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How to Evaluate Summer School Programs – Tips for parents on how to choose a good summer school

Authored By
George Higgins, Headmaster

Now that we’re getting close to the end of the academic year, there are parents and students coming to the conclusion that they need to start thinking about summer classes for high school students in NYC.  Whether it’s summer high school science programs or summer math classes for high school students, finding the optimal setting takes advance planning and now is probably a good time to start looking.

Here are some tips to keep in mind when you’re searching for summer classes in NYC:

  • There are lots of places offering advancement, remediation, or review.  Make sure the program you select is accredited.
  • If the program is accredited and you plan to repeat or advance a subject for credit, check with your child’s current school to make sure that they will recognize this credit once the summer program has ended.
  • What are the start/finish dates?  How many days per week does the class meet? How long is the class?  What hours does the class meet?
  • Are classes available so students can advance their curriculum or are most students there to repeat classes that they failed during the year?
  • What is the course selection?  Are electives available in addition to the core academic subjects?

These are important questions for a number of reasons.  Does the program interfere with your summer vacation plans?  Do you want to be in school five days a week?  Is it a 90-minute class or a three-hour class?  If you have a summer job or internship, does the class time conflict with your other commitments?

As the college application process continues to be more competitive, students hoping to keep an advantage are trying to take the highest-level math and science courses available in high school.  But what if you started Algebra I in the 9th grade, how can you get to Calculus?

In addition to traditional courses, what about instruction in areas that need to be improved, such as study skills, note-taking, or test-taking strategies?

Summer classes for high school students don’t have to ruin a student’s (or a family’s) summer plans.  If you spend enough time doing your homework, you will find a high school summer session that complements your needs while allowing you to enjoy some summer fun!

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