Why Does the Common Core Exist?

What is Common Core?

The Common Core is not a curriculum. It is a guideline of what children in each grade should know by the end of the school year. They are shared goals and expectations among educational institutions using the Common Core that set grounds for knowledge and skills that will help students succeed. Unlike its predecessor, the No Child Left Behind Act, it focuses on developing a child’s critical thinking, analytical skills, and problem-solving. These skills are meant to ensure that students can succeed later in life no matter what they plan on doing. 

The Common Core puts a greater emphasis on math. Rather than race over numerous topics, the Common Core aims to focus on fewer concepts in detail. Academic success does not come from learning hard topics at a young age, but rather from having a deep and authentic understanding of the material. When following the Common Core, students strengthen foundations, understandings of fundamental topics, and procedural skills so that they feel confident in using the concepts both inside and outside of the classroom. Each grade focuses on a few math concepts in detail for the entirety of the school year. For example, third graders focus on multiplication, division, and fractions. You can find the math standards for each grade here. Each year, the math is meant to build on itself. For example, after learning the basics of fractions in the third grade, students go on to learn how to add and subtract fractions in the fourth grade. This method reinforces major math topics and builds students understanding of topics gradually. 

Along with building reading and writing skills, the Common Core aims to build the complexity of the texts the students can read so that they can understand any text they encounter in the future. To achieve this skill, the Common Core focuses on building vocabulary as the years go on. Not only do the students learn new words, but they also learn the nuances of words and learn to use context clues. Teachers using the Common Core are also expected to expose their students to multiple different genres, with each grade focusing heavily on one. For example, sixth-grade students are expected to focus mostly on myths. This is done to build students’ familiarity with different types of texts. About fifty percent of students’ readings are informational and are surrounding subjects like history and science, allowing the children to develop strong general knowledge. Unlike before, students are now focused more on text-based writing rather than narrative writing. This change is meant to hone the analytical skills they will need in college, career, and life. 

Who Was Is It Implemented By?

The Common Core was created in 2009 to tackle the stagnation of the United States’ academic progress and regain its international status of academic rigor. This was caused by states having different levels and standards they teach. No states agreed on what a student should know by the end of a grade. In order to fix this, state leaders and educators came together to create the Common Core using the most effective standards from across the country and the world. So far, 41 states, multiple territories, and the Department of Defense Education Activity have adopted the Common Core. You can check if your state or territory uses the Common Core program here. Because it was not made by the federal government, states decide if they want to use the program or not. Each state is also allowed to change the program so it fits the needs of their students. Schools also have flexibility with how they choose to teach the lessons. 

What Is the Future of the Common Core?

The Common Core focuses on students’ understandings of the concept rather than how many concepts they know. This has shown positive results and has led to the Common Core being picked up by more and more states. It is flexible and constantly evolving to fit the needs of the students. As students grow older and end school, we will be able to fully see the effects of the Common Core. 

If your student is having trouble at school, Synergy Prep offers Common Core tutoring services for grades 2-8. Click here for the Common Core program brochure.

Specialized High Schools vs Regular Public High Schools

High school is the next big step in your academic career. Choosing where you’ll spend the next four years of your life is a hard decision. One thing that you should consider when choosing high schools is whether you want to go to a Specialized High School or a regular public high school.  You can find out more about which schools would be the best fit for you by clicking here. Specialized High Schools, unlike other public high schools,  can provide their students with a strong education through their ample funding and strong alumni network. The only admission requirement for eight of these high schools is the SHSAT test. Unlike the other specialized high schools, Laguardia High School requires an audition or portfolio for admission. Without further ado, here are the main differences between Specialized High Schools and regular public schools: 

AP Classes:

Advanced Placement Courses are introductory college-level courses you can take in high school. After taking an AP course, you can take the AP test in May. Based on this score, you may receive college credit for the course. This can help you get a headstart in college. Specialized High Schools tend to offer more AP classes than regular high schools. Most also require you to take at least one before you graduate and replace regular courses with AP courses. Many, like Stuyvesant High School, also teach their basic courses at the AP level, making you prepared to take the AP test by the end of the course. Look into what AP courses are offered at any school that you are interested in. 

