Testing

List of 2 items.

• ROUND 1

  Round 1 (R1) is the first of two rounds of assessment within the HCES admissions process. In R1, the parent/guardian brings the child to the office of an HCCS-approved tester so that an assessment of intellectual reasoning and cognitive abilities can be administered to the child. The fee for this test is $375.00, payable to the tester. (Financial assistance is available to those who meet HCCS eligibility requirements. Please visit the "Reduced Fee" section of this website or contact the office at admissions@hunterschools.org, or at 212-860-1401. Families approved for financial assistance will not follow the instructions below, but will receive different instructions.)

  
  After Submitting the Application

  Families will receive two emails:

  1. Email #1: Confirmation of application submission.
  2. Email #2: Information for the Round 1 appointment, including:
     1. Candidate's 4-digit ID number;
     2. All appointment policies and deadlines;
     3. A list of approved testers. (Parents may contact only ONE tester to check availability unless given permission.)  
     4. Instructions for accessing necessary forms for Round 1 in the family's Ravenna HUB:
        1. Testing Consent Form - must be completed and submitted to the tester prior to the appointment. It contains an attestation that the child has not been tested prior.
        2. Round 1 Observation Form - must be delegated to the tester with whom the Round 1 appointment is scheduled.
     5. Instructions for payment of the testing fee of $375.00. (Financial assistance is available for to those who meet HCCS eligibility requirements.)

  
  Testing Guidelines

  • Scheduling:
    • Contact only one tester, unless instructed otherwise
    • Contacting multiple testers without permission may jeopardize your child’s eligibility
  • Parent Attendance: Parents/guardians may not be present in the testing room
  • Duration: Testing typically lasts 30–60 minutes
  • Language:
    • Testing is available only in English
    • Children must have adequate English skills to complete the assessment and benefit from the HCES program
  • Health & Safety: Some testers may choose to wear masks; families are asked to follow all safety guidelines
  • Accommodations: Families may email the Admissions Office to request testing accommodations for children with physical, visual, hearing or other difficulties

  
  

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  Notification of Advancement

  • In early December, families will be notified via Ravenna whether their child will advance to Round 2

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  A Note About “Prepping” for the Test

  HCCS strongly discourages exposing children to any test in preparation for the Hunter admissions process. “Teaching” these tests in advance invalidates the outcome. Tests include, but are not limited to: Stanford Binet Intelligence Scales, Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Cognitive Abilities, Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC), or Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children.
  
  

  HCCS testers will inform the Director of Admissions if they believe a child has had prior exposure to any test items or activities. HCCS reserves the right to disqualify any child if there is evidence that Round 1 is not the child’s first experience with any of the above tests.

  • In the case of disqualification for prior exposure, the testing fee is not refunded.
  • Parents are encouraged to email the Director in advance if their child has had prior exposure, especially through school- or district-recommended evaluations. In such cases, parents should include documentation from the school confirming that the evaluation was necessary or mandated.  

• ROUND 2

  Round 2 (R2) is the second of the two assessment rounds within the HCES admissions process. Details about the Round 2 session will be shared only with those advancing to Round 2. There is no fee for the Round 2 phase.

   

  Round 2 will occur at a date to be determined. Typically, it will be in the winter of the application year.

   

  Candidates advancing to Round 2 will be asked to delegate and/or complete these required forms in their Ravenna Hub account:

  1. the Parents’/Guardians’ Observation Form
  2. the Preschool Teacher Observation Form (delegated),
  3. Proof of Residency Form.

   

  Admissions decisions will not be made without these submissions.

  
  Following Round 2, candidates will be reviewed by the HCES Selection Committee and the Committee will submit its recommendations to the Director of Admissions. Based on that feedback, admission offers will be extended to 50 candidates. A small number of candidates will receive waitlist offers.  

   

  NOTE: The Selection Committee makes decisions without knowledge of the child’s name, address, or family information. No preference is given to “legacies,” siblings of alumni, or siblings of current HCES or HCHS students. 

  
  Families who have advanced to Round 2 will be notified of final decisions via the Ravenna Hub account by Thursday, February 6, 2025. Typically, any offer of admission or offer for a place on the wait list, must be accepted or declined within one week.

  
  The HCES wait list comprises children from the Round 2 finalist pool. Students not advancing to Round 2 will not be considered for wait list placement.