PS 6 Lillie D. Blake School 1
Middle School Informational Session
Middle School Process
September 21, 2015
Dear Fifth Grade Parents & Guardians,
Selecting a middle school for your child can be a challenging process, and as you begin this
“adventure”, we want you to think about the needs and interests of your 5th grader so that you
can find a school that suits both your child and your family. For these reasons, students and
parents should make this decision together.
To help you to move forward in this process, we have prepared this guide for you. In general,
Jane Galasso, Assistant Principal, and Jessica Underwood, Guidance Counselor, will serve as
your main contacts for PS 6. However, we encourage you to be proactive in gathering middle
school information from friends, family, webpages and publications so that you can make the
most appropriate decision for your child.
Ultimately, this process can be incredibly rewarding for your family and your child on his or her
continued path to academic, social and emotional growth. We look forward to assisting you in
this process. If you have any questions or need further information, please contact us at the
school. Thank you very much.
Sincerely,
The Middle School Team
Contact information:
Name
Jane Galasso
Jessica Underwood
Title
Assistant Principal
Guidance Counselor
Email
Phone
jgalass@schools.nyc.gov
(212) 737-9774 x 2290
junderwood2@schools.nyc.gov (212) 737-9774 x 3290
PS 6 Lillie D. Blake School 2
Middle School Informational Session
Stage 1
Gathering Information
Information Session
Monday, September 21, 2015, 5:15PM
PS 6 Auditorium
Jane Galasso will host an information session. The main topic will be about finding an
appropriate middle school for your child and resources that are available to you for gathering
information.
Online
Ongoing
The Internet offers a wealth of information for you to uncover. Check out
www.insideschools.org, a nonprofit organization that publishes information on public schools.
The DOE website at nycenet.edu also provides general information on schools. On the initial
page, type in the name of the school (the number code, B### or the name - for example, PS 6
would be M006), and access the individual official DOE webpage of the school.
Any information PS 6 receives about the middle school process – be it private or public – will be
shared with 5th Grade Families via email. Pertinent information will also be posted on the school
webpage: ps6nyc.com. Please check this site weekly to stay abreast of any changes or
information that is posted during this time.
Peers & Families
Ongoing
Talk to students who attend schools you might be interested in. An excellent resource is our own
PTA. Many families have children in public and private middle schools and will be happy to
share their experiences with you.
Guidance Office
Whether you apply to a public, charter, gifted or independent school, we will offer information to
shepherd you through the process. We cannot tell you which school is best for your child or
provide one-on-one counseling. Your job is to work with your child and find the best fit based on
your child’s abilities, interests and temperament. Once you have read through published
materials of middle schools, schedule a tour for the schools that interest you and talk to other
families and students about their experiences.
PS 6 Lillie D. Blake School 3
Middle School Informational Session
As of now, the following meetings will be held:
November (evening) – 6th Grade Student Panel with former PS 6 students from different
public middle schools.
PS 6 MS Updates
As we receive information regarding the middle school process, we will send it on to all our 5th
grade families. These updates may include new announcements, broadcast any new tours from
middle schools, ask for RSVPs, and offer gentle reminders. Please make sure that your contact
information, specifically with the Connections and 5th grade lists, are kept updated throughout
the year.
Important Considerations
When gathering information on middle schools, what you want to ask yourself is, “What school
would be best for my child?” instead of “What is the “best” school?” To answer that question,
ask yourself, “What are my child’s main interests (sports, computers, art, math)? What kind of
temperament does he/she have (self-directed, unmotivated, intra/extraverted, etc.)?”
Another question to ask yourself is,” How diligent is my child--and how likely is she to buckle
down and complete homework assignments without being nagged (very likely, not very likely)?
How well does my child deal with social pressure? Will she feel comfortable being surrounded
by academic superstars? What about social pressure?”
There is no one set answer for our students. On one hand, a large, highly selective school might
stifle a shy, sensitive student. On the other, if your child has many interests, a large school may
be the best option because of the number of opportunities it offers.
District 2’s middle school choice program allows your child to attend a school other than the one
for which he or she is residentially zoned for. Your child can also apply to a magnet school in the
district or a charter school outside the district. High-achieving students may want to apply to a
citywide gifted and talented program. Independent school is yet another option.
PS 6 Lillie D. Blake School 4
Middle School Informational Session
1. Public Middle Schools
As you plan for fall events, please be aware that the middle school choice/admissions process
will follow a citywide calendar this year. Because all districts will use a standardized calendar,
there may be some variance from previous district or regional practices. The school will receive
an operational calendar in the upcoming weeks.
