Book excerpt: Completely revised with new profiles of more than 150 elementary schools and pre-kindergarten programs! For nearly 2 decades, parents have looked to Clara Hemphill to help them find a good public school for their child. This Fourth Edition features all-new reviews of more than 150 of the city’s best public elementary schools, based on visits and in-depth interviews by the InsideSchools staff. This essential guide uncovers the “inside scoop” on schools (the condition of the building, special programs, teacher quality, and more), includes a checklist of things to look for on a school tour, and incorporates new listings of charter schools and stand-alone pre-kindergarten programs. It also provides the hard facts on: Total school enrollmentTest scores for reading and mathEthnic makeupWho gets in? Admissions requirementsTeaching methods and stylesSpecial education servicesHow to apply “Brisk, thoughtful profiles of topnotch, intriguing schools.” —New York Daily News “Hemphill has done for schools what Zagat’s did for restaurants.” —Big Apple Parent “Thoughtful, well-researched . . . required reading.” —New York Magazine “A bible for urban parents.” —New York Times