KNOW YOUR CHOICES
Applying your child to NYC Pre-K, Elementary, Middle or High School for 2025 and beyond?
You can't have true school choice until you know all your choices - and the inside secrets of how to get them.
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To use our exclusive calculator for figuring out the optimal date for your child to take an IQ test for private school or Hunter College Elementary, click here.
There is no longer a test for public school Gifted & Talented admission. Read all about the new testing process and available programs, here.
Parents frequently require guidance for their particular situation, and answers to questions like “What school would be best for my child? What are our odds of getting in?”
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Read my education columns for The 74, Epicenter-NYC, New York School Talk, and the NY Gifted Education Examiner!
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Testimonials
Excellent resource for NYC parents!
I’m getting all confused with the school choices in NYC and this book provides a clear big picture overview. in addition, it contains links to many useful topics and having it in digital version makes it easy to click on the links to learn more about a particular topic of interest. Highly recommended!
Alina is a wonderful resource!
I’ve taken part in Alina’s online seminars, sought her advice, and consulted her written materials on numerous occasions. She helped us navigate the kindergarten admissions process and to advocate for our child when the DOE gave us the runaround. She has been an invaluable resource and I would highly recommend her!
Fantastic resource for all NYC parents
Highly recommend this book if you are in NYC or consider moving here and getting your child into Kindergarten. Alina is going into great detail, explaining thoroughly what to expect from the process, what things to consider, outlines the timeline and possible strategies: you will gain a lot of info for your money along with related links. Also consider going to one of her free workshops, where you get to meet the author and ask questions relevant to your situation.
Amazing
Buy this now if you live in NYC and are considering the public school system. Invaluable.
Excellent Resource
Alina Adams is an excellent resource whether you’re interested in public school options, private school options, or both. Her candor is atypical and a breath of fresh air.
Essential Guide for the NYC Parent
Alina Adams helps navigate you through every step of the NYC kindergarten application process in this essential book with support, up-to-date information and spot-on wisdom. The best book on this particular subject yet. Must get!
Best resource on NYC high schools!
Updated every year! A++++
Comprehensive and realistic overview of the NYC Kindergarten application process
The book provides invaluable information on the preparation and application processes for NYC kindergarten admissions. We will refer to it every step of the way; only wish we got our hands on it sooner!
NYC School Process is Nuts. This will help!
Extremely thorough and informative book! How crazy is it that we need a book to explain getting into kindergarten in NYC? Very….but if you want to navigate the myriad of options, this book is a must. I do not know that there is a better way to learn about the differences between the different programs (even if excluding private schools) – the time table that the author provides is very valuable as well. I am sure this information (or most of it anyway) exists out there, if you have the time and energy to decipher the DOE website, various parenting board posting sites, and talk to all of your neighbors with older children. But I don’t have that time, so this book really helped!
Essential
This is has been a clear, comprehensive guide to the daunting task of finding the right high NY school for our child. I highly recommend it.
Great overview and starting point!
Wish I had read this first, and over a year ago! Really helpful in laying out the changes over the years (which I was finding impossible to figure out, even after removing pandemic influenced changes).Doesn’t address the fact that the “Getting Into NYC K” actually for many programs (both public and private) is now “Getting into NYC Pre-K”. (Or at least that’s my sense, in the middle of the PreK season right now.)
Well-structured, clear, concise, with website links to schools and articles!
I read this cover to cover! Full of well-structured, clear and concise information for first-time NYC Kindergarten navigators. The author makes herself available for one on one and group questions which is very very helpful when you want to tease out specific situations. I had a half hour phone session with the author and all of my questions were answered. Thank you Alina!
Easy to read
Informative, easy to read, honest insight into navigating NYC Kindergarten! A must read for anyone embarking on their children’s school journey in New York City.
Very helpful!
Such a great help understanding the difference between schools!!! This kindergarten application process can be very overwhelm and I this book has helped me a lot! Thanks!