All students are eligible for admission to middle schools in the district where they are zoned to
attend middle school and in the district where they attend a NYC public elementary school.
Middle School Directories
The District 2 Middle School Directory has already been sent home. If you need a directory for
another district, please check the back inside cover of the District 2 directory for their Enrollment
Office. Citywide middle school pages are included in each directory.

Note: Some previous year’s families have found New York City’s Best Public Middle
Schools by Clara Hemphill, which details middle school information, also helpful.
Middle School Fairs, School Tours and Open House Events
The best way to find out which middle school will be right for your child is to visit those schools
that you are considering. Parents should begin now to check the various middle school webpages
to gather information and make appointments to attend a tour or open house.
Middle School Fair
District middle school fairs will officially be scheduled in the fall. In particular, the District 2
Middle School Fair is Tuesday, October 8, 2015, at Stuyvesant High School (345 Chambers
Street, New York, NY 10282) from 5:30 P.M. to 7:30 P.M.
School Tours and Open Houses
You should check school websites for information on Open Houses and tours. Some schools
(ESMS, Wagner, Salk) will arrange tours for just PS 6 students. Most others ask you to register
on their website. Tours are held during the school day, and open houses are generally held during
the evening. It is expected that your 5th grader will attend with one or both parents, younger
siblings are usually not allowed. Your child is excused from school for these tours (for the
duration of the tour and travel time back to school, not the whole day) but must bring in a note
from the school where he/she toured. It is expected that the tours and open houses will be
conducted in October, November and early December.
PS 6 Lillie D. Blake School 5
Middle School Informational Session
In the years past, PS 6 students have attended the following schools, among others:
Robert F. Wagner (M167) – Special Progress and Academic Progress
NYC Lab School for Collaborative Studies (M312)
East Side Middle School (M114)
Salk School of Science (M225)
School of the Future (M413)
Simon Baruch (M104) – Special Progress and Academic Progress
Clinton School for Writers and Artists (M260)
Yorkville East Middle School (M177)
Quest to Learn (M422)
Citywide: Anderson School (M334)
Citywide: NEST+M (M539)
The school’s contact information and addresses are attached at the end of this document.
Boroughwide Schools
These are open to all students in the borough. Please see the pages in the Middle School
Directory for more information.
Citywide Schools
For Citywide middle schools, Anderson School is a highly selective academic programs housed
in PS 9 on West 77th Street. NEST+M (M539) is another selective program (K-12) that is on
Columbia and Houston Streets.
The contact information is also listed below at the end of the document.
Charter Middle Schools
Charter schools are yet another option. There is one charter school in District 2, and the
information for this school is given on the last page of the Middle School Directory.
PS 6 Lillie D. Blake School 6
Middle School Informational Session
2. Independent Middle Schools
A good book to purchase if you are considering private schools is the Manhattan Family Guide
to Private Schools by Victoria Goldman and Catherine Hausman (a former PS 6 parent).
If you are applying to private school, your child will need to take the Independent School
Entrance Examination (ISEE), a three-hour admissions test for entrance into grades 5-12. The
ISEE contains sections on verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, reading comprehension and
math achievement. Your child will also need to write an essay. A good book to purchase is ISEE
Independent School Entrance Examination, What to Expect on the ISEE, published by the
Educational Records Bureau (ERB). The book costs $20 (includes shipping and handling). You
can order a copy at https://www.measinc.com/ISEEorder/
Processing independent middle school applications is a time-consuming and daunting task for all
of our PS 6 teachers and staff. To ease the burden on our school staff, we have devised our own
universal application which the private schools happily and universally accept. We do not
process applications of individual schools. In addition, it is our school policy that only current 5th
grade teachers will write recommendations. Please honor this request, as 4th grade teachers will
not be writing student recommendations.
As a public school, PS 6 cannot make any recommendations on any particular independent
school. Parents interested in independent middle schools need to contact the Parents League
directly. The organization is incredibly knowledgeable of not only the schools themselves but
also the application processes for the schools.
The Parents League of New York
115 East 82nd Street
New York, NY 10028
Phone: 212 737-7385
Fax: 212 737-7389
Email: info@parentsleague.org
Webpage: www.parentsleague.org
The Parents League has several upcoming events relating to independent school admissions –
please check their webpage for details on various informational meetings.
PS 6 Lillie D. Blake School 7
Middle School Informational Session
Stage 2
Application
Student Applications:
District 2 Middle School Applications will be made available in November and will be
due back to the school by December 1. Students will receive their District 2 middle school
assignments in May.
