The document discusses ways to reduce stress for families applying to middle schools in New York City. It notes that families currently struggle to find and understand information about their many school options from various sources. The presenters propose creating a centralized online tool that leverages open data and allows families to view all middle school options on a map, search and filter schools, and share notes about schools based on their experiences. The goal is to empower families with reliable information to make more informed choices and hold schools accountable for disclosing important details. This could help improve the application process and reduce anxiety for both families and students.

1. Reducing the Stress of
Middle School Applications:
Using open data, peer networks and other tools
School of Data Conference: March 3, 2018

2. Session speakers
Tricia Davies - founder/CEO, The Public Good
The Public Good is a research and planning firm that collaborates with policy makers, funders and advocates to
translate policies and ideas into community impact.
Jeremy Blumenfeld, software engineer and technology advisor
Matt Broggini - Director, Middle School Admissions, NYC Dept. of Education
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3. Today’s session
Impetus for this work
● Working with elementary and middle schools at the local and district level and exploring DOE open data
● Engaged in evaluating city Open Data systems for past 2 years
● Went through the MS application process last year in Dist1
Questions we are exploring with you today
● DOE: How can data be used to enhance the family experience of participating in MS Admissions?
● Can we harness open data, digital tools, social networks to improve how information is shared with parents?
● Given the size and complexity of NYC school system, how do we scale effectively?
Need to consider
● Data that is already collected by schools, DOE the State and peers? - can it be easily shared?
● Admissions policies and procedures set by central office vs. those set by individual schools
● What Data is shared by central office vs. by individual schools - can families hold schools accountable with their
information?
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4. User assumptions
1. An average 5th grader attending a District 1 elementary school that ends in 5th grade is
required to apply and get matched to a Middle School to attend 6th grade. Options include:
District 1, Borough and City-wide schools.
2. Screened schools each have different criteria for admissions.
3. Approximately 800 5th graders in Dist. 1 schools compete for limited spots in 8 schools (6
with unique screening criteria), and each with unique pedagogies
4. Applicant needs to know school specific information about ALL options including
academics, culture, ability to meet special needs or interests, likelihood of getting in…
Access to full and accurate school information early in the process will reduce stress and
contribute to better matches for students. Can we improve on current data and tools?
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5. Department of Education
Office of Student Enrollment - Middle School Admissions Team
● Oversees Middle School Admissions for all 32 districts
● Creates MS Directories, MS Applications, and other communications
● Organizes MS Fairs and creates MS Fair presentation
● Trains elementary school and middle school staff on the admissions process
● Manages matching and notification
Individual Middle Schools
● Recruit applicants, attend MS Fairs, schedule and host open houses
● Provide information for certain fields on their MS Directory page
● Screened schools evaluate and rank applicants according to their own selection criteria
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6. A 5th grader’s MS application journey
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...Sept
Start thinking!
Beginning with: what
schools should I
consider?
What do I need to know
about each school?
How do I apply?
MS Directory published
DOE “starting point”
Hard copy directory
lists school options
along with some school
information.
Can we turn this into a
tool that makes it easier
for families to compare
schools and add and
share notes?
Sept
School tours + research
Middle School Fair;
School Tours; look at
school websites; Inside
Schools website; talk to
friends and neighbors;
prepare essays, work
samples, write letters...
November: student
receives pre-printed
application with list of
eligible schools
Oct-Nov
Application form due
Paper application with
choices ranked is due
to elementary school.
December
1
Matches announced
May
About 6 weeks from start to deadline !

7. Context
Scenarios:
Living in and attending 5th grade in Dist1 = N options
Living in Dist2 and attending Dist1 = N(3) options
Number of options depends on where you live and attend 5th grade
With limited time, how can a family be smart and efficient in it’s
research?
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8. Where do parents get school information?
Word of mouth - friends and neighbors - the prevailing source
Limits: may not be accurate; following the crowd may miss considering other options, considering best fit for your
child.
DOE MS Directory - booklet printed every year
Most accessible resource - available in 10 languages. Central admin. Information is fairly comprehensive; Limits:
school-specific data is difficult to interpret. See page 10 of slide deck...
Inside Schools website - Nice interface, easy to use; Pulls in data using a variety of sources including DOE
including Demog. Snapshot, School Quality, NYC School Survey, state reported Graduation outcomes;
considered independent reviewer of local schools; not always up to date. https://insideschools.org/
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9. Our research indicates parents want to know:
1. Admissions rubric and application process?
2. Schools’ student diversity?
DOE website includes: % students by race, ELL, Disability, poverty; NY State Ed.gov website includes district and
charter school data; Inside Schools website includes.
3. Curriculum: arts, teaching philosophy?
Limited description of arts; description of pedagogy on Inside Schools; MS Directory does not include
4. Social-emotional supports for students?
Not found anywhere
5. Avg. school and class size of each school?
Data found for all 8th grade Math, ELA, Science (limited) on State Ed site: Data.nysed.gov
6. What are ALL my options? 9

10. Parents in Dist 15 want to know
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Safety: student
self-report safety stats
in Director, also Inside
Schools
Neighborhood -
zone/district
designation cofusing
Class Size - must go to
State Ed. website
Diversity - NYC DOE
website, Inside Schools

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12. NYC DOE Open data
NYC DOE - test results, demographic data, NY State report cards, graduation rates, etc…
http://schools.nyc.gov/Accountability/data/default.htm
DOE website/ school search: http://schools.nyc.gov/SchoolSearch/
What if you wanted to start with knowing what ALL your options are?
We created a map of all options in one easy place through a custom built web application hosted on RShiny
platform. Allows the family to see ALL District, Borough and City-wide options
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13. Our vision
A reliable and accessible source of information about all public school options that parents can
use to research relevant facts and consumer experiences about their options.
A way to organize information that is personalized for each 5th grade applicant/family to make
comparisons of schools with their child’s needs, to help parents make informed and proactive
choices.
Access to real time updates (changes in school status or information that happens prior to
application due date.
Customizable search options through a tool for collecting, sharing and comparing what we all
know about schools in our community.
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14. Goals:
● Making families better informed consumers
● Improving access to public school information
● Creating peer to peer knowledge sharing
● Empowering families to help define the process
● Increasing school accountability for reliable and valid information
● Greater disclosure and transparency of school data and application information
● Using open data as a tool to improve planning, advocating for public school students
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