Are wait lists real?
When notification letters are sent, you may be notified that your child is on the wait list for a spot. This is the way an admissions director manages enrollment numbers. If you are interested in the spot, call the school to let them know. If you would like to speak with a Parents League advisor, please call the office. When notification letters are sent, school advisors are on hand to help you.
How many preschools should I apply to?
Most neighborhoods have many preschools, and you will want to see several. There is no magic number that is right. You can drive your family crazy and be counterproductive by applying to a vast number, but to be realistic about finding an opening, you do need to apply to more than a few. The reasonable number will depend on your particular situation but it could be as many as 8 preschools, 10 if you have twins. The Parents League publishes a complete list of preschools by neighborhood and a Guide to Preschools which will help in compiling your list.
How many on-going schools should I apply to?
Consult with the director of your preschool or speak with a Parents League school advisor. When applying to Kindergarten, your list should include both coed and single sex independent schools. You should also consider public and parochial schools. Eight schools is a general guideline.
Is there an advantage to applying to a preschool in an on-going school?
Maybe, if you think the school is a fit for your child and family and you plan on keeping your child at that school. However, in many cases the early childhood program in an ongoing school is generally for sibling and legacy applicants. Families new to the school more commonly apply for Kindergarten.
What is a “legacy?”
A “legacy” is a child whose parent attended the school. Some schools extend that definition to include grandparents. Other schools require that the parent is a graduate of the school.
My family is relocating to NYC. Can the Parents League help us with our school search?
A large number of families come to us because they are relocating to New York. Either they are unfamiliar with the different schools in the city and need help or they missed the regular admission process and need to know where there are openings. Our member schools keep us apprised of possible openings throughout the year. Join the Parents League and make a phone or in person appointment with an advisor.
Is the application process different for families of twins?
The process is the same, but you must submit an application for each child. Because you are looking for two spots at the same school, we suggest you apply to 10, possibly 12 preschools, depending on your neighborhood and the age of your children. For on-going schools, you might choose to look at different schools for each child. Consider 8-10 schools.
Do independent schools have financial aid?
Almost all K-12 independent schools, and many preschools on the basis of a family’s need offer financial aid. Families should apply for aid at the same time they apply for admission. This is done by completing a financial statement that is sent to a central service that will then send reports to as many schools as the family requests. Each school has its own financial aid policy which determines the amount of aid it will offer. The amount of available financial aid varies, but can be 10-12% of the school’s budget.
“Financial Aid: A Guide” from the 2007 Parents League Review
What is the age cut-off for an independent school Kindergarten class?
For most independent schools, your child must be 5 by September 1 for Kindergarten. Some independent schools do, however, use a different age cut-off. You can find this information on the school’s website. For public schools your child must be 5 by December 31 for Kindergarten. Click here for a listing of Parents League Member Schools.
Who are the Parents League school advisors?
The Parents League has a team of 10 School Advisors who help families with information on the admissions process for preschools, K-12 independent day schools, boarding schools and programs for children with special needs. Their backgrounds range from former admissions officers to board members and former teachers. Their strength rests on the fact that they operate as a team and they make regular visits and have regular contact with our affiliated schools, which enables them to stay informed and up to date. They are the only not-for-profit school advisory team. Their goal is to provide parents with information they need and to leave the parents in charge.
What can I expect from my advisory appointment?
At a Preschool Workshop you will be meeting with a small group of other families for a 90-minute information session. Topics covered include the age your child should be to start preschool, how to put together a list of preschools to look at, the application process and what to look for when visiting the schools. You will be given resource material including a complete list of preschools organized by neighborhood with essential information on each.
Appointments with an Advisor for K-12 independent day schools, boarding schools and programs for children with special needs are held individually and are 30 minutes. Topics covered include the admissions timeline, testing, putting together a balanced list of schools / programs, information on the schools, tuition and financial aid.
Please arrive on time for your appointment. Please call to cancel if you are not able to attend so that another family can be accommodated.
How do I make an appointment with a School Advisor?
Call the Parents League office to schedule an appointment: 212-737-7385.
The Preschool Workshops are held several times a week during the academic year and on a more limited basis in June and July. After attending a workshop, if you have additional questions, call to schedule a “call back.” [see below]
For the K-12 independent day school, boarding school and special needs Advisors, call to schedule an appointment during the academic year. During the summer months, advisors are available to help those families needing placement for September. For families interested in placement for the following September, please call to make an appointment with an advisor when the new academic year begins.
When Should I Come to a Preschool Workshop?
We run workshops through November of 2008 for families applying to schools for admission in the 2009 academic year.
If your child was born between September, 2006 and August, 2008, come to a Preschool Workshop anytime between December 2008 and July 2009 so that you will be ready to apply to schools in September of 2009 for your child to start in September 2010.
There are many preschools for which you need to apply in the fall of the year before your child will attend. In order to be ready to apply in September, come to a Workshop between December and July. We don’t hold Workshops in August. Some preschools start at the age of 2; others start at 3. If you are applying for a program that starts at age 2, your child will be 1 in the September when you apply.
What do I do if I want to ask a school-related question?
If you want to speak briefly with a School Advisor or have already met with an Advisor and have a follow-up question, call and request a “call back.”
If I need a place for my child in the current academic year, does the PL know where there are openings?
Yes. Our Advisory team is kept informed of grade openings by our affiliated schools [link to schools page].
Does the Parents League have information on public schools?
The Parents league has resource numbers and websites and publications to recommend on New York City public schools. We do not have Advisors who specialize in public schools.
Can you help me find a summer program for my child?
There are Summer Advisors who are knowledgeable about day camps, sleep away programs and academic and travel programs. Call to make a phone or in-person appointment. Summer in New York is a searchable online guide available to members that lists over 400 programs in and around New York City for children of all ages.