You will need to submit a separate application for each category of school you apply to.
For example, if you live in District 2 and plan to apply to a choice school in the district, a
citywide gifted school and two private schools, you will need to submit three different
applications: one for District 2 schools (the same form will be used for your zoned school), one
for the citywide program, and our universal form for the two private schools.
Timeline
Public and Private Schools for PS 6 Students
Note: This information is accurate as of middle of September. Please check the PS 6
webpage at www.ps6nyc.org in the middle school section for updates.
October
[Pub & Ind] School Tours.
November
[Pub & Ind] School Tours.
[Ind] Parents notify the middle school team – Jane Galasso, Jessica Underwood the list of the independent schools to which the student is applying. This is done
to ensure that fifth grade teachers have enough time to prepare a detailed and
thoughtful letter of reference for your child. Fifth grade teachers cannot be
expected to compose an articulate letter on behalf of your child without giving
them enough notice.
Mid-month
[Pub] School receives District 2 Middle School Choice application. Parents will
be notified to come to the school to sign out the application. Each child has a preprinted application.
December
[Pub] School Tours. Deadline for Public School Applications to be submitted to
teachers. The application must have the student’s top five choices for middle
school. [Forms will not be returned to parents. Information on the application will
not be disclosed to families.]
January
[Pub] Various District 2 middle schools begin their interview process.
PS 6 Lillie D. Blake School 8
Middle School Informational Session
February
[Ind] Students and parents receive notification of acceptance into independent
schools.
May
[Pub] Students and parents receive notification of acceptance into District Two
Middle School
Important Tips:
1. If your child will be absent to attend a public or a private school middle school tour, please
inform the teacher the day before. He or she will not be marked absent if given notice the
day before. The student MUST bring the classroom teacher a slip from the tour. Please note
that students are exempt for the duration of the tour, they will not be excused for a whole day.
2. We know that this can be a challenging time for families, but try to keep the pressure off
your 5th grader in order that he or she can truly enjoy their last year at PS 6. Our students
have traditionally done very well in their placements. Please keep this in mind as we make
our way through the next few months. Make it an exciting prospect for your child, approach
each tour or open house with an open mind and a smile on your face, and you will find that
as a family, you will be able to make a decision that is right for your son or daughter.
Middle Schools in District 2
Unofficial Directory
JHS 167 Robert F Wagner (M167) [PS 6 Zoned School]
220 East 76 Street, New York, NY, 10021
Phone: 212-535-8610 | Fax: 212-472-9385
Grades: 06, 07, 08, SE
Business Manager: Eileen Delehanty edelehanty@schools.nyc.gov
www.wagner167.org
Most children who attend PS6 are zoned for Wagner MS 167. Wagner and PS6 have much in
common: both are large, well-kept schools built in the 1950s and both are traditional schools
with strong academic programs. For these reasons, Wagner is a popular choice among our 5th
graders.
In addition to its extensive music and sports program, Wagner has a Special Progress (SP)
program offering honors-level classes in all subjects. Acceptance to the SP program is reviewed
by a committee and based on a student’s (1) 4th grade math and ELA tests, (2) recommendation
of the 5th grade teacher and (3) attendance and punctuality records. You can learn more about
Wagner at http://www.wagner167.com/
PS 6 students are invited to tour Wagner on Wednesday, November 18 at 9:15 A.M. Please
sign up on the school website as soon as possible to guarantee a spot on a tour. If you cannot go
on either of these dates, please sign up for any of the other dates. The October 9th date will have
PS 6 alumni assisting with the tours.
PS 6 Lillie D. Blake School 9
Middle School Informational Session
East Side Middle School (M114)
331 East 91st Street between First and Second Avenues
Phone: 212-360-0114 | Fax: 212-360-0121
Grades: 06, 07, 08, SE
Middle school contact: Lori McDermott
East Side Middle hosts Open Houses for prospective students. The open house that PS 6 families
(1 child, two adults, no siblings or other children) are specifically invited to is Wednesday,
October 7, from 6:00-7:30PM. You do not need to RSVP to ESMS. If you cannot attend on
October 7th, please call Lori McDermott at ESMS to arrange another date.
MS 255 Salk School Of Science (M255)
319 East 19 Street, New York, NY, 10003
Phone: 212-614-8785 | Fax: 212-614-0095
Grades: 06, 07, 08, SE
Parent Coordinator – Patti Burr: pburr2@schools.nyc.gov – Ext.3.
