Reflecting changes brought about by Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s reorganization of New York City’s public school system, this Third Edition features reviews of 74 of the city’s best public middle schools. Providing everything parents need to know in choosing a middle school that is just right for their child, New York City’s Best Public Middle Schools: A Parents’ Guide features interviews with teachers, parents, and students to uncover the “inside scoop” on schools—including atmosphere, homework, student stress, competition among students, the quality of teachers, gender issues, the condition of the building, and more. “This book can save your life if you are trying to navigate the confusing world of middle school choice.” —Susan Brenna, parent “An incredible resource.” —Nancy Arno, parent “The most definitive guidebooks to the city schools.” —The New York Times “Required reading.” —New York magazine

Reflecting recent changes brought about by Mayor Michael Bloomberg's reorganization of New York City's public school system, this Second Edition features all new reviews of 67 of the city's best middle schools.

Here is essential information about the best public middle schools in the five boroughs. The schools are described in anecdotal information and simple facts: school performance, test scores, grade levels (which include high school), class size, ethnic makeup, enrollment, admissions requirements, teaching philosophies, when to apply, and how to choose. From among the approximately 500 schools and programs, author Clara Hemphill has identified the very best, some 15 percent.Public Middle Schools is vital in helping parents find the right educational setting for their children.

For nearly a decade, parents have looked to Clara Hemphill to help them find a great public school for their child. For this third edition, Clara and her staff visited nearly 500 of New York City's elementary schools and chose 200 of the best schools to recommend, with more than 70 new school profiles not included in the previous edition! This essential guide uncovers the inside scoop on schools (the condition of the building, homework, teacher quality, etc.), includes a checklist of questions to ask on a school tour, and incorporates new listings of charter schools and magnet programs.

If you lived anywhere else in the country, you would probably send your child to your neighborhood high school. In New York City, it’s much more complicated than that. But what parent has time to research hundreds of school options? To help you choose a high school that is just right for your child, Clara Hemphill and her colleagues at Insideschools visited nearly all of the city’s 400 high schools. This essential revision of the critically acclaimed parents’ guide features new school profiles; invaluable advice to help parents and students through the stressful admissions process; and new sections on alternative schools, vocational schools, and schools for students learning English. Featuring interviews with teachers, parents, and students, this guide uncovers the “inside scoop” about school atmosphere, homework, student stress, competition among students, the quality of teachers, gender issues, the condition of the building, class size, and much more. “For [this] third edition I looked for schools that spark students’ curiosity, broaden their horizons, and help them develop into thoughtful, caring adults.” —Clara Hemphill Praise for Clara Hemphill’s Parents’ Guides! New York Daily News... “Brisk, thoughtful profiles of topnotch, intriguing schools.” Big Apple Parent... “Hemphill has done for schools what Zagat’s did for restaurants.” New York Magazine... “Thoughtful, well-researched…required reading.” The New York Times... “A bible for urban parents.”

Completely revised with new profiles of more than 150 elementary schools and pre-kindergarten programs! For nearly 2 decades, parents have looked to Clara Hemphill to help them find a good public school for their child. This Fourth Edition features all-new reviews of more than 150 of the city’s best public elementary schools, based on visits and in-depth interviews by the InsideSchools staff. This essential guide uncovers the “inside scoop” on schools (the condition of the building, special programs, teacher quality, and more), includes a checklist of things to look for on a school tour, and incorporates new listings of charter schools and stand-alone pre-kindergarten programs. It also provides the hard facts on: Total school enrollment Test scores for reading and math Ethnic makeup Who gets in? Admissions requirements Teaching methods and styles Special education services How to apply