Anonymous
Post 03/18/2026 12:11     Subject: Best K-8 Schools?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I don’t think kids who get into top-tier schools or Hunter necessarily choose to go to Speyer. If a child is truly gifted, shouldn’t they at least pass the first round of the Hunter exam?

I actually know quite a few kids who attend Speyer. Among students who later get into top-tier high schools, many transferred from public schools in grades 4–6—and they were already academically strong to begin with.

I don’t believe that all children at Speyer are genuinely gifted. It often feels more like a choice made by parents who want to believe that about their child.


Yeah, the fundamental question with Speyer is who would rationally choose to go there in kindergarten; if your kid is actually all that gifted then you can send them to Hunter for free and have a guaranteed high school spot, and if they fall just short of that you can send them to a private school with bigger classes and nicer facilities and, likewise, a guaranteed high school spot. Hell, if you live in that neighborhood and specifically want a school within walking distance you can send them to Ethical. I'm sure there are anecdotal examples of kids turning down Dalton or Trinity or whatever to go to Speyer, but I can't imagine there are very many. So by its very nature it's ending up with the second tier of smart kids because the first tier have better options.



You are assuming the process is a meritocracy which is a naive take. Your child can be top 10 smartest in the city and the process will still be a challenge to get admitted due to how heavily curated the classes are (gender, race, wealth, connections, alumni status, etc…).
Anonymous
Post 03/18/2026 11:33     Subject: Best K-8 Schools?
Anonymous wrote:I don’t think kids who get into top-tier schools or Hunter necessarily choose to go to Speyer. If a child is truly gifted, shouldn’t they at least pass the first round of the Hunter exam?

I actually know quite a few kids who attend Speyer. Among students who later get into top-tier high schools, many transferred from public schools in grades 4–6—and they were already academically strong to begin with.

I don’t believe that all children at Speyer are genuinely gifted. It often feels more like a choice made by parents who want to believe that about their child.


Yeah, the fundamental question with Speyer is who would rationally choose to go there in kindergarten; if your kid is actually all that gifted then you can send them to Hunter for free and have a guaranteed high school spot, and if they fall just short of that you can send them to a private school with bigger classes and nicer facilities and, likewise, a guaranteed high school spot. Hell, if you live in that neighborhood and specifically want a school within walking distance you can send them to Ethical. I'm sure there are anecdotal examples of kids turning down Dalton or Trinity or whatever to go to Speyer, but I can't imagine there are very many. So by its very nature it's ending up with the second tier of smart kids because the first tier have better options.
Anonymous
Post 03/18/2026 11:21     Subject: Best K-8 Schools?
I don’t think kids who get into top-tier schools or Hunter necessarily choose to go to Speyer. If a child is truly gifted, shouldn’t they at least pass the first round of the Hunter exam?

I actually know quite a few kids who attend Speyer. Among students who later get into top-tier high schools, many transferred from public schools in grades 4–6—and they were already academically strong to begin with.

I don’t believe that all children at Speyer are genuinely gifted. It often feels more like a choice made by parents who want to believe that about their child.
Anonymous
Post 03/17/2026 21:39     Subject: Best K-8 Schools?
*bearable
Anonymous
Post 03/17/2026 20:55     Subject: Re:Best K-8 Schools?
I was a former gifted kid in a state with
G-IEPS and real gifted education. It was a godsend. My profoundly gifted kid is so light years beyond her peers academically differentiation is the only thing that makes school bareable.
Anonymous
Post 03/17/2026 17:04     Subject: Re:Best K-8 Schools?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:A consultant told us she's never had a full pay family rejected from Speyer. They do this 2hr evaluation, but it's mainly for show.



They don't have 45 kids in their middle school classes. You can literally count who graduates on their socials. Giftedness is a neurodiversity. As a parent of a profoundly gifted kid. I can assure you it is very much not a scam. Giftedness has 0 merrit on success. That is the truth.