5.0 out of 5 stars wealth of knowledge
We had the additional benefit of using Alina as a consultant while we navigated the NYC school landscape with our children. She is a wealth of information–her finger really is on the pulse of everything. She’s met with so many families, she understands who is happy where and what schools are better fits for what families (based on family priorities and the types of learners that the kids are). She talked us through the public school versus private school decision and the ins and outs of G&T testing and G&T schools. Once we decided to pursue private schools, she directed us to several to go tour and then based on our feedback from those tours, suggested other schools for us to look at, she gave insight into our list of schools to apply to, and advice for the applications and admissions process. What’s more–her advice was spot on. Very happily looking forward to the coming school year and very pleased with the application process outcomes. Highly recommend Alina’s book, her website and youtube videos, and most of all her presentations and consulting services.
Best Book
I just ordered and devoured Alina Adams’ book. I’m your typical NYC parent overwhelmed and anxious about the options available to our child for Kindergarten. We don’t live in a particularly great public school district, have a very limited budget for private school, and feel that a G&T option where a 99% score is too much of a stretch to rely on. Alina was able to give us concrete information and options to help us feel like that it would all work out and we would still find the right solution for our child. She spells everything out very clearly (time lines, types of schools, testing, etc.) , explaining every option, the ins and outs, etc. It is clear she truly cares and wants to help the NYC parent and child navigate this process in the most effective way – and she does! Thank you Alina. Will let you know how it goes!
Five Stars
Alina’s book and webcasts are phenomenal.
Insightful and thoughtful
Alina guided us through the kindergarten process with tailored recommendations gleaned from taking a thorough intake. Her insights ultimately led to strong choices and a perfect match for our child.
Must have for NYC Parents!
I met Alina at one of her NYC workshops and immediately purchased this book afterwards. It explains the NYC school admissions process so thoroughly and I felt so well prepared and informed thanks to this book. If you are a parent in NYC, you need this book!
Just a necessary step to be able to find your way thought the complicated process to choose your first baby his NYC Kindergarten
The light in the tunnel! – that’s how I feel after reading this book and speaking to Alina. The book helped a lot to clarify many questions: I found all necessary information to understand the process, to identify the goals and to make a plan. I was able to discuss with Alina my personal situation what helped a busy mom’s mind to get a piece of mind 🙂 Highly recommended!
This book is a wonderful guide to help you understand the various options for …
This book is a wonderful guide to help you understand the various options for high school in New York City. There are so many things to consider when applyingand the process can be so confusing. The information was so helpful in figuring out what was right for our family.
Most useful book ever
After reading the first chapter of the book, I wrote down all my questions and just paid for a call with Alina. No one has so frankly broken down the school system for me before. I mentioned what she told me to my son’s ABA therapist who works with the DOE and she confirmed everything Alina said. In 30 minutes she had offered SEVERAL solutions to our (possible) predicament. If you cannot afford her phone call, READ THIS BOOK. If you CAN afford her phone call, READ THIS BOOK TO REMIND YOU OF WHAT SHE TOLD YOU.
Extremely helpful to get an overarching picture of the whole school system
Alina Adams’ book is a must-read for parents who plan to have kids in school in New York City. The system can be as complicated as you want it to be, and this book gives a solid framework for understanding the basics of the system. Once you read it you’ll have a solid foundation to delve into the parts of the system that you’re interested in. The timeline is very helpful and the content is always being updated since the DOE and independent schools are often changing their systems. Since it’s an e-Book you’ll have the links to the latest information. It’s short and to the point, a quick read packed with information. It’s not a comprehensive guide to every single school, but invaluable at seeing the whole picture and getting a sense of what you want for your family. Plus she just has a lot of helpful hints and good ideas since she’s worked with many families in this process.
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around the kindergarden/elementary school admissions process in NYC and great that it is digital given the constant changes
A must-have to wrap your head around the kindergarden/elementary school admissions process in NYC and great that it is digital given the constant changes.
everything from her G&T calculator, her website, videos …
everything from her G&T calculator, her website, videos and of course this book are life savers for a NYC parent as myself. I was totally lost until I came across her work
Welcome back Sanity!
