High School Proms, Graduations, and Driver’s Ed

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Sep 21

High School Proms

Who ever said that homeschoolers don't have proms! My kids went every year in their high school years, and had a blast!

The NJ Spring Prom for Homeschoolers happens every April in central coastal NJ, maybe a 90-minute drive from NYC (http://njspringprom.com/). There are chaperones, but parents aren't allowed to attend (we took a stroll on the boardwalk and had dinner while they partied). Teens get dressed up, request musical selections in advance on-line, dance, have their photographs taken, eat a catered meal, and generally act like teenage grown-ups at a fancy dress party. The NJ Spring Prom ends around midnight or slightly after. This proms was created for homeschoolers; non-homeschoolers are welcome only as guests of homeschooled attendees.

There is a NYC prom for homeschoolers in May or June, organized by Prof. Wendy Raver (homeschool history teacher) and created by NYC homeschooled teens. Here’s Wendy Raver’s page of homeschool events that includes an annual prom. Updates are usually posted on Facebook and various homeschool groups such as NYCHEA and NYC Secular Homeschoolers.

High School Graduation Ceremony

NYC Homeschoolers have an annual senior graduation ceremony which many teens attend. It is led by Prof. Wendy Raver (homeschool history teacher) and created by the teens themselves. Here’s Wendy Raver’s list of homeschool events that includes the senior graduation. Updates are posted on Facebook by Prof. Wendy Raver on her page and with various homeschool groups including NYCHEA.org’s forum and NYC Secular Homeschoolers FB page.

NYS LEAH, a Christian homeschooling organization, hosts an annual homeschool graduation commencement ceremony in upstate NYC.

Drivers' Ed

Driving laws are very confusing in NYC. Here are some facts:

One can get a Permit starting at age 16.
One can then drive with a licensed driver BUT NOT IN THE 5 BOROUGHS of NYC.
One cannot drive/practice in any of the 5 boroughs —even with a licensed driver— unless the car has a 2nd brake (like driving school cars have).
One also cannot drive/practice on roads or parking lots within the boundaries of a NY State or NYC Park (like an empty beach parking lot off-season) or various parkways (including Henry Hudson, Saw Mill, Bronx River Parkway, Cross County, Hutchinson River Parkway, Sprain, Taconic, and others). Note: Parents and teens have actually been pulled over, with sirens, lights and all, because they were practicing in the empty parking lot of Orchard Beach in March. There is NO practicing anywhere within City Parks! Try going to the Crosstown Shopping Center in Yonkers in their off hours (such as very early) and using a huge empty parking lot north of the city.
One can drive on I 95 and 87 but not within the 5 boroughs.
One can practice in a shopping center parking lot, but not in the 5 boroughs
Driving schools may offer a 5-hour course which includes the required film, the scheduling of a road test and the use of their car for that road test. Scheduling lessons is flexible and between you and your assigned driving instructor. It is an individual lesson. They focus on driving, the details of rules of the road and parking. No highway driving. It's a good way to learn.
If you pass the road test after taking these lessons and are under 18, you will be awarded a Junior License.
With a Junior License, you still cannot drive within the 5 boroughs. But you can now drive on the (formerly forbidden) parkways, but ONLY outside the 5 boroughs.
Remember that if you use a driving school, you will be able to practice in NYC but only if you are in their cars which are specially equipped, and using their teachers who are licensed driving instructors.

Remember that even if you get a junior driver's license before age 18 you CAN NOT drive anywhere in NYC until your 18th birthday! But you will not have to take the road test again, and the license will be a valid driver's license (that you can only use outside of NYC until you turn 18).

Over age 18 there is no need for driver's ed except for the required film (which I believe is a 5-hour class), and you can practice with any licensed driver until you are ready for the road test. Over age 18, you can practice in NYC, but a licensed driver at least 21 years of age must be seated next to you. Choose a neighborhood with very little traffic, during a quiet time in daylight.

Driving Schools

It is possible to take Driver's Ed through a school or college, as opposed to a driving school. Driving schools work with schools and colleges to offer Driver's Ed curriculum (typically offered at private high schools, perhaps more commonly outside of the NYC. In theory, anyone can sign up and pay the fee, so you might contact local private schools and colleges that offer driver’s ed, to ask if your kid can take driver’s ed there). These college and high school driving classes have varying schedules, usually during the week after school or Saturday mornings for an entire semester in fall or spring. Included is a 16-hour lecture and 16 hours driving practice. Driving practice is in a car with 3 other students. Each student drives their allotted time and then must observe other students' turns for the rest of the hour. This is not flexible.

Families have recommended the Uptown Driving School in Inwood, (212) 928-0100.

Also recommended: Driver's Ed 5-week course at School for Ethical Culture on the Upper West Side and Fieldston School in Riverdale (Bronx). It is possible to take the lecture early in the morning, 730am-830am, and then do the one-hour driving in early evening, 630pm -730pm, finishing the course during the daytime. One student did this over the summer.

In Brooklyn and Queens, try the Cedeno Driving School, which is well-reviewed. They offer a variety of packages, and have Spanish speaking instructors as well as English speaking. Phone: 718-384-0450

High School Proms, Graduations, and Driver’s Ed