For those who don’t know, fifth graders have to apply to public middle school in New York City. There are no zoned middle schools so kids must go on tours, fill out applications, do interviews, auditions and more. You heard me right, fifth graders. That’s 10 to 11 years old.
Kinda crazy, right?
You don’t expect to get a good impression of a school on the day when hundreds of stressed-out parents and kids show up for their admissions interview at a hot public middle school.
But we did.
On Saturday morning, everything went very smoothly at New Voices on 18th Street near Seventh Avenue. The principal, staff and PTA parents were incredibly welcoming and friendly.
A PTA bake sale with coffee and hot chocolate was a really good idea.
Hepcat, OSFO and I got to the school at 9 a.m. and after waiting a few minutes the principal called the kids to follow him to the auditorium.
OSFO and her friend went nervously but by the time we saw them a half hour or later they were already feeling very comfortable in the school. OSFO had “auditioned” for music by playing her piano recital piece. Later she “auditioned” for art, wrote a writing sample and was interviewed by a very nice teacher, who asked OSFO what her teacher would say about her.
OSFO came up with a good answer but she could have said more. “But that would have been bragging, Mom,” OSFO said.
That’s the point, I guess.
The New Voices audition isn’t really an audition. I’m told that they just want to make sure that the kids really do like the arts and want to be in an arts-oriented middle school. The arts are very important at New Voices and in 6th grade the kids are required to take drama, studio art, graphic design, dance, and music.
OSFO was actually really excited and optimistic after her morning at New Voices. Wow. That makes a parent feel good.
OSFO has two more interviews to go. Then she’ll be a pro at interviewing for middle school.
you are right,cause you thought for a middle class kids and student.I like your spritual guidance for us.
thanks a lot
dilshad
Just to clarify one point — kids have to interview etc only in districts that have “choice” for middle school. District 15 is famously one such district, as is District 2 in Manhattan. And there are middle schools open to kids from all districts. But there are some districts where kids go to their zoned middle school, just as they went to their zoned elementary school, unless they apply for a voucher elsewhere. Otherwise I agree with you, it’s kinda crazy. It’s nerve-wracking for the kids who learn about all the schools and develop a preference; I also think it’s not quite fair for those kids whose parents don’t take them to a gazillion open-houses — they may list schools that they’ve heard of ahead of a school that might be more appropriate for them, then get squeezed out of that school by all the kids who list it 1 or 2. Wouldn’t it be great if every neighborhood middle school was a winner?!