This book is an excellent reference that would guide parents through the tedious and complicated kindergarten admissions proccess. Meeting with Alina brought me back to sanity. She understood my priorities and catered to my requests. I left with a long list of possible schools and a specific to do list.
Five Stars
Extremely useful information. Alina Adams knows everything!
Indispensable Information. Highly recommended before, and in addition to a phone consult or two.
Give yourself time for this journey. Read the book, write down your questions. Schedule a call with Alina, go back to the book, write down more questions, talk to parents/friends, then schedule another call. You will not understand the system the first time to approach the subject, so give yourself a moment to read, digest, then repeat. Alina has an impressive hold on this knowledge and you can benefit from her many, many years experience with this book.
Timely and valuable information
I am on an private email thread of hers because I am navigating the NYC DOE system for both my Kindergartener and Preschooler. Hew newsletters were timely and provided valuable information. She has a lot of people subscribed so when they are experiencing any difficulties or were relayed any news, they email her and she quickly updates everyone. Its as if she has field helpers to gather information for her and she consolidates them and passes info on.In addition to her email list, she has free youtube videos, she hosts webinars, and has this book. If you are about to put your kids thru NYC schools, I highly recommend this book and checking out her website.
I strongly recommend this book
I strongly recommend this book. The content is exactly spot on and serves as an important read for any expectant parent about to embark on the cyclone of options, competition, public policies and types of schools which your family and pre-K darling will face in the coming few years. Alina’s book is full of facts and insights that EVERY parent should be aware like the positives and negatives of each type of public and private schools in the modern era of choices in which we live if you’re a NYC dweller or are planning to become one and want to get your child into the right kindergarten program. While I’m still mulling over options for my own child, this book helped me make sense of the process and gave me confidence regarding my planning correctly for the decisions I will be making over the next two years of my family’s life and child’s education.
Get started early and read this book now.
This book is incredibly helpful. The writer clarifies a very confusing process and has lots of great suggestions. My son turns three in December and I’m glad I read this book now. Hopefully by the time testing and applications start we will be ready!
Frani C.
Alina really helped me understand the universe of options and clearly explained the process I needed to go through to get my children into the New York City school system. Until talking to her the entire system felt daunting and confusing. After talking to her the system still feels that way, but I have some agency and clarity on how to navigate it to find the best school options for my children. I also appreciate the amount of free resources Alina puts out there into the world for parents. The education system is far from equitable and she provides a more fair playing field for parents at different socioeconomic realities to get the information they so need to make informed decisions.
A Great Overview of Everything You Need to Know About NYC School Admissions!
If you will be applying your child to New York City Kindergarten in the next year or two, I highly recommend that you read “Getting Into NYC Kindergarten,” the only book of its kind that covers all available options, including:· Public School/General Ed (zoned and unzoned)· Public School Gifted & Talented (District & Citywide)· Public School Dual Language· Public School Magnet Programs· Charter Schools· Hunter College Elementary School· Private Schools (Independent and Religious)Plus advice on prepping your child for intelligence tests, insider tips on “working the waitlist,” how to ace a parent interview, the pros and cons of red-shirting, and a detailed timeline covering everything you should be doing in the 18 (yes, 18!) months prior to your child starting Kindergarten.
Read more “A Great Overview of Everything You Need to Know About NYC School Admissions!”
Great book
This book has very good informations I did not know about applying for different high schools. And how the school system works.
Short and comprehensive
A good start if you feel overwhelmed by this confusing NYC Kindergarten system. I feel more confident, armed, and ready to start now. Thank you!
Alina tells you what no one else will!
I’ve been a subscriber to Alina’s educational blog NewYorkSchoolTalk.org for a few years now, and I can’t emphasize enough how much valuable information she has shared on the G&T process. From tips and tricks to ranking schools, working a waitlist, calculating the best test date, I’ve learned so much from her webinars , and would recommend her to anyone trying to navigate the NYC school application process.
