Key Vocabulary for High School Prep
Admissions Department
q Definition: (Noun) The office of people who read, process, and decide whether or not you are accepted to an independent or private learning institution.
q Used in a sentence: Nathalia called the Admissions Department to see if her application was received.
Advanced Placement(AP)
q Definition: (Noun) a programcreated by the College Boardoffering college-levelcurriculumand examinations to high school students.
q Used in a Sentence: In 11th grade, I am going to take 2 AP classes, so that I can earn college credit and save my family some money!
Academy
q Definition: an institution of higher learning, research, or honorary membership.The name traces back toPlato's school ofphilosophy, founded approximately 385 BC atAkademia.
q Used in a Sentence: Several schools in New York City decided to name themselves academies to honor Plato’s legacy of education.
Audition
q Definition: (Noun) Admissions method. Ranked and selected based on performance. Assesses proficiency in a specific performing arts and/or visual arts area. Tryout.
q Used in a Sentence: Thousands of people auditioned for the talent show, but only Mya and Alexy were chosen to perform.
Boarding School
q Definition: (Noun) Students live at the school, andreceiveboardandlodging. Typically, boarding schools have very high academic standards.
q Used in a Sentence: All students who are preparing to take the Secondary School Admissions Test will go on a boarding school field trip, but we won’t sleepover like typical boarding school students.
Borough
q Definition: (Noun) district or section of a larger town, or area that is self-governed. New York City is comprised of 5 boroughs: Manhattan, Bronx, Brooklyn, Staten Island, and Queens.
q Used in a Sentence: There is currently a student who lives in the borough of Brooklyn, and commutes almost 1 hour and 30 minutes to get to school.
Criteria:
q Definition: (Noun) Standard by which something may be judged or decided.
q Used in a Sentence: Cesar met the very strict criteria required to become a tutor. He has high grades, consistently excellent attendance, and speaks 5 languages.
Community Service
q Definition: voluntarywork,intendedtobeforthecommongood,usuallyorganized.
q Used in a Sentence: I enjoy doing community service. I want to be part of a school that believes in ‘giving back’ to the people in my community.
DOE
q Definition: (Noun) New York City’s Department of Education operates the public schools inNew York Cityand is the largest system of schools in the United States
q Used in a Sentence: According to the DOE, all 8th grade public school students are required by law to rank up to 12 NYC public high schools.
Directory
q Definition: (Noun) abookcontaininganalphabeticalindex ofpersons or places.
q Used in a Sentence: Naijely was the first student to pick up her high school directory, and immediately ran home to read about all of the screened schools in the green Manhattan section.
Diversity
q Definition: variety, difference. In the world of high schools, this typically refers to ethnic/cultural diversity.
q Used in a Sentence: I want to go to a school that believes in multicultural diversity that celebrates a variety of cultures and makes me feel welcome.
Essential
q Definition: (Adjective) Absolutely necessary; extremely important.
q Used in a Sentence: Essential to Arsenio’s diet are a significant amount of vegetables and fruits.
Extracurricular Activities
q Definition: (Noun) Activities outside of normalcurriculumof school. This includes sports, arts, volunteer work, church attendance, musical ensembles, and special interest clubs.
q Used in a Sentence: Joanis participates in tutoring, school service, and is a semi-professional competitive bungee jumper – she is very involved in extracurricular activities.
Financial Aid
q Definition: funding that is intended to help students pay education-related expenses includingtuition, fees,room and board, books, and supplies for education at acollege,university, orprivate school.
q Used in a Sentence: My family received a 95% financial aid package to an independent high school, so they only have to pay a small amount of money for an excellent school.
Income
q Definition: Money earned, either by work or otherwise.
q Used in a Sentence: My family’s income has increased this year. It was $35,000 last year, and this year it is $40,000.
Independent School
q Definition: non-public school, where families are typically required to pay tuition.
q Used in a Sentence: I don’t know if my family will let me attend an independent boarding school, but we are definitely looking at the top independent schools in New York City.
Institute
q Definition: Name for a school. Sometimes referring to Research institutions or a professional body. The word "institute" comes from theLatinwordinstitutummeaning "facility" or "habit"; frominstitueremeaning "build", "create", "raise" or "educate".
q Used in a Sentence: I am applying to the Institute for Collaborative Education because I enjoy working in groups and it is a high school with a high graduation rate.
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme(IB)
q Definition: (Noun) a two-yeareducational program that provides an internationally accepted qualification for entry into higher education, and is accepted by many universities worldwide.
q Used in a Sentence: I want to attend a high school that has an IB program, so that I can earn credits to go to a university in another country.
Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE)
q Definition: admissions exam created by ERB required for most independent school applications, especially for independent day schools in New York City.
q Used in a Sentence: I have been preparing for the ISEE with flash cards and vocabulary lists.
Letter of Recommendation
q Definition: (Noun) A note written by a teacher, mentor or close family friend (depending on the institution) that assesses the qualities, characteristics, and capabilities of the person being recommended.
q Used in a Sentence: The application requires two letters of recommendation from your teachers.
Limited Unscreened
q Definition: (Noun) Admissions method. Priority to students who demonstrate interest by attending a school’s open house event(s). Students must sign in at these events.
q Used in a Sentence: Tyrese knew that the Urban Assembly Harbor School requires students to visit their school on Governor’s Island as part of their limited unscreened criteria.
Open House:
q Definition: atimeduringwhichaschool,institution,etc.,isopentothe publicforexhibitionorforsomespecificoccasion.
q Used in a Sentence: Jeremy visited 8 schools on his high school list, and wrote his name down at every open house he attended.
Priority
q Definition: (Noun) Given more urgency or importance
q Used in a Sentence: Giomar has his priorities in order. He always does his homework before playing basketball or helping teachers grade their papers.
Rank
q Definition: (Verb) Toassigntoaparticularposition,station,class.
q Used in a Sentence: Jonathan didn’t think High School for Environmental Studies was the great fit for him, so he ranked it 8 out of 12 on his application.
RSVP
q Definition: areplytoaninvitation. French,RépondezS’ilVousPlaît.
q Used in a Sentence: High schools prefer if you RSVP by email or phone before attending an open house.
Research
q Definition: (Verb) Diligent and systematic inquiry or investigation into a subject in order to discover or review facts, theories, and applications.
q Used in a Sentence: I spent 3 hours researching school websites so that I would be well informed about what each school offers.
Resident
q Definition: (Noun) living somewhere on a long-term basis or working somewhere in-house.
q Used in a Sentence: Mr. Mitchell is a resident of the East Harlem neighborhood, and regularly sees students in the local grocery store.
Scholarship
q Definition: Award offinancial aidfor a student to further his or her education. Studentships are awarded based upon various criteria, which usually reflect the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award. Studentship money is not required to be repaid by the family or student.
q Used in a Sentence: I am applying to the SSP Scholarship, which would help my family pay for me to attend an excellent Catholic high school.
Screened
q Definition: (Noun) Admissions method. Ranked and selected based on the following criteria: grades, NYS reading and math test scores, attendance, and sometimes interviews and essays. Selective.
q Used in a Sentence: Mr. Ferrer screens all basketball players to determine who will make the starting line-up.
Secondary School
q Definition: Aschoolwhich provideschildren with education afterprimary school and may be followed byhigher educationorvocational training.
q Used in a Sentence: After graduating from middle school, I will be applying to a variety of secondary schools that will prepare me to attend a 4-year college.
Secondary School Admission Test (SSAT)
q Definition: admissions exam required for most independent boarding school applications.
q Used in a Sentence: The SSAT is super challenging! My friends and I have organized a study group for every Saturday afternoon to prepare for this exam.
Selection:
q Definition: (Noun) Action of carefully choosing someone or something as being the best or most suitable. Choice, election, preference.
q Used in a Sentence: At Yaslyn’s Store, Rachel can choose from alargeselectionof over 20 sneakers, dresses, and headbands.
Specialized High School Admissions Test(SHSAT)
q Definition: admissions exam required for specialized public high schools in New York City.
q Used in a Sentence: I have loved Bronx Science High School for all of my life, and plan to rock the SHSAT!
Statistics
q Definition: A collection of data that reveals interesting facts.
q Used in a Sentence: Statistics on insideschools.org can tell us if a school is strong in certain areas, and can help us to compare schools.
Test for Admission into Catholic High Schools (TACHS)
q Definition: admissions exam required for admission to the Catholic high schools in the Archdiocese of New York or Diocese of Brooklyn/Queens.
q Used in a Sentence: Karen practiced for the TACHS exam during the summer by reviewing the practice book and playing vocabulary games online.
Transcript
q Definition: An official school record of all classes taken, and grades received for those classes; a report card.
q Used in a sentence: Jasmine made copies of her transcript to send to the independent schools she applied to.
Tuition
q Definition: A sum ofmoneypaid for tutoring or a school
q Used in a Sentence: The tuition for the Calhoun School is $37,530, but thankfully they provide generous financial aid to families in need.
Zoned
q Definition: (Noun) Admissions method. Students admitted who live in a geographically designated area.
q Used in a Sentence: My cousin Christian thought that he had to go to our zoned high school because he lives in District 4.