Help Bronx Middle Schoolers Get into Their Dream High School

Funded May 21, 2014

This summer and fall, students at IS 339 were engaged in a three-week advanced academic program preparing them for New York City's Specialized High School Admissions Test. This is an entrance examination for some of New York City's most selective and competitive public schools, to which we are hoping our students gain admission. We were so lucky to be able to use the Barron's SHSAT preparation books donated for this program.

We used the donated texts daily, and students were able to take notes and record their answers directly in the text. Having individual books that the students were able to keep and write in eased instruction and comprehension. Students were able to annotate important points, mark questions to review, and take full-length practice tests to prepare for their test. Additionally, they were able to refer to this tangible resource after the program was over, leaving them with a physical resource to aid their learning.

The eighth grade students kept their books after the program to review over the summer when our program finished, and seventh grade students will use them this academic year and next summer to review for their exam in fall 2015. The summer preparation and individual study time is essential for success on the SHSAT, and being provided with personal resources greatly facilitated this process. Through our targeted instruction and implementation of resources, we know that students were well-prepared for the exam.”

With gratitude,

Ms. Ballinger