FAQ

What is a birthday cutoff?
Most schools have a birthday cutoff. The purpose of a birthday cutoff is to ensure the proper range in age for students in a particular group, depending on the age level and educational approach. For example, many ISAAGNY schools that start at the kindergarten level have a September 1 cutoff. This means that a child must be 5 years old by September 1 of the kindergarten year. A child should not apply to a school if he/she does not meet the cutoff date.

Do schools have sibling policies?
These policies vary widely from school to school. While some schools offer early notification (see "Admissions Process," Early Notification) to siblings, not all schools do. Check with individual schools. Depending on the school community goals, the age level and learning style of the applicant, and educational approach, not all schools are appropriate for all siblings within a family. All siblings must go through the application process, even if a school a sibling policy that includes early notification.

Should I write a “First Choice Letter”?
Formal expressions of first choice will not be encouraged. Families are welcome to identify to their sending school educators the top three schools of interest to their family.

Do independent schools provide transportation?
This varies widely. Ask specific schools, and make sure to factor your family’s logistical constraints into the decision of where to apply. Ease of transportation may or may not be an important aspect of a school for your family, depending on your child’s age and logistical concerns for your family.

Do independent schools accommodate for special needs and/or disabilities?
This varies widely. It depends on the specific accommodation needed, the academic program, and the physical space of the school.

Should I hire a consultant to help me apply to schools?
No. Schools clearly articulate their admissions policies during the process and in their written materials. There are no tricks or secret ways to gain admittance. This website, information from ISAAGNY schools, and the Parents League are other helpful ways to learn about the admissions process. The best advice is to be yourself. You want a school that is a good fit for your family, not a school that has been “convinced” to accept your child.

Should my child prepare fore ERB testing?
Children applying to pre-K through fifth grade should not prepare for ERB testing, other than being well-rested and arriving for the testing session on time. This is an aptitude test, assessing problem solving ability and skills considered representative of the larger fund of knowledge and abilities that the child has acquired through ordinary interaction with the environment. Tutors who coach children to perform well on these tests are destroying the value of the test as a measure of the child’s ability. A perceptive tester can discern a child’s exposure to the test; this invalidates the results and can prejudice the schools against the child’s application. ISAAGNY strongly advises that no parents consider subjecting their children to this unnecessary process.

Students taking the ISEE for admission to grades 6-12 may benefit from preparation. This is an achievement test with the goal of assessing the skill level of a student in order to ensure appropriate placement in the next school. ERB offers sample tests with registration materials.

For more information, visit ERB’s website at www.erbtest.org.