By Jessica Easthope
What is the TACHS exam? Is it the standardized test for all students seeking admission into a Catholic high school? Or does it level the playing field for kids and educators? Is it a great opportunity to possibly land a scholarship? The answer is D – all of the above.
“You’re going to be challenged academically but you’re going to be challenged in an entirely different way you probably didn’t think about before,” said Allison McGinnis, principal of St. Edmund Preparatory High School in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn.
Next month, students will be bubbling in the choices that will determine their futures. But the answers to the reading, vocabulary and math test aren’t the only decisions New York City’s eighth graders will have to make: the test for admission into Catholic high schools requires students rank their top three schools. Students taking the test in Brooklyn and Queens have a choice of 15.
“You want to find something that’s going to be a good fit for you, for your family, give you good opportunities and that’s why it’s important to not exclude the Catholic high schools from your search,” said Edward Bolan the principal of Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School in Fort Greene, Brooklyn.
Everything you need to know about the exam can be found online. Catholic schools in the Diocese of Brooklyn all offer advanced placement classes, STEM programs and a range of extracurricular activities to prepare students for college.
“In the relationships with your teachers, in your faith in action opportunities and in getting involved in the extracurricular the magic happens outside of the four walls of a classroom,” McGinnis said.
In New York City, the graduation rate at Catholic high schools is 99 percent, compared to 41 percent in public schools.
“At the end of the day, college prep is what it’s about,” Edward said. “Our students not only finish high school on time but they’re more likely to finish college as well.”
During the month of October, all schools in the Diocese of Brooklyn are having in-person open houses. Students take the TACHS test remotely on Nov.6.
If you’d like to give your future high school student a quality Catholic education, be sure to sign up for the TACHS Test online at TACHSINFO.COM or call 866-61-T-A-C-H-S.
The deadline for online or phone registration is Oct. 24, at 5 p.m.