Electives:

Electives are classes focused on one field or subfield of a subject (i.e. Neurobiology or Multivariable Calculus). Taking these electives can further your knowledge in a field you are interested in, giving you a headstart. It can also differentiate you from other applicants when you are applying to college. Taking difficult courses (college-level electives) and electives in a field you may want to major in will strengthen your college application when the time comes. Because they get more funding, Specialized High Schools offer countless electives. Generally, you can find a list of electives that the school offers on their website. 

Curriculum:

You can also look into schools whose curriculum is specialized in one field. For example, the Bronx Academy for Software Engineering’s curriculum focuses on software engineering and computer science. Multiple schools, like Brooklyn Tech, has a major system. Major systems allow you to choose from a variety of different majors or paths and take courses related to that major. For example, students at Brooklyn Tech in the Architecture major may take courses related to drafting and AutoCAD. You should also consider choosing between STEM and the liberal arts. Schools like Bronx Science specialize in the STEM fields, while schools like Brooklyn Latin specialize in the humanities.

College Preparation:

The ultimate goal of high school is to get into your ideal college. You’ll want to go to a high school that prepares you well for what’s ahead. Make sure the high schools you’re going to have a designated college office that works to help you get into your choice of college. These offices will provide you with resources, like help with college applications and organizing college trips. You should also consider going to a school with a good reputation. Specialized High Schools have a good reputation among top colleges for providing good students. This makes colleges more likely to accept students from Specialized High Schools. The rigorous curriculum at Specialized High Schools makes you prepared for the difficulty of college. Students who have graduated from Specialized High Schools and moved onto college have noted that college is easier than high school.

Clubs/Teams: 

Extracurricular activities are activities you do outside of the classroom, including clubs, teams, and student governments. Participating in them will strengthen your college application. Based on your extracurriculars, colleges can have a holistic understanding of who you are as a person and your goals. Extracurriculars can also help you get involved in activities that strengthen your knowledge in your academic and career interests. Schools with more funding have more extracurriculars because they can spread money to support their clubs and teams. 

Competitiveness: 

The social environment of your school can heavily influence your grades and achievements in high school. You will want to consider what type of environment works best for you. Do you thrive in a competitive environment or do you prefer less pressure?  You may also want to consider the fact that while you may be at the top of your middle school, going to a specialized high school, like Stuyvesant will most likely mean you are no longer at the top. This is known as the small fish in a big pond effect. The opposite effect is known as the big fish in a small pond. If you go to a smaller school, you are more likely to stand out and be at the top. Factors that you should look into when determining the competitiveness of a school are the class sizes, number of students per grade, graduation rate, and the percent of students that take college-level courses. However, you should think about who you want to be surrounded with. Even if you are no longer the top student, you will be surrounded by people who are as driven as you, pushing you to work harder. 

The Best Non-Specialized Public High Schools

The best non-specialized public high schools tend to be screened. Screened schools are schools that look at your grades, attendance, and test scores from 7th grade to determine your admission. Some also require you to complete an interview or hand in a portfolio. Here’s a list of some of the best public schools in the city: 

• Bard High School Early College: Bard is a unique high school that allows you to graduate with both a high school diploma and an Associates Degree. Their curriculum allows you to finish two years of college by the time you graduate from high school. There are two campuses: Manhattan and Queens. Bard requires applicants to take an entrance exam and to complete an interview. 

• Beacon High School: Beacon’s curriculum focuses on college preparatory. It offers countless AP and Honors level courses, while also boasting hundreds of different clubs and teams. Unlike most schools, Beacon requires students to complete Performance-Based Assessments/Projects to pass the course. Beacon requires applicants to complete an interview and submit a portfolio of their work. 

• Townsend Harris High School: Townsend Harris’ curriculum focuses on the liberal arts. However, they still have a strong STEM program. All courses at Townsend Harris are Honors level. They also offer a Senior Bridge Year at Queens College, allowing students to complete 12 college credits. Townsend Harris requires that all applicants must have a 90% average or higher. 

