hunter grads (which is kind of insane, statistically speaking) and three were lifers.

Hunter elementary school kids are more well rounded because they're wealthier. Think private music lessons, Broadway shows, acting class....

I have a kid who just graduated Hunter HS and I can say definitively that the lifers did not have better Ivy acceptance rates than the 7th grade entrants, and that's even taking into account some wealthy double legacies.

I always thought the 7th grade entrants consistently did much better than the lifers. They were accepted based on a test that actually is based on academic skills rather than the ridiculous exam given to 4 year olds. Plus as much as Hunter likes to think otherwise, the education the lifers are getting K-6 is not necessarily better than that received by the kids who arrive in 7th, who have often attended the best elementary and middle schools. My knowledge is admittedly dated but I was very underwhelmed by the Hunter elementary curriculum.

The Hunter lifers have also spent their whole lives being told how special they are, which leads to interesting outcomes, and makes life difficult when a bunch of smarter kids show up for 7th grade.

That's what I just said. Only 10% of the kids going to Ivies this year are K-12 lifers. 90% of Ivy accepts started in 7th. And the 7th grade entrants are far more likely to turn down Ivies due to financial need and far less likely to be legacies.

Overall I don't see what purpose Hunter Elementary serves, and I have no horse in this race, since my kid just graduation HS.

[Anonymous]

Soooo, this is a good year to switch schools since some families are panicking due to th3 NYC mayoral outcome.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Soooo, this is a good year to switch schools since some families are panicking due to th3 NYC mayoral outcome.

I'm skeptical of this; even if people do move, depending on location people could relocate to the suburbs while still keeping their kids in the same school, and indeed that would give their kids stability as they juggle a potential move to the suburbs. If anything, this will make the Hill schools and Hackley and Rye Country Day *more* desirable - if your kid goes to Horace Mann then their schooling is set regardless of whether you're living in the UES or Mamaroneck.

(maybe a good year to apply to Dalton or Brearley, though)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Soooo, this is a good year to switch schools since some families are panicking due to th3 NYC mayoral outcome.

The only people who say this are self promoting admissions consultants who want to self advertise and drum up business in click bait NY Post articles and generate hysteria

[Anonymous]

Actually, I am saying this as a parent of three children in Manhattan. Not totally sure how many families will actually go. LOL

[Anonymous]

What I don't get about the narrative of impending mass exodus is realistically how many people are going to flee the city that didn't already leave because of either Deblasio, Trump eliminating SALT deduction, or COVID?

[Anonymous]

Probably not good for the ridiculous Emet school. The people who would have gone there are the exact same ones who would over-react to this and flee. Good riddance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Probably not good for the ridiculous Emet school. The people who would have gone there are the exact same ones who would over-react to this and flee. Good riddance.

Why is it ridiculous

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Probably not good for the ridiculous Emet school. The people who would have gone there are the exact same ones who would over-react to this and flee. Good riddance.

Why is it ridiculous

It is a joke. Almost as bad as Alpha.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Probably not good for the ridiculous Emet school. The people who would have gone there are the exact same ones who would over-react to this and flee. Good riddance.

Why is it ridiculous

It is a joke. Almost as bad as Alpha.

How so? Asking in good faith about both. Only heard of them in passing.

[Anonymous]

Emet is a cult for MAGA Jews. It is an over-reaction to NY Post articles about how "woke" all the other schools are. Yes, many top schools went too far in that direction, but it doesn't justify this response. It is trying way too hard to be different.

There is a certain "type" who sends their kids there. If you know them, you will know what I mean. It is the type who is always saying they "read an article" to justify their contrarian views, and making snarky comments about mainstream beliefs based on one random example of something bad. They can dish it out but can't take it. They make big donations to Jewish organizations to feel like good Jews. Then they act all pious and religious when they aren't truly living their lives by Jewish values.

[Anonymous]

Actually have a kid at Emet and none of this is true at all, as far as I've seen, at least. We are the opposite of MAGA ourselves fwiw. And the academics are truly great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Actually have a kid at Emet and none of this is true at all, as far as I've seen, at least. We are the opposite of MAGA ourselves fwiw. And the academics are truly great.

Then what is the appeal, in your view?

[Anonymous]

Serious academic standards, classics instruction, extremely good and passionate teachers, very small classes, opportunity to accelerate in multiple subjects, no tech policy (this was huge for us and is for many parents there), and a general sense of excitement since it's a new school.