In “Chasing Middle-School Admissions Is Test for Parents,” the Wall Street Journal reports on the rising competition for New York middle schools:

The city Department of Education has long allowed parents to seek middle schools that best suit their children, and officials say they strive to make it as easy as possible. Chancellor Carmen Fariña has urged parents to look beyond the most sought-after picks and check out “hidden gems” that are easier to get into.
 

Many parents vie for a handful of high-achieving middle schools in hopes of boosting their children’s chances of getting into elite high schools and colleges.

 

Matt Emerson's essays have appeared in a number of publications, including America, Commonweal, and the Wall Street Journal. The Catholic Press Association named his September 2012 essay "Help Their Unbelief," published in America, as the "best essay" in the category of national general interest magazine for 2012. He is the author of the book Why Faith? A Journey of Discovery (Paulist Press 2016).Articles:Fruitful Searching (Jan. 5-12, 2015)Preambles for Faith (May 13, 2013)Help Their Unbelief (Sept. 10, 2012)Posts at The Ignatian Educator