• New Explorations Into Science, Technology + Math: Since their opening in 2001, NEST+m has had 100% of their graduates move on to college. Their curriculum is STEM-based and students are required to complete 60 hours of community service by the time they graduate. NEST+m also has a partnership with the College Now program at Hunter College, allowing their students to take college courses while in high school. 

Deciding where you’ll go to high school is a difficult task. Make sure to take every factor into account when making your list. If you still need some help deciding where to go, you can find more information that can help you here or come in for consulting at Synergy Prep. At the end of the day, remember that even if you don’t get into your top choice, it’s not about what high school you go to, but rather how well you perform at your schools and how well you use the resources that have been provided to you. 

What is the Hunter College High School (HCHS)?

Outside of the Specialized High Schools, there are a number of other prestigious public high schools in New York City. One of the most selective examples is Hunter College High School (HCHS). Located on the Upper East Side and run by the City University of New York, HCHS is known for its student body’s high acceptance rates to Ivy League universities and other extremely selective colleges. Students must take a competitive entrance exam in the sixth grade to gain admission to this highly sought-after school.

Academics

Aside from its elite reputation, what makes HCHS unique is its rigorous liberal arts curriculum spanning grades 7 through 12, providing an early foundation for college-level coursework. Because the school is exempt from New York State Regents examinations, it has more liberty in forming its special curriculum, compared to schools that require NYS standardized testing. As a result, classes generally involve more writing and discussion than what may be typical for a New York City high school. All students take honors math, with an option for taking “extended honors” at an accelerated pace; the curriculum goes beyond and is more challenging than the Regents curriculum in mathematics.

Eligibility and Admissions

Admission to HCHS is a two-step process. First, public school students must score at or above the 90th percentile on the fifth grade Common Core exams in Mathematics and English Language Arts (ELA). (Students at private or independent schools need to score at or above the 90th percentile on the reading and math exams given by their schools.) Meeting this benchmark makes you eligible to then take the HCHS Entrance Exam in the sixth grade. The test is extremely competitive – while exact cutoff scores vary from year to year, generally fewer than 10% of students who take the exam are offered admission.

The HCHS Entrance Exam

The HCHS Entrance Exam is a three-hour exam given once a year. It consists of three sections: Critical Reading, Mathematics, and a Writing Assignment. The Critical Reading section contains fifty multiple-choice questions based on a given series of reading passages. The Mathematics section contains thirty multiple-choice questions assessing problem-solving ability on a variety of math topics, such as geometry, probability, and computation with fractions and decimals. In the Writing Assignment section, students must produce an appropriate, original, and detailed response to the given topic(s).

Preparing for HCHS Admissions

Because eligibility to sit for the HCHS Entrance Exam is based on fifth grade Common Core test scores, it’s important for students who are interested in HCHS to prepare adequately for those Common Core tests. Studying and prepping diligently for both the ELA and Math tests is crucial.

Afterwards, doing well on the Entrance Exam is a must!

HCHS is a great school that offers a wide range of academic and extracurricular opportunities for motivated, high-achieving students. Students who want to attend HCHS should be well aware of the competitive admissions requirements, and start planning early on to improve their chances of acceptance!

---

What colleges look at: The importance of taking Advanced Placement (AP) classes

Advanced Placement (AP) is a program that allows you to take college-level courses while still in high school. At the end of each AP class, you can take the corresponding AP exam and potentially earn college credit for the class.

There are 38 AP exams in total, but the number of AP exams offered varies from school to school. Many high schools do not offer any AP classes or exams at all.

When choosing a high school to attend, it’s important to consider whether AP classes and exams are offered, and if so, which ones.

Without further ado, the 3 biggest reasons why you should take APs are:

1.      They prepare you for college. AP classes generally function like introductory-level college courses. In other words, they’re designed to be more challenging than your average high school classes.

For instance, AP US History is a lot more analytical than the standard Regents US History offered at most NYC high schools. The AP version goes further than what happened in American history – it puts a lot more emphasis on the how and why, and focuses on broader themes. Classes like this can help you get accustomed to the type of analytical thinking that is regularly expected of you in college-level work.

