Testing

List of 2 items.

• ROUND 1: 2024-2025

  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.)

  
  After the child’s application is submitted:

  1. An email confirmation of application submission will be sent to the family.
  2. A second email will be sent to the family with this information necessary for the Round 1 appointment:
     1. The candidate's 4-digit ID number;
     2. All information, policies AND deadline dates pertaining to the Round 1 appointment;
     3. A list of HCCS-approved testers. Parents may NOT contact multiple testers to check availability. *  
     4. Instructions for accessing the Testing Consent Form in the Ravenna Hub account. The Testing Consent Form must be completed and submitted to the tester prior to the R1 testing appointment. Parents/guardians must affirm that their child has neither been tested with, nor been exposed to, materials from any measure of intellectual or cognitive ability in the last year+. Otherwise, parents/guardians must discuss prior exposure with the Director of Admissions prior to making an appointment.
     5. Instructions for delegating the Round 1 Observation Form in the Ravenna Hub account. The form must be delegated to the tester with whom the Round 1 appointment is made.
     6. Indication that the fee of $375.00 must be made payable to the tester prior to the R1 appointment, in a manner specified by the tester. (Financial assistance is available to those who meet HCCS eligibility requirements.)

   

  *Due to our limited number of testers and their scheduling constraints, families may contact only one tester to check availability. Unless given permission to do so by a tester or the admissions staff, contacting more than one tester will jeopardize a child’s chance to continue with Round 1.

  
  
  

  Parents are not permitted in the room with their child during the test administration. Though testing time varies, the session generally lasts 30-60 minutes. 

  
  Testing is available only in English; translation services are not available. Children must have adequate, fundamental skills in English to progress through the test, and, ultimately, to benefit from the ES program. (Parents of multilingual children may contact the Admissions Office with questions.)

  
  Some testers may choose to wear a mask at their testing location. Parents, guardians and children are asked to follow all health and safety guidelines.
  
  Contact the Admissions Office via email to inquire about testing accommodations for children with physical difficulties, visual or hearing impairment.

   

  In early December, HCES Admissions will determine advancement to Round 2 and notify all families (via Ravenna Hub) of whether or not their child is advancing to the next round.

  
  

  +A NOTE ABOUT “PREPPING” FOR THE TEST:

  HCCS strongly discourages exposing children to ANY test in order to prepare for the Hunter admissions process. "Teaching" these tests in advance invalidates the outcome. Tests include, but are not limited to the Stanford Binet Intelligence Scales, Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Cognitive Abilities, Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC), and the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children. HCCS Testers will inform the Director of Admissions if they believe a child has had experience with or prior exposure* to any test items or activities. HCCS reserves the right to disqualify any child from the admissions process if there is evidence that Round 1 is not the child’s first experience with any of the aforementioned tests. In the case of disqualification for prior exposure, the testing fee is not refunded.
  
  *Parents are encouraged to email the Director in the event of prior exposure, particularly in the event of school- or district-suggested evaluations.

• ROUND 2: 2024-2025

  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.