A must-read for NYC parents
Alina summarizes everything you need to know about your child’s elementary school options in New York. The book is well-written, organized in a very intuitive way and is updated on a regular basis to show relevant information. Alina uses an appropriate amount of humor to support her points and it’s easy to read.
Immensely helpful!
Such a clear breakdown of a complicated system! The timeline is a very helpful tool as well! Thank you for this 🙂
Extremely Helpful and Timely Guidance!
I have been following Alina Adams for my daugters Kindergarten admissions and being on her mailing list was very helpful. I always got timely alerts for activity and steps that needed to be completed. I have also attended her call for advice on ranking schools and picked up some great tips. The perspective really helps! I would recommend any parents going through the admissions process to get on her mailing list and attend her events. It’s worth it!
Highly recommend
I have not read this edition of the book but I have read a past edition as well as following Alina’s blog, newsletter, and YouTube channel. Alina is *the* expert on NYC schools. If you need help navigating the process (and you do), this book is for you.
A great place to start your school search!
I saw Alina speak at a local workshop and subsequently purchased her book for follow ups. Her information stays up to date with the ebook and you are able to get emails with any DOE changes as well as links to all of the forms and paperwork as needed too. We live in a not so great area for schools and she was able to give me some rays of sunlight for our kids, but without giving us unrealistic expectations. I would recommend this book to anyone who is embarking on the NYC school journey.
Loads of Info!
Alina Adams has built a great network of information for parents facing the hardships of NYC School choice. Getting information has taken away a lot of the anxiety I had in finding the perfect school for my young children. This fall I’ll be on my journey to Kindergarten admissions, and I can’t wait!
Very knowledgeable!
We have read Alina’s book (and went to a seminar). The book is extremely informative to navigate the crazy NY school applications process. Everything is well explained and organized; truly helps to navigate the maze. Honestly don’t know we would have done it without it.
An excellent starting point
This book is an excellent starting point to orient yourself in the byzantine labyrinth of NYC school. It helped us a lot when we started searching for better schools for our daughter. The author also runs very helpful podcasts that provide more details about NYC schools.
Thorough book on the confusing Kindergarten options in NYC
The public school options in NYC are super confusing and Alina Adams is THE expert on NYC public schools. Her book is thorough without being confusing and has specific links and deadlines the she updates every year. I found it so helpful that I subscribed to her podcast and email too. If you’re a parent of a toddler, do yourself a favor and but this ebook.
Is a great book! Extremely thorough and informative
If I could give more than 5 stars I definitely would! Is a great book! Extremely thorough and informative. She provides links and resources that are crucial in this process.
Priceless information on the NYC school system that you can’t find anywhere else
Navigating the NYC school system can be an overwhelming and confusing black hole. Despite the many school options available, there is very little real, useful information available on each of the options to figure out the best fit. Which is why we felt so fortunate to have found Alina. Her newsletters and kindergarten workshop were incredibly helpful and gave us access to a wealth of real world information we could not find anywhere else. Once we got to the point of having to make the difficult decision of choosing between two options for our child, we had a one-on-one consult with Alina which we found invaluable. Alina is not only knowledgeable but also thoughtful and genuinely cares. Thanks for all your help, Alina!!
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Eliza S.
Navigating the New York City school system as a first-time parent is unbelievably daunting, but Alina Adams and her workshops have been a guiding light. Alina stays on top of the latest news in an ever-changing landscape of regulations and application processes, and she is so generous in her guidance, using data and her many years of experience to inform, calm, and help parents from all backgrounds. I recommend her workshops to every new mom or dad as soon as their kids approach school age. NYC is unique in its intensity and complexity, and Alina is unique in her ability to digest that complexity and shepherd parents through it. I feel so grateful to her for sharing her wealth of knowledge with us. We were admitted to an amazing school and our child is thriving.
