Admissions

Two Open Houses for incoming Kindergarten are tentatively scheduled as follows:

• In-person Open House - Wednesday, January 10th, 2024
• Virtual Open House (zoom link to follow) - Wednesday, January 17th, 2024

The Anderson School does not enroll new students into grades 4 or 5.

All admissions decisions are made by the Department of Education. Anderson does not have a direct role in this process.

For questions other than waitlist position, please contact the Community Coordinator, Donna Smiley, at (dsmiley@schools.nyc.gov)

FAQs: (updated July 2023)

What is the Anderson School?

Anderson School is a citywide accelerated school and students living in all five boroughs may apply via the DOE’s Gifted and Talented admissions process. Its curriculum is developed internally following the New York State and City core curriculum framework for grades K-8 and is both accelerated and enriched.  Anderson is co-located in the O’Shea Complex on W. 77^th St. along with two District 3 middle schools.

What is the difference between local district Gifted & Talented Programs and Anderson?

District G&T programs offer a curriculum that is academically enriched and draw students from the local district only. Anderson’s program is accelerated as well as enriched and is open to NYC residents living in all five boroughs.

How large is Anderson?

In Fall 2023, we expect to have 513 students in grades K-8, with two classes in each grade. Kindergarten is capped at 25 students, with the class size increasing to 29 in grades 1-5. In addition to the main teacher, there is an assistant teacher in Kindergarten and a shared assistant in each of the other grades.

What are the school’s hours?

The school hours are 8:15 AM - 2:35 PM. Students may arrive for a free breakfast or early drop-off between 7:45-7:55 AM. After 7:55 AM, they must join the regular arrivals line on W. 77^th St.

Are there specials?

Specials offered are Art, Music, Gym, Science, Spanish (K-4, exposure program; 5-8, core subject), Enrichment electives (K-8), Health (5,7), Library. Also: Artist-in-residence (1-2), Chess (K-3), Lego Robotics, Law (5), Advisory (4-8), field trips (K-8), student council (6-8). Music specifics: singing, theory; composition; recorder (2-3); guitar (4-5); band/pops orchestra (4-8, clarinet, flute, sax, trumpet, trombone, piano, percussion); chorus (6-8); jazz band (6-8), rock bands (6-8).

Are there enrichments?

We visit or have affiliations with: MOMA, Met Museum, AMNH, Symphony Space, Metropolitan Debate League, NY Math League, Clearwater, El Museo del Barrio, N-Y Historical Society, Van Cortlandt Manor, Theaterworks, and Museum of the City of New York. Students participate in national competitions including: Wordmasters, Continental Math, MathCounts, SIGMA, Noetic Math, Mathematical Olympiad, National Geographic Bee, Scripps Spelling Bee and the international AMC 8, and Math Kangaroo competitions.

Any other features?

Cardiovascular fitness/wellness classroom, mindfulness classroom, large schoolyard, playground climbing structure, library media center, SmartBoard in each classroom, laptop/iPad carts for classrooms, lateral climbing wall, recycling/composting program.

How much homework is there?

Anderson is a highly academic school, so students can expect regular assignments. In the early grades, homework is kept at a minimum and it increases in subsequent grades. In middle school, students should expect up to 90 minutes of homework per night, with additional time for long-term projects.

Is there an after-school program?

K-5: Arts and Athletics is our K-5 afterschool provider, with academic, athletic and arts classes. They have a moderate fee structure and offer some scholarships. The program begins when school ends and runs until 5:45 PM. NY Scholastic Chess Club provides afterschool chess instruction and team coaching for tournaments, also for a moderate fee. Anderson offers for free: academic support (3-8), seasonal elementary track programs (3-5), annual musical (6-8), 16 sports teams (6-8, boy, girl, co-ed, JV) and clubs (6-8, math, debate, robotics, and Science Olympiad teams).

6-8: Manhattan Youth (www.manhattanyouth.org) runs a free, on-site afterschool program for middle school students in grades 6-8. Some classes are taught by Anderson teachers and include debate, math, and robotics teams, a musical theater production, literary magazine, 16 sports teams, and much more.

NY Scholastic Chess Club offers an on-site, fee-based afterschool competitive chess team program (www.nyschessclub.com).

Is busing provided?

It depends. The DOE provides yellow school bus service to Anderson students in grades K-6 only in certain areas of Manhattan. Students’ grade, distance eligibility, and route length limitations apply for bus service, or parents may opt for their child to receive a MetroCard. Students living beyond yellow school bus service receive MetroCards automatically. Some students living in the Riverdale/adjacent areas of the Bronx use a private bus service - Baker Transportation: 718.320.2523.

What role do parents play?

Our parents have always been an integral part of Anderson’s success. They get involved with the many activities of the PTA, chaperone class trips, serve on the School Leadership Team (SLT), and as Lunchtime Leaders. They volunteer at open houses for prospective parents and help organize fun community-building events. They run fundraisers – an auction, movie nights and more.

Is there life after Anderson?

All Anderson 5^th graders who are in good academic standing may choose to continue at Anderson Middle School through 8^th grade. We are proud that the vast majority of our 8^th graders have consistently received offers from their top choice high schools. Many received acceptances to specialized public high schools (Stuyvesant, Bronx Science, Brooklyn Tech, LaGuardia Arts, American Studies at Lehman College, and MSE at City College) and desirable, high performing local schools including Beacon, Bard Early College HS, Eleanor Roosevelt, Millennium, Nest + M, Townsend Harris and Upper Lab. In addition, students have been accepted at private schools such as Trinity, Brearley, Dalton, Fieldston, Horace Mann, Nightingale, Regis, Spence, and boarding schools.  We have a full-time guidance counselor who helps families with high school articulation.

Questions?  Donna Smiley, Admissions, DSmiley@schools.nyc.gov or Ana Crenovich, Parent Coordinator, ACrenovich@schools.nyc.gov