FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Does your school provide academic classes, or just ballet
classes?
Both – Ballet Tech is a public school (PS 442M) where
students receive BOTH classical pre-professional ballet training and their standardized academic education . Please click here to
learn more about our curriculum.
What grades are at your school?
Students in grades 4 – 12 study at Ballet Tech. (The academic classes for our High School
students are provided in partnership with Manhattan Village Academy and School of the Future, two high schools in close proximity to Ballet Tech.)
How are children admitted into your school, and at what
grade level?
Ballet Tech’s admissions are citywide, meaning students do
not have to live in a particular District to attend the school. Admission is talent-based – students audition
for Ballet Tech either through an open audition or through our Beginner Program. Students can enter the school at any grade
level but please note that students entering the upper grades typically need
prior dance training in order to successfully integrate into our school. Please click here for upcoming audition
dates.
How do I sign my child up for an audition?
Registering for an audition is easy – call us at (212)
777-7710 and speak with the receptionist at extension 300 to sign up for an
audition. Please click here to view our
upcoming audition dates and learn more about the auditions.
How many dance classes do your students take?
Ballet classes are part of all of our students’ regular
schedules. It’s this simple: 4th graders
study ballet 2 days a week, 5th graders 3 days a week, 6th graders 4 days a
week, 7th graders and up study ballet 5 days a week, sometimes 6 days a week if
there is a Saturday class or rehearsal.
Ballet classes for 4th – 8th graders are integrated into the regular
school day (8:30am - 3:00pm); high school students dance
everyday from 3:30 to 5:45 pm.
Click here for a more detailed breakdown of the ballet curriculum.
What are your school’s average test scores?
2009 test results: 99.3% of our students scored at level 3 or 4 on the NY State Math exam and 89.7% of our students scored at level 3 or 4 on the NY State ELA exam. Click here
for more information about our academic curriculum.
What is the Beginner Program and how do I enroll my child in
it?
The Beginner Program is an introduction to ballet class that
Ballet Tech provides to about 800 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders each school year,
free of charge. The students are bused
from their elementary schools to Ballet Tech one morning a week for six
weeks. Admittance is audition-based –
Ballet Tech auditions students at their elementary schools to determine
placement. Participation in the Beginner
Program is at the discretion of your Principal – so please speak with them if
you would like your school to participate!
Students who excel in the Beginner Program are invited to apply to our
full-time school. Please click here to learn more about the Beginner Program.
Do Ballet Tech students have opportunities to perform?
Yes – Ballet Tech students have the opportunity to audition
for KIDS DANCE, our student performance group.
Please click here to learn more about KIDS DANCE.
What forms of transportation are available to your students?
Ballet Tech’s students come from all over New York City. The Department of Education does not currently
provide free yellow bus service to students traveling out of district. However, our students are entitled to student
Metro Cards. Some of our families sign
up with a private bus service. The
monthly cost of the bus depends on the amount of students riding it. We also assist families who are struggling
with transportation in finding other Ballet Tech families who live near them so
that they can arrange a car pool solution.
The majority of our older students travel on their own.
Does your school have an after school program?
Yes – The Oasis Community Corporation provides after school
services to our students everyday from 3:00 pm until 5:45 pm. Please click here to learn more about Oasis.
Do students have a Physical Education class?
No – students at Ballet Tech are exempt from standard
Physical Education requirements because the ballet classes meet (and exceed)
those requirements.
Do students have a Computer class?
No – but our school has laptop computers that are used in
the academic classes. In addition, our
teachers have started to incorporate Smart Boards into their instruction.
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