High School Application information for Current 8th Graders at TYWLS Astoria

As always and more than ever, we encourage students to consider staying at our school for high school as one of the highest performing college-prep schools in the city. If you plan to stay at TYWLS Astoria, you can do this by listing only program Q56A on your MySchools.nyc application, or emailing Gayathri, School Counselor at [email protected].

We do however, respect and support explorations outside TYWLS Astoria, and those applying to schools outside TYWLS Astoria will need to create MySchools.nyc account. If you need your Account Creation Code, please email Gayathri, School Counselor at [email protected].

Should you choose to apply out, you should research new guidelines and apply via MySchools and reach out to Gayathri, School Counselor at [email protected] *with a parent* in the fall for a meeting for support and review of your application draft. Please read school descriptions and criteria carefully, as guidelines have been updated due to the pandemic.

All applications, whether applying to TYWLS Astoria only or outside schools, will require parent verification in MySchools and email to school counselor confirming receipt.

Gayathri (School Counselor) will…	Student/Family should…
Train students on MySchools account creation, search tools, and building an application	Research schools based on location, safety, graduation rate, your child’s admissions eligibility, and other interests
Explain how Main Round application and guaranteed match to TYWLS works	Visit fairs and required open houses of any schools of interest
Support students with research skills and comparison to TYWLS offerings in Advisory	Support their child in making personal, realistic, and future-focused choices
Remind students of key deadlines and steps including SHS test registration and date	Register for SHS, tests, auditions, or interviews on MySchools or individual school sites
Review any drafts on request before submission for eligibility, choice order, and finalize.	Draft application with informed choices to review with counselor before submission if desired.

See this video on how to begin High School research from our Advisory lessons.

Specialized High School (SHSAT) Test

Each year, some of our current 8th graders choose to take the SHSAT, the exam for entrance into Specialized High Schools, 9 large competitive high schools in the city. We urge you to research these schools and your areas of interest and school culture. These schools only accept based on this test, and preparation materials can be found on the DOE Admissions site.

To register, students and families may do so on MySchools.nyc and/or Advisory meetings and 1:1 outreach will be made by School Counselor to help confirm and complete registration for those interested.

For more information, please see the DOE Admissions website or email [email protected].