SMITH STREET WORKSHOP has been providing High School Admissions prep since we opened in 2015. We have worked with over one thousand students and partnered with schools and organizations throughout the city to offer high-quality test prep courses. Each year, our program continues to grow as our families in the neighborhood spread the word about their positive experiences and high school admissions results. 

For students applying to competitive NYC high schools, the high school admissions process can be an overwhelming time filled with tests, applications, and school visits. At Smith Street Workshop, our High School Admissions Specialists can help your 7th and 8th grader navigate the process and bring a measure of calm to the preparation process. Whether your student needs help ranking high schools, preparing for an entrance exam, prioritizing application requirements, or writing a standout personal essay, our tutors are here to help.

2024 COURSE CALENDAR

Coming Soon!

CLASS CANCELLATION POLICY

Because our practice classes fill up quickly, we have the following cancellation policies in place:

1) If you notify us a month before the class begins, you can apply for a 100% credit on your account for a future enrollment, or a 75% refund.

2) If you notify us up to two weeks before the class begins, you may receive a 100% credit on your account for a future registration, or 50% refund.

3) We cannot make adjustments or offer credits within two weeks of the class start date

By clicking "Register" you agree to SSW Policies & Terms.

PRIVATE TUTORING - HIGH SCHOOL ADMISSIONS ESSAY SUPPORT

For highly selective high schools, a strong essay can help your child distinguish themselves from other applicants. We can help them find their unique voice on the page and showcase their personality through their writing. Our HS Admissions Specialists have extensive experience preparing students for the most selective NYC high schools, and are familiar with the essay scoring rubrics and specific application requirements for each school. They can guide your student through each step of the essay writing process — from brainstorming and outlining to revising and editing—to help prepare a polished essay or personal statement.

Our tutors have extensive experience preparing students for the SHSAT, ISEE, SSAT, Common Core State Tests, TACHS, and High School Admissions Prep (Bard, Beacon, etc.)

TESTIMONIALS

Our students who took the SHSAT & other HS admissions tests last have been admitted to the top high schools in the city, and we could not be more proud of them and their hard work over the course of last year. We feel honored to have helped them along the way. Of the reported 2019 scores, 83% of the students we worked with were admitted to Specialized High Schools, and 26% of those students accepted to a Specialized High School were admitted to Stuyvesant. Of the students who were just points away from the cutoff scores, they were admitted to Laguardia, Beacon, Bard, Murrow, Brooklyn Millennium, NEST+m, Townsend Harris, UNIS and Packer.

Here is what parents are saying about our work... 

“Smith Street Workshop gave our daughter an incredibly sound foundation and confidence in preparing for the SHSAT. Their hands-on, supportive approach in their weekly classes coupled with constant feedback, gave us a firm understanding of where our daughter stood and where she needed the extra work in order to be fully prepared for the test. The results were great – she got into her first specialized school choice – HSAS Lehman. We highly recommend Smith Street Workshop.”

— Ashley Velie

“Olivia and the tutors of the Smith Street Workshop worked with my eighth grade twins on both the SHSAT and the ISEE. The practice and comprehensive overview the twins received from the Smith Street Workshop was exemplary. The tutor tailored the sessions to meet the needs of the kids and worked on aspects of both tests which each found challenging. As a result the kids felt prepared and ready to go on test day! The results speak for themselves; both kids were offered places at their top choice schools. Thank you Olivia & the Smith Street Workshop!”

— Janine Latham

“After trying an SHSAT test prep company that was a poor fit for our child, Smith Street Workshop was a breath of fresh air. The company we didn’t like simply crammed kids into rows and reviewed the test question by question for three hours straight without a break. Smith Street Workshop gave my daughter a diagnostic, then wrote up a personalized study plan for her and sent home information to us about her strengths and weaknesses. They then structured the prep classes to include cooperative learning, individualized tutoring and instruction, and breaks with snacks in a lovely room with warm lighting. They also offer an end-of-summer intensive, Saturday and evening classes, and practice tests given in testing conditions. They really helped my daughter get into the specialized high school of her choice and I am grateful for that. I can’t thank them or recommend them enough. You will be satisfied.”

— Dinah Gieske

“Smith Street Workshop’s instructors are not there to pour on the pressure; instead, the teachers help kids prepare in a supportive, sane atmosphere.”

— Marisa Schwartz

“We’ve recommended Smith St Workshop to everyone we know with 7th graders. We felt the class the boys took, as well as the practice tests, provided exactly the preparation they needed to take the SHSAT without any stress.”

— JW

“My sons and I always talk about their school day and talking about Smith Street has joined our discussion. I am so happy that we found your classes. He truly enjoys them. Yesterday he says to me “Mom, you know whenever I leave that prep class I feel 20 times smarter! And it’s really helping at school too!” Geometry is the one area that challenges him, but he had to admit that once you are finished explaining and breaking it down it becomes as easy as “what’s 1 plus 1” (his exact words). So, this is a heartfelt thank you for making this so enjoyable for him.”

— CB

“Dearest Olivia – Just a belated but very sincere note of appreciation for all the support and good counsel that you provided throughout the high school application prep process. She got into her top high school choice: BEACON!!! And we could not have done it without you. Thank you so much indeed & please know that I shall forever be a big SSW fan/ambassador!! ”

— LC