The word “structure” can evoke less than positive associations. It suggests constraints, which are never a good thing, right?

Wrong. It turns out that everyone benefits from a certain amount of daily structure, so long as that structure is pleasant, productive, and meaningful. Whether it’s the most inventive minds in history, or those people who live in good health past 100, a daily routine or set of micro-routines is correlated with productivity, health, and longevity.

Students at London’s Marlborough Primary School debated students at the Icahn Charter School in New York City on the value of colonial women’s contributions to the Revolutionary War. University of Virginia professor Andrew Jackson O’Shaughnessy was kind enough to serve as a judge; providing crucial feedback to the students on the strengths of their argument. The judging panel also included the eminent museum director Nancy Hinkel and attorney-scholar Melinda Waterhouse.

The High School Readiness runs in grades 7 and 8 in participating schools.

In Grade 7, students learn about the amazing range of high schools available to them in New York City. Our town offers over 600 high school programs from specialized (exam) schools to screened schools, CTE and arts, religious and charter, independent and boarding schools. Seventh graders learn to identify their academic interests, athletic goals, artistic passions and hobbies. Then, we help them to identify high schools that are just-right for them.

In Grade 8, the program shepherds students and parents through New York City’s complex admissions process. We encourage students to apply to schools in several categories so that they have their best shot at a high school that matches their potential and aspirations.

This year, we have seen outstanding results in high school destinations. In one school, as many as 30% of the class was admitted to high schools with a 5% or lower admissions rate. Students headed to the best arts high schools, the most exciting career and technical education programs, the most prestigious screened high schools, elite Catholic high schools and independent schools and the exceptionally competitive SHSAT schools. We congratulate them all and are thrilled that High School Readiness did them proud.

ATHENA GUIDES are collections of three or more nonfiction articles on a compelling topic, followed by nonfiction reading comprehension questions to prepare students in grades 3-8 for ELA state exams. Questions are in multiple choice, short response and extended response formats.

We created the ATHENA GUIDES to support schools that want their students to learn core content while also preparing for the state exam. Too often, test prep consists of a series of random articles with no common theme or content coherence. ATHENA GUIDES empower students to build knowledge, vocabulary and depth of understanding in a range of topics related to the natural world and history.

ATHENA GUIDES are available in the following topics:

• JELLYFISH

• HORSESHOE CRABS

• BEES

• DRAGONFLIES

• BUTTERFLIES

• SEAGULLS

• SEAWEED

• TULIPS

• ROSES

• RATS

• SQUIRRELS

• PIGEONS

• OYSTERS

• LANTERN FLIES

• LIGHTNING BUGS

• RUSSIAN REVOLUTION

• AMERICAN REVOLUTION

• HARRIET TUBMAN