My older daughter is in Grade 4 and I have started to think about Grade 6 admissions. I looked into enrollment data by grade (slightly dated) at the NCES website and it seems looking at increase in enrollment from Grade 5 to Grade 6 and Grade 8 to Grade 9 that Chapin in particular has very few spots. Yet their website does say " We welcome applications for Classes 6 and 7" and that “To apply for entrance into Classes 8 and 9, you will need to begin the process in the fall prior to the desired year of enrollment”. How real is their admissions process and what kind of admit rates might we be talking about here?
I have posted the data I compiled with number of open spots in Grade 6/Grade 9 with related % increases over the prior Grade:
Looking at this is seems that getting admitted to Brearely and Chapin in Grade 9 is practically impossible, Chapin might even be impossible in Grade 6. Spence seems like Grade 9 would be a better shot.
BTW do any of these schools have sibling preferences? I have a younger daughter 2 years junior to her older sibling.
Of course what I don’t know is what kind of attrition these schools have if any in Grade 6 and Grade 9. Also sometimes I imagine a slightly larger than usual class size in Grade 5 and Grade 8 might distort estimation of number of open spots by comparing enrollment of the grade above.
Thanks for any insight from those parents who have applied to these three schools.
My sense, without knowing the numbers but knowing quite a few Chapin families, is that there is a bit of attrition every year as girls discover this isn’t the right place for them. There are also a few new girls throughout… Really, it’s impossible to know as a parent or school who is going to thrive!
A decent number will leave for BS (or other schools, like Stuyvesant) after 8th and they will be “replaced”. My guess is that this varies from year to year though. It’s hard to know in 9th, for example, who was there in 8th vs who is new without having that conversation with the schools. And based on the families I know, none were certain they were leaving for 9th or 10th until they knew their options in the spring.
I believe Chapin has sibling preference (although I am not 100%).
Thank you gardenstategal. Looks like there might be more attrition that I thought, especially after 8th Grade. BTW if I attend prospective student/parent events next year at these schools would it be considered an unforgivable faux pas to ask questions about the number of open spots in 6th vs 9th and where chances are better? At the end of the day it seems like acceptance rates are probably super low, so I am not banking on anything but trying to figure out where there is a real shot vs. schools that might just be running an admissions program to pick up 2-3 kids for attrition,
They are all small schools and it is very different from class to class, so the schools won’t really even know the answer until they get to that point. There are some classes where almost no one leaves, then suddenly in the next class, everyone wants to go away to boarding school for 9th (or sometimes 10th.) Just a few new girls come in at 6th that I know of. 7th gets mainly Prep for Prep kids. 9th is most likely your best bet with girls leaving and the ability to expand the class by a few seats if needed.
Look at Nightingale too, and Sacred Heart or Marymount if you are open to Catholic schools that are not run by the diocese.
Also: Your chances for 9th might be better if you also applied in 6th. It demonstrates stronger interest and a higher likelihood of enrolling if admitted (yield) compared to an applicant who only applies in 9th.
@jcparent , I think your question about openings is a fair one given what you are putting into the process. Personally, I would try for 6th and if that doesn’t work, apply again at 9th. Showing interest helps.
It’s also possible that a completely different option would suit your girls better at 9th - even with acceptance at one of those schools. Kids leave for all kinds of reasons, including not liking the social vibe.
Thank you @gardenstategal and @CaliMex. I think it makes sense to apply in 6th Grade with lowered expectations and then just see how it goes with the other schools - we would be applying to the usual selective private day school suspects in suburban NJ and Manhattan. Where the older daughter gets in in Grade 6 is a big deal as it would likely involve our relocation (from Jersey City) and influence the universe of schools the younger daughter applies to a couple of years behind the older one. My gut feel is that academically in terms of test scores younger one is going to be more exceptional so which the order were flipped but it is what it is.
Yes they say that they will have 50-55 spots for new students in Grade 6 vs 40-45 in Grade 9. That is a ~60% jump in enrollment in Grade 6 and ~20% in Grade 9. I used the enrollment data by grade available at the NCES private school lookup website earlier and it matched pretty well. Where it is a struggle to estimate is the smaller schools such as the Girls-only schools. E.g. just looking at Brearley enrollment in Grade 5 vs Grade 6 it seemed like there were only ~5 new spots but that assumes no attrition. I believe actual spots for new students in Grade 6 last year were higher about 8-9.
If you are already at the school with younger child, you should engage with the admissions office directly, they will likely tell you whether there is a chance to get in 6th grade or if waiting for 9th is better. The single sex schools all have more spots in 9th grade as they lose a bunch of kids to co-ed schools (and some boarding as well). 6th grade entry is more attrition based but usually still at least 4-6 spots. And siblings typically do get special consideration though of course have to be qualified.
That is a good point @417WHB. Both daughters are actually in a private school in Jersey City right now in Grades 4 and 2. We like the school overall compared to the options, but are feeling a bit frustrated by lack of resources for certain EC activities such as sports and the small cohort size will make it more difficult to get hands-on leadership experience in EC activities in middle school.
Figured Grade 6 is worth a shot if the older daughter does well in ISEE. Younger daughter probably has an edge in terms of standardized test performance on Math and academics overall. Figure it is worth taking a chance even if she doesn’t get in because it shows interest and she can try again for Grade 9. If younger daughter gets in Grade 6, then it should help older daughter in Grade 9.
Please keep us up to date on your progress! I have a DC, age 12, who just started at Spence. She entered in the 7th grade. So far, so good. If you have any questions, please feel free to DM me.
Thank you @MariFeigh for your generous offer. I feel a bit over the top asking all of these questions when my older daughter is still in Grade 4 and hasn’t even taken the ISEE yet!
Ummm…I guess I’m a bit over-the-top myself, so I think you’re in the right place, LOL. We moved from NJ to NY, and it took 3 years to get our children placed in the NY/NE schools we felt were appropriate for them. Research, preparation, and LUCK made all the difference.
We might have to make a similar move from NJ to NY in 2021 if my older daughter gets into the private schools we are aiming for. Worried about where younger daughter will go to schoool as she will be in Grade 4 and will need to wait for a Grade 6 entry point for 2 years. Seems unfsir to her to make her go through another school change for just 2 years (she switched schools in Grade 1) We don’t intend to live in NYC to avoid the city tax and also have lower housing costs. So we need some place with good public schools and a reasonable commute into Riverdale or NYC.