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New Hurdles on the Highway to High School By HEATHER HADDON "Some of these schools sound really good, and it's hard to place them on this list," said Sara Pek, 13, as she visited various representatives at a recent high school fair. "It's hectic to make all these decisions." With applications due back to guidance counselors by Friday, Nov. 14, the clock is ticking for parents and students to understand the changes. An important first step is to visit the local Learning Support Center at One Fordham Plaza (718-741-7090). The city's 10 centers divvied up the duties of the former high school admissions office. The Educational Counseling Center -- which the Mosholu Montefiore Community Center established to help parents with school choice -- can provide more individual attention. Stop by the Center at 3150 Rochambeau Ave. or call (718) 652-0282 to meet with a counselor, and to pick up a copy of their Bronx high school directory. "We've definitely had more families come in this year with all the new rules," said Center director Tanya Dale. The most immediate questions concern New Century High Schools -- smaller theme-based programs located within pre-existing high schools -- which have popped up in the last two years. "Parents are wondering if they are safe and better than the regular high schools," Dale said. Those questions are yet to be fully answered. But parents should visit the multiple New Century schools in the area to gather their own opinions. The schools give preference to students applying within the borough and admit students by a lottery. With themes like music, social justice and teaching, the initiative intends to provide a smaller learning environment and more individual attention (see lower sidebar). But many kids apply to schools outside their neighborhood. "We're willing to travel," said Mike Beng, Pek's father. With more than 200 options citywide, Pek is doing some careful considering. She's going to apply to some of the selective schools (like Bronx High School of Science), and is busily looking at other alternatives such as the Bronx Leadership Academy. As of this year, Pek and all applicants must compile and rank a list of 12 (instead of five) high school choices. Students will be offered only the school placed highest on this list that accepts them. Previously, applicants could select from a pool of schools that accept them. Waiting lists were also eliminated -- a means by which persistent students could wrangle into their top high school -- and the neighborhood zoned school is no longer the default if the student is not accepted elsewhere. Pek is frustrated by the changes. "Last year people had a choice," she said, staring at the 12 lines on the form. "It's unfair that now you have to go to the school you get into." But the new system does have advantages. Some students didn't get into any schools in the past, and were forced to scramble for someplace else. School administrators were also allowed to view the lists, and the more selective schools often wouldn't accept students who hadn't listed them first. Schools will no longer see the order in which a student ranks them. And the decisions are not necessarily ironclad. While acceptance letters go out in March, there are still two more rounds of admissions. Plenty of shifting goes on between them, and slots may open up before final letters in June. Students who are not happy with their high school assignment should seek out their guidance counselor, as good ones will try to lobby with the high schools. Those who are placed in a failing high school, or one designated as needing improvement, can test their luck at applying for a transfer under the No Child Left Behind Act. As most of the city's high schools are severely overcrowded (see School Briefs on p. 11), the better schools have been hard-pressed to accommodate the transfer requests.
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