Anonymous
02/05/2026 12:54
Subject: K-8 Model
any feedback on cathedral st john divine school or st hilda and hughs
Anonymous
02/05/2026 12:44
Subject: K-8 Model
We applied to Town and withdrew our application when they demanded that our kid wear a uniform to take a school tour. (maybe that's a good sign for some people but it was a giant red flag for us)
Anonymous
02/05/2026 12:43
Subject: K-8 Model
Thoughts on Town school?
what is the best co ed K-8 school in nyc?
what is the best co ed K-8 school in nyc?
Anonymous
02/04/2026 19:44
Subject: Re:K-8 Model
My kid went to School at Columbia K-8, and it worked out really well for us. Everyone was in the neighborhood, so it was really easy for my child to see friends after school and on the weekends. The classes were small, especially starting in middle school. They have a great exmissions team, and everyone I know went to their first choice for high school (ours was a TT single sex). People like to the disparage the school, but we liked it, and the enrichment due to the Columbia affiliation was also great.
Anonymous
02/04/2026 19:18
Subject: K-8 Model
Anonymous wrote:I sometimes wonder whether Speyer being described as a “gifted school” is more of a marketing claim than a reflection of how the school actually operates.
After all, students apply in kindergarten just like they do for most private schools, and there isn’t a separate gifted assessment process like the one used by Hunter. I also haven’t really seen many cases where families choose Speyer over other top-tier schools after being accepted to those schools.
Of course, Speyer does offer strong programs such as debate, math, and chess, which are certainly valuable. But calling it a school specifically for gifted students feels more like a positioning choice by the school rather than a designation based on a clear gifted identification process.
I can speak from experience that their playdate is more assessment than playdate. Not as formal as Hunter but definitely screening.
Anonymous
02/04/2026 19:16
Subject: K-8 Model
Anonymous wrote:I know it's a bit of an odd example but I continue to be gobsmacked by Speyer's outplacements (https://www.speyerschool.org/admissions/after-speyer-high-school-and-college-placement) - *50%* of the school ends up at one of Hunter, Trinity, Stuy, Bronx Science, Dalton, Riverdale, Saint Ann's, or Exeter.
Why would it be an odd example? Its a school for gifted kids.
Anonymous
02/04/2026 17:48
Subject: K-8 Model
That actually was kind of the point of my posting that - they don't seem to apply any particularly aggressive gifted screening (there's no IQ test like there is at say Mirman in LA) and yet they produce these impressive results.
Anonymous
02/04/2026 17:47
Subject: K-8 Model
I sometimes wonder whether Speyer being described as a “gifted school” is more of a marketing claim than a reflection of how the school actually operates.
After all, students apply in kindergarten just like they do for most private schools, and there isn’t a separate gifted assessment process like the one used by Hunter. I also haven’t really seen many cases where families choose Speyer over other top-tier schools after being accepted to those schools.
Of course, Speyer does offer strong programs such as debate, math, and chess, which are certainly valuable. But calling it a school specifically for gifted students feels more like a positioning choice by the school rather than a designation based on a clear gifted identification process.
After all, students apply in kindergarten just like they do for most private schools, and there isn’t a separate gifted assessment process like the one used by Hunter. I also haven’t really seen many cases where families choose Speyer over other top-tier schools after being accepted to those schools.
Of course, Speyer does offer strong programs such as debate, math, and chess, which are certainly valuable. But calling it a school specifically for gifted students feels more like a positioning choice by the school rather than a designation based on a clear gifted identification process.
Anonymous
02/04/2026 16:48
Subject: K-8 Model
I dont think Speyer is a great example for placement bc it's for gifted students?
Anonymous
02/04/2026 15:41
Subject: K-8 Model
Anonymous wrote:I know it's a bit of an odd example but I continue to be gobsmacked by Speyer's outplacements (https://www.speyerschool.org/admissions/after-speyer-high-school-and-college-placement) - *50%* of the school ends up at one of Hunter, Trinity, Stuy, Bronx Science, Dalton, Riverdale, Saint Ann's, or Exeter.
I remember when they opened, and it doesn't surprise me that the students excel academically. It was founded as a school for advanced learners by women with connections to Hollingworth Preschool.
Anonymous
02/04/2026 15:28
Subject: K-8 Model
Anonymous wrote:Curious to hear from parents with kids who went to a K–8 school. I know one of the common concerns is having to apply out later, but I’m wondering how that actually felt in real life. Was it as big a downside as people make it out to be? What did you love about the model, and what would you do differently? Would be super grateful if you name the K-8 but understand people also want to be private
I have an 8th grader at a co-ed K-8. It's been great. I think the K-8 schools do middle school much better. Academically it's rigorous but they also give the kids a lot of opportunities for leadership. As a K-8 they have a very robust high school placement program and that's been helpful. It's been a stressful year with high school applications but it's been a great learning experience for my 8th grader and I think they will be better prepared for the college application process. 8th grade is also a good time to reevaluate what you want in a school and to involve your teenage in the process. It's stressful to manage the process on top of the heavy 8th grade workload but I think it's been worthwhile.
Anonymous
02/04/2026 15:23
Subject: K-8 Model
Bank Street. It's not for everyone, but my DCs had a wonderful experience there.
Not a downside to apply out. It's good to be the "top dogs" in middle school, and then it's nice to mix things up socially by going to high school with a different crew of kids. The process is somewhat stressful, but it was also a good learning experience for both of my DCs.
Not a downside to apply out. It's good to be the "top dogs" in middle school, and then it's nice to mix things up socially by going to high school with a different crew of kids. The process is somewhat stressful, but it was also a good learning experience for both of my DCs.
Anonymous
02/04/2026 15:19
Subject: K-8 Model
I know it's a bit of an odd example but I continue to be gobsmacked by Speyer's outplacements (https://www.speyerschool.org/admissions/after-speyer-high-school-and-college-placement) - *50%* of the school ends up at one of Hunter, Trinity, Stuy, Bronx Science, Dalton, Riverdale, Saint Ann's, or Exeter.
Anonymous
02/04/2026 15:12
Subject: K-8 Model
Also feel like the thread always focuses on all boys K-8 bc there are so many. But would love to hear about co-eds too
Anonymous
02/04/2026 15:09
Subject: K-8 Model
Curious to hear from parents with kids who went to a K–8 school. I know one of the common concerns is having to apply out later, but I’m wondering how that actually felt in real life. Was it as big a downside as people make it out to be? What did you love about the model, and what would you do differently? Would be super grateful if you name the K-8 but understand people also want to be private 