First-Year Family FAQ
How does advisory work?
Your first-year will be given an advisor. Advisory groups usually consist of approximately 15 students. Although some students ask to switch advisors at the end of the year, many stay with the same advisor for all four years, and their advisory becomes a special group. Advisory meets three times a week—twice for 15 minutes, once for 45 minutes—and provides bonding activities, social-emotional support, help with soft skills like organization, information, and more. The advisor is the student’s advocate and the point of contact for parents.
How do parent-teacher conferences work?
Because one of the key principles of the iSchool is student agency and ownership over learning, our twice-yearly conferences are student-led and held with parents/guardians and the adviser. The student reviews their work in each class, and parents can ask questions and raise any concerns for the student and adviser to follow up on.
How do students create their course schedules?
Before each quarter begins—so, four times throughout the school year—they receive an email from the office with course descriptions and instructions for how to register for classes. As the iSchool has some mixed-grade classes, priority goes first to seniors, but some classes, like iLearn (the iSchool’s 9th grade English course), are for first-years only.
Are there electives?
iSchool students take modules every quarter. Modules are offered on a wide range of topics and are often project-based. Modules, are intensive, nine-week interdisciplinary courses developed around real-world challenges, where students have the opportunity to work alongside experts to do real work for an audience outside the school. They are designed to develop students' understanding of big ideas and broad global concepts, as well as their development and application of 21st-century skills.
Does the school offer AP courses?
The NYC iSchool offers a limited number of AP courses across the curriculum, dictated by student interest, and available only to 11th and 12th graders. Current APs on offer will be listed in the course descriptions. Sometimes students take AP courses online if the ones they want aren’t offered by the school.
Do iSchool students take Regents exams? Do they receive a Regents diploma when they graduate?
NYC iSchool students do take selected Regents exams, and all receive a Regents diploma. As iSchool students take only the five required Regents exams, they are not eligible for an Advanced Regents diploma.
Your child must achieve a score of 65 or higher on these five Regents exams:
• English Language Arts (ELA)
• Any mathematics exam (Algebra I, Geometry, or Algebra II/Trigonometry)
• Any social studies exam (Global History and Geography or U.S. History and Government)
• Any science exam (Living Environment, Chemistry, Earth Science, or Physics)
• Any additional Regents exam or assessment approved by the State for this purpose
What is mastery grading?
It means the focus is on achieving mastery of the content and skills taught in courses. If a student performs poorly on an assessment, they can work harder to demonstrate mastery before moving on.
Are there clubs my student can join?
Yes. iSchool clubs are student-driven. Information will be provided in the NYC iSchool iNotes about available after school clubs, possible associated fees, and registration deadlines in late September. There will also be a club fair at the end of September. After school clubs at the NYC iSchool will begin directly after school at 4:00 pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, starting in October. Students who are absent from school (or who arrive after 12:00 pm) may NOT participate in after-school or other extracurricular activities held that same day.
Does the iSchool have sports teams?
The iSchool/Chelsea Campus has the following PSAL sports teams: Basketball, Baseball, Softball, Bowling, Handball, Cross Country Track, Indoor Track. Students are also able to participate in other high school teams via the PSAL All Access Program. The list of PSAL All Access teams changes every year.
Can parents volunteer?
Yes! Watch your inbox for communication from the PA, which will include volunteer opportunities.
How will we receive info from the school?
Ms. Leimsider sends out an email newsletter twice a month called iNotes with announcements, information, and opportunities for students. The PA regularly sends an email newsletter about events, fundraisers, volunteering, and more for parents, many of which are included here. The iSchool’s Parent Coordinator, Ms. Rodriguez, sends out a monthly recap to families with iSchool happenings.