Exmissions: Middle School Placement Support
Over the years, we have heard something again and again from admissions officers: they love Montessori students.
Montessori children tend to be curious, engaged, intellectually alive, and comfortable thinking for themselves. They develop strong work habits, independence, and—perhaps most importantly—an internal motivation to learn.
These qualities serve our students remarkably well as they move on to other schools.
Where Our Graduates Go
Our graduates have gone on to attend—and receive acceptances from—a wonderful range of independent, public, and charter schools throughout New York City.
Recent acceptances and destinations have included:
Independent, Public and Specialized Schools
Avenues: The World School
BASIS Independent
Berkeley Carroll
Brooklyn Heights Montessori
Brooklyn Friends School
Dwight School
LREI
Poly Prep Country Day School
Speyer
Trevor Day School
United Nations International School (UNIS)
The Baccalaureate School for Global Education
I.S. 318
Mark Twain I.S. 239 for the Gifted & Talented
We are proud of these outcomes, but we don't believe there is one “best” middle school for every child. A successful exmissions process is about finding an environment where a particular child can continue to grow, be challenged, and thrive.
How We Support the Exmissions Process
Because many of our children have been with us for years, we know them extraordinarily well—not simply as students, but as people. That gives us a unique perspective when helping families think about what kind of school will be the right next environment for their child.
We support families throughout the process with:
ISEE preparation
Interview preparation
Writing samples and application materials
School recommendations and general guidance
Identifying schools that may be particularly well suited to each child's strengths, personality, and learning style
We also work with experienced exmissions professionals who offer workshops to help parents understand and navigate the New York City middle-school landscape.
Some families choose to hire a private exmissions consultant as well, but this is entirely optional. Families do not need a private consultant to navigate the process successfully.
Ready for What Comes Next
Transitions naturally make families nervous—especially when a child has been at Ms. Lam since they were two or three years old.
Parents understandably wonder:
Will my child be ready? Will the academics be too demanding? Will they adjust to a more traditional school?
Year after year, our graduates and their parents come back and tell us that the transition was much smoother than they expected.
That doesn't surprise us.
Montessori is not about sheltering children from challenge. It is about gradually giving them the independence, discipline, confidence, and intellectual foundation to meet challenges for themselves.
By the time our students graduate, they are prepared for the academic workload ahead. But more importantly, they know how to learn.
They know how to organize their work, manage their time, ask questions, seek help, think independently, and take responsibility for themselves. Those capacities travel with them wherever they go.
And while our graduates may head off to different schools, they don't necessarily leave their Ms. Lam community behind. Many of these children have grown up together. Childhood friendships continue, parents remain connected, and our community becomes a wonderful resource as families navigate the next chapter together.
Ultimately, our goal has never been simply to prepare children for the next school.
We prepare children for life.
Exmissions is one more step along that journey, and we are incredibly proud of the thoughtful, capable, independent young people our graduates become.