Alina Adams

Alina Adams is a New York City mom of 3 school-age children and a New York Times best-selling author of soap-opera tie-ins, figure-skating mysteries and romance novels. She is a contributing writer to TODAY Show Parenting, Mommy Poppins, BlogHer, Red Tricycle, Café Mom, and Kveller. After going through the NYC school application process with her own children and realizing just how convoluted, Draconian and needlessly complex it was, Alina resolved to help make all parents aware of all their school choices—and how to get them—via her books, “Getting Into NYC Kindergarten” and “Getting Into NYC High-School,” as well as her podcast, “NYC School Secrets: Parents Helping Parents.” Read more and listen at: www.NYCSchoolSecrets.com
What’s “Enrichment,” Anyway? Can It Really Replace Gifted & Talented Programs?
Blog · Finding the Right School

What’s “Enrichment,” Anyway? Can It Really Replace Gifted & Talented Programs?

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When I give my Getting Into NYC Kindergarten workshops to community organizations, I explain the differences between New York City’s two types of Gifted & Talented programs. The five Citywide G&T’s are Accelerated. That means that, because there is no such thing as a G&T curriculum, these schools take the standard NYC school curriculum and… Continue reading What’s “Enrichment,” Anyway? Can It Really Replace Gifted & Talented Programs?

“Implying That Black and Hispanic Kids Only Do Better When They’re In School With White Kids Is Racist.” A NYC Mom Speaks Out.
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“Implying That Black and Hispanic Kids Only Do Better When They’re In School With White Kids Is Racist.” A NYC Mom Speaks Out.

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When news dropped late last month (literally 10 minutes before my middle child’s birthday dinner) about a proposal to get rid of New York City’s Gifted & Talented programs, The NY Daily News asked me to write an editorial on the topic. It ran on August 27 and was entitled, Eliminate Gifted & Talented Programs?… Continue reading “Implying That Black and Hispanic Kids Only Do Better When They’re In School With White Kids Is Racist.” A NYC Mom Speaks Out.

Calls For Closing All NYC Gifted & Talented/Screened Schools – Where Does Hunter Fit In?
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Calls For Closing All NYC Gifted & Talented/Screened Schools – Where Does Hunter Fit In?

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On Tuesday, August 27, 2019, New York City’s School Diversity Advisory Group released a proposal that formally called for the closing of all Gifted & Talented programs and Screened schools. Not included in the report was Hunter College Elementary and High School, the most coveted NYC gifted school of them all. Full disclosure: My husband… Continue reading Calls For Closing All NYC Gifted & Talented/Screened Schools – Where Does Hunter Fit In?

10 NYC Public Schools Which Went Up In Test Scores in 2019 — And 10 That Went Down.
Accountability · Finding the Right School · School Choice

10 NYC Public Schools Which Went Up In Test Scores in 2019 — And 10 That Went Down.

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New York City released elementary school test scores for the 2018-19 school year on Thursday, August 22, 2019. In the past, I’ve listed the Top 10 Schools by Test Scores for 2017, and the Top 25 Schools by Test Scores for 2018. While there is some juggling for placement every year, the top-scoring schools tend… Continue reading 10 NYC Public Schools Which Went Up In Test Scores in 2019 — And 10 That Went Down.

10 Questions About NYC’s Newest High School Admissions Plan.
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10 Questions About NYC’s Newest High School Admissions Plan.

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After two years of trying to get rid of the Specialized High School Admissions Test (SHSAT) and railing against the lack of diversity in New York City Schools, on Thursday, August 15, 2019, the Mayor and School Chancellor finally unveiled the first change to the NYC High School admissions process in 16 years… which won’t… Continue reading 10 Questions About NYC’s Newest High School Admissions Plan.

NYC Schools Of Choice: Then and Now
Finding the Right School

NYC Schools Of Choice: Then and Now

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In my 2017 post, Beyond the Zone: All Your NYC Elementary School Options (And How To Get Them) Explained, I mentioned Deborah Meier as someone who didn’t believe that the primarily African-American and Hispanic families of Harlem should be forced to settle for the education their zoned public schools were offering. In 1974, she founded… Continue reading NYC Schools Of Choice: Then and Now

NYC School Hypocrisy Continued: Universal Pre-K Edition – Are Parents Part Of the Problem?
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NYC School Hypocrisy Continued: Universal Pre-K Edition – Are Parents Part Of the Problem?

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(Photo Credit: Christina Veiga of Chalkbeat) By this point, New York City parents have grown accustomed to the hypocrisy. The hypocrisy of elected officials and celebrities who sent their own children to Screened and Specialized schools, now expressing shock (and judgement) that any other families might want to do the same, and working their hardest… Continue reading NYC School Hypocrisy Continued: Universal Pre-K Edition – Are Parents Part Of the Problem?

Should the NYC Department of Education Be In Charge of Private Schools Too?
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Should the NYC Department of Education Be In Charge of Private Schools Too?

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New York City public schools suffer from a variety of ills: Over 50 percent of high school students graduate non-college ready and unable to pass CUNY’s placement test, requiring remediation before they can begin earning credit. Over 80% of African-American 7th graders cannot do math at grade level. Even at the “best” General Ed  schools,… Continue reading Should the NYC Department of Education Be In Charge of Private Schools Too?

Everything NYC Families Need To Know About Urban Assembly High Schools: Is One Right For Your Child?
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Everything NYC Families Need To Know About Urban Assembly High Schools: Is One Right For Your Child?

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When I speak to community organizations about Getting Into NYC High Schools, I stress that the summer between your child’s 7th and 8th grade year is the critical time to research all of your HS options, so that you can start the process of applying in September. The best tool to begin your research used… Continue reading Everything NYC Families Need To Know About Urban Assembly High Schools: Is One Right For Your Child?

The Mom Who Did Everything Right When Applying Her Child To NYC Public School Kindergarten – And What Happened Next
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The Mom Who Did Everything Right When Applying Her Child To NYC Public School Kindergarten – And What Happened Next

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Last week, I shared the stories of several New York City parents who, after a great deal of perseverance, hard work, and a whole lot of anxiety, were finally able to get their children accepted at the public schools of their choice. This week, in her own words, we’ve got the account of a mom… Continue reading The Mom Who Did Everything Right When Applying Her Child To NYC Public School Kindergarten – And What Happened Next