Abacus Mom

Carnegie Hill Condo Near Manhattan Private Schools For Sale

In the market for a residence in Carnegie Hill?  I received this email today.

Premier Condominium for sale.

Steps from major private schools in the heart of Carnegie Hill, one of the most desirable family areas in NYC, this  combination of two condominiums features garden views, a sunny east west exposure, new windows, a laundry utility room, a custom kitchen, 3 bathrooms and a bilevel  double living room. The upper level of the bilevel living  room can easily be converted back to the 1 or 2 bedrooms as it once was enabling this unique condo to become a 3 or 4 bedroom condo with a separate children's wing which includes a play room and a 5th separate room for live in help.

Located in Carnegie Hill Tower, its fine staff  includes a full time Doorman and Concierge, a garage, an exercise room, a bicycle room, private storage and a gated garden,  This home is offered for $3,395,000, with monthly common charges of $1,812.  For further information and appointments please contact Marcy Stein at 917 597 2418.

Want a NYC Public School Gifted and Talented Seat? Good Luck

Beth Fertig at the New York Times and Philissa Cramer at Gotham Schools posted some shocking statitstics about New York City Gifted and Talented (G&T) programs:

• 40% of students who tested for the G&T kindergarten program tested as gifted.
• 68% of eligible "gifted" kindergarten applicants actually received G&T offers

These statistics suggest:

• Test prep works. 
• Is the test testing giftedness or affluence?  Can you even determine giftedness when a child is four?
• Better have a backup kindergarten plan.  And the city backup plans are not very good: zoned public schools that sometimes go to waitlist, especially in desirable neighborhoods, private schools with limited seats and high tuition.

International Baccalaureate in New York City

Caroline Porter and Stephanie Banchero have a good article in the Wall Street Journal about the rise in status of the International Baccalaureate Program:  More U.S. Schools Go International

Briefly, schools across the United States are adopting the program because it is seen as well preparing students for college and a more globalized world.

In Manhattan, private school families have the choice of the IB Program at Dwight and the United Nations School.  In Brooklyn, Brooklyn Friends recently started offering the IB diploma program.

Some of my Westchester clients have been interested in the public school International Baccalaureate program in Dobbs Ferry.

The ERB Explains How to Prep for the ERB

The ERB's booklet, What to Expect on the ECAA, makes fascinating reading. 

In the booklet, the Educational Records Bureau (ERB) maps out explicitly what is on the WPPSI and WISC (confusingly, also known as the ECAA), revealing to parents the tests' content.  The company goes on to recommend preparation strategies, going so far as to suggest some educational toys and tactics for one-on-one parent/child work.  The company's writer states:

The more you actively create opportunities for your child to develop these skills throughout his/her daily experiences, the more successful he/she will be when those skills are measured.

Even more importantly, the ERB believes that your work with your child may not only result in higher ERB scores, but also superior child mind development!  What's not to like?

However, g*d forbid you should hire someone or buy a book to help your child with the test.  So much to worry about!  Your tutor might be unqualified.  Your ERB workbook might be inaccurate.  Suddenly you are engaging in "overpreparation" and "excessive test preparation activities".

But it gets worse.  The ERB cautions:

Artificially inflating your child’s performance in order to gain admission to your school of choice is a short-term strategy that can result in long-term negative consequences. Ultimately, your child will flourish in a learning environment that is best suited to his/her unique skills and abilities. If children are placed in an educational program that is misaligned with their abilities, they may experience poor academic performance, frustration, reduced self-esteem, and difficulty connecting with their peers.

So if you work with your child, you can instill "lasting benefits for your child’s educational experience."  But if a tutor does, there can only be negative consequences.

That doesn't make a lot of sense.

The problem here is that most New York private school applicant parents are very confused, receiving a mixed and not very believable message from the ERB.  This adds to their stress during what is usually a very stressful period.

For More about ERB Prep:

Kindergarten ERB / WPPSI IV Test Prep Kit Nonverbal Section: Best ERB Toys and Books

Westchester Public School Tries A Private School Approach

Joseph De Avila writes in The Wall Street Journal today about Rye Brook's new revenue-raising project:   The $20,000 Public School Westchester School Markets Itself as Alternative to Private Institutions

De Avila explains that the Blind Brook-Rye Union Free School District, facing woes typical of many Westchester public schools (mounting teacher-pension and other costs) and atypical (declining enrollment), is marketing its open seats to students outside of Rye Brook's borders.  The pitch?  A top education at half the cost of NYC and Westchester private school.  I said,

A high-performing school district such as Blind Brook could see recruitment success, given its reputation and comparative price advantage to private school, said Emily Glickman, president of Abacus Guide Educational Consulting, which advises parents on private school enrollment. "Paying $20,000 and not $40,000 is good deal," Ms. Glickman said.

Families in poorly performing Westchester school districts should be prime targets in Blind Brook's marketing campaign.   Additionally, while Blind Brook has instituted admissions requirements, admission should still be significantly less competitive than at top tier privates such as Rye Country Day and Hackley.