The Salk School tour for PS 6 families is on Tuesday, November 24 at 4PM. Please try to attend
on this date, but if you cannot, call the parent Coordinator to schedule an alternate date.
NYC Lab MS for Collaborative Studies (M312)
333 West 17 Street, New York, NY, 10011
Phone: 212-691-6119 | Fax: 212-691-6219
Grades: 06, 07, 08, SE (continues to grade 12)
Parent Coordinator: Marilyn Coston: MCoston2@schools.nyc.gov
www.nyclabschool.net
(www.nyclabschool.org is the HS site).
School Tours have already been offered for this fall. If you have not signed up for a tour, there
will be an Open House Information Session on Tuesday, October 13 from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM.
You do not need to sign up for this. Parents considering applying for a seat in an ICT class at
Lab can attend an Inclusion Information Session on Tuesday, October 6 from 5:00 PM to 6:00
PM.
Admission to Lab generally requires a test, which is usually given late winter (end of
January/February). The test has three main components: 1) a literacy exam (writing and
comprehension); 2) a math exam; and 3) a collaborative group exercise. The literacy and math
exams are based on 5th grade standards. In addition, Lab considers attendance and lateness, as
well as teacher comments, to screen all applicants. Lab Middle School does not consider the 4th
grade standardized math and ELA test scores in admissions decisions. Siblings are not given
special consideration.
PS 6 Lillie D. Blake School 10
Middle School Informational Session
Yorkville East Middle School (M177)
1458 York Avenue, New York, NY 10075
Phone: 917-432-5413
Grades: 06, 07, 08, SE
Email: middleschool177@gmail.com
www.ms177.org
Yorkville East is a new school that opened two years ago, and so currently just has 6th and 7th
grade. Next year they will have all three grades. Information on tours and open houses are
available now on their website. Please call the school to schedule a tour.
JHS 104 Simon Baruch (M104)
330 East 21 Street, New York, NY, 10010
Phone: 212-674-4545 | Fax: 212-477-2205
Grades: 06, 07, 08, SE
Parent Coordinator: Blanca Rivera
www.104m.org/
Please contact the Parent Coordinator if you would like to tour JHS 104.
______________________________________________________________________________
Manhattan Academy of Technology (M126)
80 Catherine Street, New York, NY 10038
Phone: 212-962-2188
Grades: PK - 08, SE
www.ps126MAT.com
Please visit the school website and click on the Parents tab to access information about and sign
up for tours.
M S 131 (M131)
100 Hester Street, New York, NY, 10002
Phone: 212-219-1204 | Fax: 212-925-6386
Grades: 06, 07, 08, SE
Parent Coordinator: Kee Cheung Tang
PS 217/IS 217 Roosevelt Island (M217)
645 Main Street , New York, NY, 10044
Phone: 212-980-0294 | Fax: 212-980-1192
Grades: PK - 08,SE
Guidance Counselor – Ken Jeffries
PS 6 Lillie D. Blake School 11
Middle School Informational Session
Ella Baker School (M225)
317 East 67 Street, new York, NY 10065
Phone: 212-717-8809
Grades: PK – 08
____________________________________________________________________________
MS 260 Clinton School for Writers & Artists (M260)
10 East 15 Street, New York, NY, 10003
Phone: 212-524-4360 | Fax: 212-524-4365
Grades: 06,07,08,09,10, 11, 12, SE
Parent Coordinator: Cindy O’Neil,
www.theclintonschool.net
Clinton School has just moved to a new building, and all students who attend the middle school
can stay for high school with no application necessary. The existing Clinton School Tours are
already full, however more tours are supposed to be added. You may also attend the Open House
(parents/guardians only) on Thursday, November 5 at 6PM. No RSVP necessary.
______________________________________________________________________________
The Spruce Street School
12 Spruce Street, New York NY 10038
Phone: 212-266-4800 | Fax: 212-266-4805
Grades: PK-7, SE
Parent coordinator: Julie Lam
www.sprucestreetnyc.org
Please go to the school website to sign up for tours.
Battery Park City School (M276)
55 Battery Place, New York, NY 10001
Phone: 212-266-5800
Grades: PK - 8, SE
www.bpcschool.org
It is unlikely that Battery Park City School will have any available seats this year as they have a
large 5th grade class who gets priority. However, they will be holding an information session on
November 5th - most likely from 6:30-8:30 PM. Check their website if you are interested in
attending this information session.
