We were warned. That’s why we got to the Beacon High School tour early. When we arrived at 4:20, there were already hundreds of people on line.

Luckily they let groupings of us into the building at 4:50, when we were divided again into smaller groups (of about 40 parents and students). First there was a brief introduction by the school’s assistant principal and some words from two impressive high school seniors.

Our group then met with a math, spanish, history and science teacher in their classrooms. Their talks were brief and to the point. With each teacher there was a group of exceptional students, who also got a chance to speak and answer questions. In just about every class, students are required to present performance-based projects to a panel of teachers which seems to develop excellent public speaking skills in the students (just an anecdotal observation).

The tour was over by 5:40 and we had an excellent impression of the school. Brief and to the point. Good job, Beacon! With one caveat, when we walked outside the line had grown exponentially and there were people lined up all the way to Amsterdam Avenue and 62nd Street (and the school is on 61 Street between Amsterdam and 10th Avenue). People I knew expressed anger over the fact that this was the only tour for people from Brooklyn and they were forced to stand on line for an hour or more to see the school.

So, we were lucky to get there early because we got in and out early.

Beacon is a highly selective school (Regents exempt) with high academic standards and a rigorous curriculum. That said, it has a decidedly non-competitive atmosphere and does not rank its students. They do, however, make applicants jump through hoops to qualify for the school (portfolio, an essay, an interview that includes an essay) and there are only 1,100 kids in the entire school. It looks like they have adequate space for that number of students in their very pleasant building, which is light and somewhat airy.

The four teachers we met were young and smart. They spoke quickly and articulately about the departments they represented and I was particularly impressed with the sounds of the math and history program. The history and Spanish programs sponsor 2-week learning trips to various countries, which sounded interesting. The science program sounds challenging and unique. They offer biology and chemistry in alternating semesters during the freshman and sophomore year so that the students can understand the interconnectivity of those disciplines. This was explained to us by a male senior, one of the few males we saw on the tour, who was so articulate and knowledgeable, he could have been running the science program.

Beacon strikes me as a terrific school for a well-rounded student who is willing to be engaged by academics, ideas and homework. It offers a multitude of AP classes and students have the opportunity to study at nearby Fordham University, John Jay College and Hunter College (which isn’t nearby). They also have electives and clubs up the wazoo and plenty of opportunities for student creativity.

Because it is so popular, they are able to pick and choose the best and brightest students. That said, it strikes me as an atmosphere that many students would do well in and there should be more schools of its kind. Riding home on the subway I felt a tinge of anger that there are so few solidly good high schools in NYC. Judging from that long, long line of frustrated (and cold) parents and students, only a fraction of the kids who would do well there will get in.

So the Beacon tour was, ultimately, tantalizing and, well, frustrating and unsettling.

Illustration by Kevin Kocses: www.kevinkocses.carbonmade.com