Education: Resources For Choosing the Right School

To ensure that a child growing up in the city gets a good education, parents really do have to turn themselves into educated consumers. We have four thriving educational sectors—public, private, charter, and parochial—and they all have their pros and cons, rules, and regulations. New York Family has several wonderful resources to help guide city parents (read on!); plus, we’ve rounded up a selective list of tools that are available to help you find the best school for your child.

NEW YORK FAMILY RESOURCES

The Blackboard Awards: The prestigious Blackboard Awards honor excellence in education throughout the city and in every educational sector, calling upon parents and educators to help select and celebrate wonderful schools, principals, and teachers. You can learn more about the Blackboard Awards and read about past winners at blackboardawards.com. When you visit the site, please be sure to tell us about the schools, principals, and teachers of excellence in your family’s life. You can submit your nominations all year.

The Blackboard Awards: The prestigious Blackboard Awards honor excellence in education throughout the city and in every educational sector, calling upon parents and educators to help select and celebrate wonderful schools, principals, and teachers.

You can learn more about the Blackboard Awards and read about past winners at blackboardawards.com. When you visit the site, please be sure to tell us about the schools, principals, and teachers of excellence in your family’s life. You can submit your nominations all year.

New York Family: If you define education as learning that takes place both in the classroom and outside the classroom, then it’s just a huge part of what we do almost every day on our website and every month in our magazine, by pointing parents to good info and resources for helping them raise their children.

And regarding education in particular, we cover news, trends, admissions, and helpful resources all year long. A great way of tapping into our education coverage is to sign up for our free education e-newsletter, which runs twice-monthly through much of the year.

NURSERY SCHOOL & PRE-K

The Independent School Admission Association of Greater New York (ISAAGNY)

The New York City Department of Education (DOE)

The Parents League of New York

Victoria Goldman’s The Manhattan Directory of Private Nursery Schools

Note: Many “preschool alternative” programs are offered by neighborhood education and enrichment centers. See our Classes Guide.

PUBLIC SCHOOL

Clara Hemphill’s various guides to NYC public schools

Class Size Matters

DOE

Insideschools

NYC Public School Parents

PRIVATE SCHOOL (INDEPENDENT)

ISAAGNY

The NYC Private School Admissions Handbook

The Parents League of New York

Victoria Goldman’s The Manhattan Family Guide To Private Schools And Selective Public Schools

CHARTER SCHOOL

DOE

New York City Charter School Center

PAROCHIAL SCHOOL

Archdiocese of New York

Note: For other faith-based schools in the New York City area, we recommend contacting local organizations affiliated with your religion. They should be able to direct you to schools of interest.

SCHOOL ADMISSION CONSULTANTS

As with college admissions consultants, the city has a small but busy cottage industry of consultants who help parents with nursery, public, and private school admissions.

Private Education Advisory Service (PEAS)

School Choice International

School Search NYC

Smart City Kids

TUTORS

Bee Tutored

Big City Tutoring

Bright Kids NYC

Brownstone Tutors

EBL Coaching

Fusion Academy and Learning Center

Green Test Prep

ibidPREP

Ivy Tutors Network

Kumon

Launch Math & Science Centers

Mathnasium

Next Level Learning

PandaTree

The Princeton Review

WyzAnt

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Relevant Directory Listings

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Franklin School

<p><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Franklin School is a visionary new high school </span><span style="color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">where students have the freedom to chart their own course through an </span><span style="color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">innovative curriculum where academic excellence meets real-world readiness. Franklin’s innovative hands-on curriculum empowers students to pursue their passions and have agency over their futures. </span><span style="color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In addition to a rigorous core curriculum, </span><span style="color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">students can choose from a wide range of AP</span><span style="color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and </span><span style="color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">elective classes, as well as micro-courses </span><span style="color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">taught by industry leaders. </span><span style="color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Franklin emphasizes applied learning — learning by doing both within and beyond the classroom. Much of what students “do” will be driven by their own interests and where they want to go on their educational journey.</span><strong id="docs-internal-guid-20eed8a2-7fff-eb59-fbf0-5008e984af46" style="font-weight: normal;"></strong></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Franklin’s makerspace houses design and technology courses and serves as an inspiring hub where students can apply their learning and innovate. </span><span style="color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It’s also home to the School’s incubator — Franklin Student Ventures — where students can bring their ideas for new businesses and nonprofits to fruition. During that process, they gain entrepreneurial skills, which are invaluable as technology and the working world continue to change at a furious pace.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A Franklin four-year journey also includes built-in academic support, skills curriculum, and communication training; built-in SAT/ACT prep; expert college counseling; access to state-of-the-art athletic facilities; personalized internships; and more. Attend an open house to learn more </span></span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;">— </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">register </span></span><a style="color: #35a3bf; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration-line: none; font-size: 16px; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" href="https://www.franklinjc.org/admissions/visit-us" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.franklinjc.org/admissions/visit-us&source=gmail&ust=1697321264007000&usg=AOvVaw0asz8yqoO78UnweqRMdq3A"><span style="font-size: 1.1rem; font-family: 'Brown Light', sans-serif; color: #0563c1; background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">here</span></a><span style="font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-size: 1.1rem; font-family: 'Brown Light', sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;">.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p>

Manhattan Mandarin

<p>Manhattan Mandarin runs the Mandarin after-school programs at over 40 schools</p> <p>nationwide, including St. Bernard's, Chapin, Allen-Stevenson, and Buckley. Whether</p> <p>in schools, students' homes, in the office, online, or on our beloved China trips, our</p> <p>teachers and tutors have helped hundreds of students of all ages master the Mandarin</p> <p>language on their own unique paths to fluency. Our philosophy has always been to</p> <p>make private lessons and classes perfectly tailored for each individual student. We</p> <p>look forward to working with you.</p> <p>- Jamie Keyte, Founder</p>

Amazing Explorers Academy Williamsburg

<p>Welcome to Amazing Explorers Academy, a premier STEAM-based preschool dedicated to fostering a love of learning and exploration in children aged 0 to 5. Our innovative and dynamic programs provide a nurturing environment where young minds can thrive and develop essential skills that will shape their future.</p> <p>At Amazing Explorers Academy, we embrace the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) approach, integrating these disciplines into our comprehensive curriculum. Through hands-on experiences and age-appropriate activities, children are encouraged to inquire, investigate, and discover, igniting their natural curiosity.</p> <p>We have many Enrichment programs included in our curriculum like Tiny Chefs, where your child is introduced to the joys of cooking and nutrition. Under the guidance of our incredible team, they learn to create delicious and healthy treats, fostering independence and creativity in the kitchen. Music and Movement is another integral part of our curriculum, enhancing children's motor skills, coordination, and self-expression. Beyond being a creative outlet, music’s rhythmic and melodic patterns stimulate the brain, exercising it and aiding memory development.</p> <p>We also place a strong emphasis on Nature Exploration, recognizing the importance of connecting with the natural world. Nature as a classroom allows children to engage all their senses, appreciate nature, and form stronger connections to their environment and community.</p> <p>Central to our philosophy is the belief in the power of play-based learning. We understand that children learn best through play, and our skilled educators design play-based activities that promote cognitive, social, and emotional development. Play-based learning nurtures creativity, problem-solving, and communication skills, all essential for success in the 21st century. Our highly trained and caring teachers are committed to creating a safe and nurturing atmosphere, where every child feels valued and supported.</p> <p>At Amazing Explorers Academy, we strive to inspire a lifelong love of learning, providing a solid foundation for future academic and personal achievements. Join us on this exciting journey of exploration and discovery, where every day is an opportunity to learn, play, and grow together!</p>