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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

Secondary schools in NYC

80 replies

Dexter77 · 22/05/2024 16:32

Hello,
we are relocating to New York in summer ‘25. My oldest will need to start secondary school there (currently year six).
I’ve been looking at private schools in primarily Manhattan, but we may well end up buying a house in Brooklyn, so great Brooklyn schools would also very Much be of interest.
I’m finding it a bit hard to read between the lines of the various descriptions and reviews of the well respected schools. I suppose we’re looking for a well-regarded “elite” school with excellent, humanistic academic focus and well-rounded pupils who are natural strivers, but equally we’re not keen on an overly discipline-focused school where children learn in perpetual fear of the next bollocking.

I gather from various reviews etc that many of the best private schools are either “progressive”, “child-led”, “social justice focused” and all about nurturing, which doesn’t fill me with confidence regarding the academic side entirely, and make me worry they’ll be too woke; or very strict, elitist, rigid, offering Latin etc but not very caring at all.

I suppose we’d ideally like something in the middle, if that exists at all? I believe in good discipline and hard work but not harsh punishments for a laughing or slightly unkempt child, would like strong arts and social sciences rather than a big focus on STEM (because of my daughter’s natural interests), some pastoral care from engaged staff in small classes who care, but minus all the talk about “the system” oppressing you and decolonisation and so on.
Does such a school exist in NYC?

My child is bright and curious, excellent in writing and reading etc, struggling a bit in maths but mostly owed to Covid, quite sensitive, very hard working but on occasion discouraged or buckling under stress - eg when she feels unprepared for a test or when the classroom becomes very loud and rowdy, or when bullying occurs.

Any advice from parents who have experience of any NYC private schools would be greatly appreciated!

FWIW, I’m currently interested in Nightingale-Bamford and Dwight, followed by Dalton and Columbia prep, followed by British international, Calhoun
and Leman probably. Plus a few others.

Many thanks in advance, and apologies for the long post!

OP posts:
Artsyblartsymum · 05/06/2024 09:36

Dexter77 · 05/06/2024 00:01

Year 5 in UK is year 4 in US? 🙈

What does that mean in practice? Do US kids just start a year later? Would a UK child need to go from year 6 to year 6 in US in terms of academic progression or would the natural academic progression be to go from year 6 in UK to year 7 in the US?

Show quote history

Kids start a year later. After their 5th birthday. That’s kindergarten which is reception here. Uk goes to year 13. US goes to year 12. That’s why I mention the British school near the UN if you want to have the education to be transferable to the UK.

So age wise. Kindergarten in the US is year 1 in the UK and so forth. Year 6 in the UK is 5th grade in the US.

Educationally USA 6th grade is the same as UK year 6 but your child will be a year younger. That’s why you need to consider this from a social viewpoint.

Original poster
Dexter77 · 05/06/2024 09:53

Foxesandsquirrels · 05/06/2024 08:31

@Dexter77 Don't discount hard AP maths courses. My niece loooves the US maths system. The UK system is spiral so they always go back to a topic and you're expected to learn all of maths at once. The US one is much more accessible to maths averse kids I feel as it's one specific area of maths at a time. Eg algebra, pass that and you're done etc.
It does obviously have it's pros and cons but I feel it's a way better system than the UK one, at the middle and high school level anyway!

Oh that’s interesting to know!

OP posts:
Original poster
Dexter77 · 05/06/2024 09:57

Artsyblartsymum · 05/06/2024 09:36

Kids start a year later. After their 5th birthday. That’s kindergarten which is reception here. Uk goes to year 13. US goes to year 12. That’s why I mention the British school near the UN if you want to have the education to be transferable to the UK.

So age wise. Kindergarten in the US is year 1 in the UK and so forth. Year 6 in the UK is 5th grade in the US.

Educationally USA 6th grade is the same as UK year 6 but your child will be a year younger. That’s why you need to consider this from a social viewpoint.

Show quote history

I see, thanks for clarifying! I suppose in that case we would proceed with year 7 entry as our daughter is born in autumn and started school at almost age 5, so one of the oldest in her UK class.

OP posts:
Newyorkplans · 24/12/2024 10:54

Dexter77 · 22/05/2024 16:32

Hello,
we are relocating to New York in summer ‘25. My oldest will need to start secondary school there (currently year six).
I’ve been looking at private schools in primarily Manhattan, but we may well end up buying a house in Brooklyn, so great Brooklyn schools would also very Much be of interest.
I’m finding it a bit hard to read between the lines of the various descriptions and reviews of the well respected schools. I suppose we’re looking for a well-regarded “elite” school with excellent, humanistic academic focus and well-rounded pupils who are natural strivers, but equally we’re not keen on an overly discipline-focused school where children learn in perpetual fear of the next bollocking.

I gather from various reviews etc that many of the best private schools are either “progressive”, “child-led”, “social justice focused” and all about nurturing, which doesn’t fill me with confidence regarding the academic side entirely, and make me worry they’ll be too woke; or very strict, elitist, rigid, offering Latin etc but not very caring at all.

I suppose we’d ideally like something in the middle, if that exists at all? I believe in good discipline and hard work but not harsh punishments for a laughing or slightly unkempt child, would like strong arts and social sciences rather than a big focus on STEM (because of my daughter’s natural interests), some pastoral care from engaged staff in small classes who care, but minus all the talk about “the system” oppressing you and decolonisation and so on.
Does such a school exist in NYC?

My child is bright and curious, excellent in writing and reading etc, struggling a bit in maths but mostly owed to Covid, quite sensitive, very hard working but on occasion discouraged or buckling under stress - eg when she feels unprepared for a test or when the classroom becomes very loud and rowdy, or when bullying occurs.

Any advice from parents who have experience of any NYC private schools would be greatly appreciated!

FWIW, I’m currently interested in Nightingale-Bamford and Dwight, followed by Dalton and Columbia prep, followed by British international, Calhoun
and Leman probably. Plus a few others.

Many thanks in advance, and apologies for the long post!

Hi Dexter77, I am also looking at NYC schools and wondered what you had decided? I guess you have applied for schools now and are awaiting to hear. We are in the same situation and Convent of the Sacred Heart was recommended to me. And Regis for boys. Have you looked at those schoosl?

Heroto4 · 24/12/2024 19:02

Hi
Your child will go into GRADE 6
My kids attend a International School in Surrey l. I wouldn't dismiss the IB it's rigorous and very well renowned.

They go onto Middle School Grade 6-8. Then high school grade 9-12. It's a full day

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