Helpful
Good book for getting into kindergarten. My wife and I really loved it and would highly recommend it to others.
Anetta W.
When my daughter was in pre-K, Alina became my first source of information about schools, programs, and the whole arcane New York education system (public and otherwise). Her quick advice, newsletters, workshops, videos, etc. have always been very informative and helped us a lot in deciding about further steps in our daughter’s (now heading to middle school) education. I think her advice is especially valuable for parents like us, who are new to the system and often feel lost facing different, always changing, options, rules, and timelines when applying to schools (especially public ones).
I also appreciate her advocacy for good-quality education in NYC and her encouragement of parents and student themselves to advocate for education they want for their children and themselves.
I hope she sticks around at least until our daughter is ready for high-school.
Her G&T workshop is the best
I attended Alina’s G&T workshop in April and found it hugely helpful. I asked her for insights of the top schools and discussed rank orderings with her. I’ve been on school tours which are helpful but by design they can be a bit biased. What Alina offers is truly unbiased discussions of strengths and weaknesses of each school which forms important basis for comparison. We just learned my child is going to Anderson. We could not be happier. Alina’s workshop is truly differentiated and offers information not available elsewhere.
She is a great resource.
If you’re looking for a clear and concise guide to the overwhelming labyrinth of NYC schools, buy this book. Alina Adams has put in one place a user-friendly road map that allows parents who are confronting the NYC school system for the first time a way in which to navigate their way through. Between the book and Ms. Adams’ willingness to talk with parents, she is a great resource.
Jenna G.
Alina has been an invaluable resource for my family in navigating the New York City school systems, both public and private. She has guided us through decisions regarding my son’s education since kindergarten, and he is now off to a middle school that we are thrilled with, in no small part due to Alina’s expertise and support. We are eternally grateful for her!
Five Stars
Excellent overview of the NYC K system and the admissions process.
A MUST for anything NYC school admissions!
I feel like Alina took my hand and walked me through the mirky waters of getting into kindergarten. Subscribe to her email list ASAP because she will remind you of important dates and times to your due dates, your results, and how to make sense of it all. She goes above and beyond!Start with the book and get on her mailing list. She will tell you things you wouldn’t know otherwise.
The timeline provided is a great resource and the book provides insider tips and tricks
I find this book to be very thorough and informative. The timeline provided is a great resource and the book provides insider tips and tricks. Alina has been extremely helpful in my quest to find the perfect school for my twins. Alina is super knowledgable and personable! I highly recommend.
We now have a strategy we are comfortable with!
I have attended Alina Adams workshops and received a ton of helpful information. When we had to make a decision for my son we knew she would have the insight we needed. I reached out to her for a consult via email and she responded promptly and setup a time to talk. My husband and I are so happy we did. We now have the information to make an informed decision.Getting into a good Kindergarten in NYC can be a stressful time but Alina has worked with many families so she has insight on many of the schools. I will highly recommend her book, workshops and private consultations.
The book is a great overview of the NYC system for elementary schools
The book is a great overview of the NYC system for elementary schools. I purchased the book when my daughter was 2 years old and it has served as a great reference for all these “prep” years when you’re doing your research and talking to other parents. I actually printed it out and turned into a notebook with all my notes on the margins. What is absolutely instrumental is Alina’s coaching services – at some point I realized that I had all the information but couldn’t come up with a strategy that would work for our particular circumstances. Alina gave me great advice, laying out what were our first, second and back up options and provided the timeline for potential hedging actions (including moving to a different school zone as a very last resort). She worked with us patiently as we were put on a wait list to our top choice school and gave excellent advice on how to work it. Needless to say, we received the offer.
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Common Questions
- What school would be best for my child?
- What are our odds for getting in?
- What can I do to improve our chances?
- Which schools would best nurture my child’s strengths - and accommodate their weaknesses?
- Do I qualify for private school financial aid?
- How should I choose between my various school options?