As a former gifted kid I can tell you that being constantly told I was 'gifted' screwed me up for years and ruined math for me forever, and in the end I ended up pursuing subjects where I was not particularly gifted at all.
Anonymous
Post 03/17/2026 17:02     Subject: Re:Best K-8 Schools?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:A consultant told us she's never had a full pay family rejected from Speyer. They do this 2hr evaluation, but it's mainly for show.



They don't have 45 kids in their middle school classes. You can literally count who graduates on their socials. Giftedness is a neurodiversity. As a parent of a profoundly gifted kid. I can assure you it is very much not a scam. Giftedness has 0 merrit on success. That is the truth.


We literally inquired with them this year (did not end up applying) and they told us they expand from 30 to 45 in 6th.
Anonymous
Post 03/17/2026 17:01     Subject: Re:Best K-8 Schools?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:A consultant told us she's never had a full pay family rejected from Speyer. They do this 2hr evaluation, but it's mainly for show.


Well clearly they’re doing something right. Their high school and college exmissions are pretty good for a school that probably doesn’t have as many development/connected kids as other privates.


Tiger parenting + test prep. I know someone who tutors Speyer kids for the SHSAT and Hunter test.



Many people test prep for SHSAT and Hunter. Nothing to do with any Tiger


There are lots of degrees of test prep - the 'bow before my gifted child' people tend to also be the people who have their kids doing 4 hours a week of Kumon from age 5 and starting work on the SHSAT somewhere in the middle of 5th grade.
Anonymous
Post 03/17/2026 17:00     Subject: Re:Best K-8 Schools?
Anonymous wrote:A consultant told us she's never had a full pay family rejected from Speyer. They do this 2hr evaluation, but it's mainly for show.



They don't have 45 kids in their middle school classes. You can literally count who graduates on their socials. Giftedness is a neurodiversity. As a parent of a profoundly gifted kid. I can assure you it is very much not a scam. Giftedness has 0 merrit on success. That is the truth.
Anonymous
Post 03/17/2026 16:57     Subject: Re:Best K-8 Schools?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:A consultant told us she's never had a full pay family rejected from Speyer. They do this 2hr evaluation, but it's mainly for show.


Well clearly they’re doing something right. Their high school and college exmissions are pretty good for a school that probably doesn’t have as many development/connected kids as other privates.


Tiger parenting + test prep. I know someone who tutors Speyer kids for the SHSAT and Hunter test.



Many people test prep for SHSAT and Hunter. Nothing to do with any Tiger
Anonymous
Post 03/17/2026 16:56     Subject: Re:Best K-8 Schools?
THAT consultant has some serious beef with Speyer. They take 30 kids. I know kids who didnt get in this year, many, and one whose older kid is there.
Anonymous
Post 03/16/2026 16:37     Subject: Re:Best K-8 Schools?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:A consultant told us she's never had a full pay family rejected from Speyer. They do this 2hr evaluation, but it's mainly for show.


Well clearly they’re doing something right. Their high school and college exmissions are pretty good for a school that probably doesn’t have as many development/connected kids as other privates.


Tiger parenting + test prep. I know someone who tutors Speyer kids for the SHSAT and Hunter test.
Anonymous
Post 03/16/2026 14:18     Subject: Re:Best K-8 Schools?
Anonymous wrote:A consultant told us she's never had a full pay family rejected from Speyer. They do this 2hr evaluation, but it's mainly for show.


Well clearly they’re doing something right. Their high school and college exmissions are pretty good for a school that probably doesn’t have as many development/connected kids as other privates.
Anonymous
Post 03/16/2026 08:47     Subject: Re:Best K-8 Schools?
Anonymous wrote:A consultant told us she's never had a full pay family rejected from Speyer. They do this 2hr evaluation, but it's mainly for show.


We got in in an older grade with some pretty terrible test scores. (Didn’t attend, didn’t seem worth it for $70k)
Anonymous
Post 03/16/2026 07:03     Subject: Best K-8 Schools?
If you're open to independent Catholic schools, there's the Academy of St. Joseph in Greenwich Village. Half the price of most private schools and top notch exmissions. Small and incredibly warm, but with rigorous academics.