Hudson River Middle School (M289)
201 Warren Street, New York, NY, 10282
Phone: 212-571-9268 | Fax: 212-587-6610
Grades: 06, 07, 08, SE
Parent Coordinator: Sandra Leung
www.is289.org
School Tour dates will be posted on the website at the end of September.
PS 6 Lillie D. Blake School 12
Middle School Informational Session
Institute For Collaborative Education (M407)
345 East 15 Street, New York, NY, 10003
Phone: 212-475-7972 | Fax: 212-475-0459
Grades: 06 - 12, SE
www.iceschool.net
Open House schedule will be posted on their website soon.
School of The Future High School (M413)
127 East 22 Street, New York, NY, 10010
Phone: 212-475-8086 | Fax: 212-475-9273
Grades: 06 - 12, SE
www.sof.edu
Request to attend an Open House by emailing sof.middleschool@sof.edu.
Life Sciences Secondary School (M655)
320 East 96 Street, New York, NY, 10128
Phone: 212-348-1694 | Fax: 212-348-4293
Grades: 06 - 12, SE
______________________________________________________________________________
Quest to Learn (M422)
351 West 18 Street, New York, NY 10011
Phone: 212-488-3645
Grades: 06 - 12, SE
www.q2l.org
Quest to Learn is a “limited unscreened” school. Please visit the school website to register for a
tour.
Lower Manhattan Community Middle School (M896)
(Formerly known as Greenwich Village Middle School)
26 Broadway, New York, NY, 10004
Phone: (646) 826-8100 | Fax: (646)826-8101
Grades: 06, 07, 08, SE
www.lmc896.org
Parent Coordinator: Maria Ouranitsas, MOuranitsas@schools.nyc.gov
You can sign up for a tour on the school website.
______________________________________________________________________________
PS 6 Lillie D. Blake School 13
Middle School Informational Session
The American Sign Language And English Secondary School (M047)
225 East 23 Street, New York, NY, 10010
Phone: 917-326-6600 | Fax: 212-481-6237
Grades: 06 - 12, SE
______________________________________________________________________________
City Knoll Middle School (M933)
425 West 33 Street, New York, NY, 10001
Phone: 212-315-7191
Grades: 6-8, SE
Please visit the school website to sign up for a tour.
The following two schools are additional middle schools in District 2 to which you may apply.
You should not put these schools on your District 2 Middle School Application, but should
follow the instructions for applications provided by the schools themselves.
These are specialized schools that provide a full curriculum, and also cater to students with
special talents in the performing arts.
Ballet Tech / NYC Public School For Dance (M442)
890 Broadway, New York NY, 10003
Phone: 212-254-1803 | Fax: 212-477-5048
Grades: 04 - 12
www.ballettech.org
Visit the school website for information on auditions.
Professional Performing Arts High School (M408)
328 West 48 Street, New York, NY, 10036
Phone: 212-247-8652 | Fax: 212-247-7514
Grades: 06 - 12
www.ppasnyc.org
Visit the school website for information on tours and auditions.
PS 6 Lillie D. Blake School 14
Middle School Informational Session
Citywide Schools
Citywide Schools—You might consider applying to a citywide program. Keep in mind that
competition is fierce and spots limited, as these schools accept applications from all students in
all 5 boroughs.
Each of these schools has specific selection criteria. This criteria may include a review of the
student’s progress report, a required score on the 4th grade ELA and Math exams, teacher
recommendations, an on-site multiple choice exam administered by the school in late
winter/early spring, an on-site writing assignment, and an interview. For information on
admissions criteria and tours, please visit the schools websites.
Anderson Middle School (M334)
100 West 77th Street, New York, NY 10024
Phone: (212) 595-7193
Grades K - 8
Parent Coordinator: Marcie Shaw
www.ps334school.org
New Explorations Into Science, Technology and Math (NEST + M) (M539)
111 Columbia Street, New York, NY 10002
Phone: (212) 677-5190
Grades K-12
www.nestmk12.net/admissions/middle-school
Talented and Gifted School for Young Scholars(M012)
240 E 109 Street, New York, NY 10029
Phone: (212) 860-6003
Grades K-8
_____________________________________________________________________________
Hunter College High School
Hunter College High School is not included in this list because the school’s only entry points are
grades K and 7. Your child can sit for the Hunter exam in 6th grade. Eligibility to take the exam
is based on the results of 5th grade tests in math and ELA. (Hunter College Campus Schools are
administered by CUNY, not the NYC Department of Education.) Admission is based strictly on
the results of an on-site exam, which is given in January. Eager beavers who want to learn more
about Hunter should visit www.hunterschools.org/hs/admissions.