2.      You can earn college credit. If you get an adequate score on an AP exam, many colleges will offer you credit in that subject. (An adequate score generally means at least a 3 or 4, depending on the school.)

In many cases, earning college credit for AP’s will exempt you from taking certain introductory courses in college. For example, a sufficient score on one of the AP Calculus exams may allow you to skip entry-level Calculus in college and go straight into a more advanced math course instead.

 3.      You’ll have an edge in college admissions. If your high school offers AP classes and exams, colleges will pay attention to whether you took advantage of them.

Taking AP classes and doing well on the corresponding AP exams shows colleges that you are motivated, capable, and ready for college-level academic work. AP classes and exam scores strengthen your college application and make you a more favorable candidate.

Overall, AP classes enrich your high school academic experience and challenge you to think more critically. At the same time, they give you a head start in your college career by offering college credit and letting you place out of introductory courses.

If you’re applying to high schools right now, pay close attention to the AP offerings at your prospective schools. Do they offer any AP classes at all? If so, do they offer AP classes you may want to take in particular, based on your interests and potential career goals?

If you’re in high school at the moment, plan ahead with regards to which AP classes and exams you intend to take and when. And of course, diligent studying and test prep will help you do well in these challenging classes, and achieve your desired scores on the exams!

---

What to consider when applying to high schools (Part 2)

This post is a follow up to our last post on the different types of NYC high schools.

With hundreds of options at your disposal, it’s safe to say that applying to high school in NYC can be an overwhelming process. There are endless characteristics that can set one school apart from another. Here are some of the major factors to look at when choosing the best school for you:

Class Selection

If you have particular academic interests you would like to pursue, you can narrow your search to schools that cater specifically to those interests. Let’s say you want to dive into software development – you may look into schools that have strong computer science programs, and a large variety of math and technology classes available to you.

Advanced Placement Classes

One question you should ask yourself when choosing a school is: Does this school offer Advanced Placement (AP) classes, and if so, which ones? AP classes cover introductory college-level material in their particular subjects, and so they are good preparation for college courses. After taking an AP class, you can take the AP exam for that subject and earn college credit if you achieve an adequate score. Schools that offer a lot of AP classes can provide more opportunities for you to immerse yourself in college-level learning.

Click here to see a list of all the available AP courses.

Languages

At many schools, you will typically be required to take 2-3 years of a foreign language. The range of languages offered varies from school to school. If there is a particular language you’re keen to learn, check whether it is offered at your schools of interest.

Extracurricular Activities

In high school, it’s incredibly valuable to get involved in activities outside of academics. Take a look at the types of extracurricular activities available at different schools. For example, if you have a strong interest in acting, it might be a priority for you to attend a school that has a prominent theater club or society that puts on frequent performances throughout the year. From arts to sports to sciences, high schools provide diverse opportunities for all sorts of students to get involved.

In addition to your academics, having extracurricular activities is very important. For example, during the college-admission process, an extracurricular activity in your Common Application can be the deciding factor of getting into a school of your dreams. If you want your application to stand out from the rest, choose an extracurricular activity that you’ll enjoy and try to stick to it.

Statistics

For every school you’re interested in, make sure to check out graduation rates, as well as average scores on the SAT, Regents, and AP exams. This will give you a sense of the level of academic achievement of the average student at the school, and how well you might expect to do academically there. Greatschools.org and Insideschools.org are excellent resources where you can view these numbers.

School Size

Last but not least, consider the size of the student body. Large schools and small schools each have their unique advantages and disadvantages. Large schools tend to benefit from having more of everything – more classes, more extracurricular activities, more faculty and resources. The downside is that you won’t get as much individual attention, and it may take more work on your part to find a sense of community. Small schools often have a more tightknit community, and smaller student-to-teacher ratios mean you receive more individualized attention. On the other hand, you may discover a more limited range of academic and extracurricular activities and resources available to you.

All of these factors in combination can paint a picture of what your high school experience at a given school might look like, and help you choose the school that is the perfect fit for you.

If you ever need help choosing the right school for you, you can discuss it with us for FREE.

---