A new study commissioned by AT&T finds that 75% of surveyed drivers admit to at least glancing at their phone while behind the wheel. The reason, according to the study’s author Dr. David Greenfield, is that “we experience an elevation of dopamine” when a notification shows up on our phone. FurthermoreRead More

If your child is applying to a private high school this winter, chances are they will be taking the Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE) as administered by the Educational Records Bureau (ERB). If you’re like most parents, you want your child to have some idea of what the exam willRead More

I recently found myself interviewing prospective candidates for Rice University’s freshman class of 2015. Below, I’ll tell you about some of my interviews and explain to you some things your child should and should not do in his interview for college, high school, or really anything. In general, your child shouldRead More

School is just around the corner! HISD starts on Monday, August 25th, but many private schools have already started. Take advantage of the first, slow weeks of school to make sure your student has a strong framework for success. We will cover the following topics: Establishing a conducive study spaceRead More

This year’s graduation might be an especially good time to get your child a new car, especially one that runs on batteries. The 83rd Texas Legislature has passed Senate Bill 1727, which will provide up to a $2500 rebate for the purchase or lease of a plug-in, electric vehicle. ForRead More

It’s more difficult to get into Houston ISD’s (HISD) most selective schools than it is to get into Harvard; HISD’s top ten most selective schools accepted fewer than 5% of applicants. Nearly 48,000 applications were submitted to Houston Independent School District (HISD)’s 96 magnet schools by the December 20, 2013Read More

Word on the net is that Apple is planning to update its Macbook Air laptops this week with new Intel processors and possibly new hard drive options. The Air line of super thin and light notebooks hasn’t seen an update since the Apple Worldwide Developer’s Conference in June of 2013.Read More

The preeminent camp for smart kids is coming to Rice University beginning this summer. Duke’s Talent Identification Program (TIP) announced that it has partnered with Rice to offer its prestigious 3-week “Academy” Summer Studies Program beginning June 8, 2014. The residential enrichment program will host 325 high-achieving 8, 9, andRead More

“Faster, faster!” yelled my backseat, male, teenage companion.  It was a somewhat cold and rainy day as my sixteen-year-old self and two friends drove through my high school’s campus but my eagerness to impress my friends did not combine well with the slick, windy road.  The car’s stability control wasn’tRead More

Tens of thousands of eighth graders are in a frenzy studying for the Educational Record Bureau’s Upper Level ISEE, usually administered in January. This nationally normed standardized test is one of the most widely required entrance exams for independent high schools in the US. Just in time, General Academic, aRead More

This article was updated on 12/15/14 to reflect the latest score requirements. One of the most widely espoused figures schools will use to promote their graduates’ level of college-readiness is the number of National Merit Semi-Finalists their junior class had in the annual National Merit Scholarship Competition.  This competition takesRead More

General Academic was featured by KHOU 11’s Mia Gradney during the 6am newscast on October 3, 2013.  The CBS affiliate’s reporter was particularly impressed by the “cool” atmosphere that the Study Lounge affords to its “teens and tween” students.    

If you’re a parent with a child to grades K, 6, or 9, you’re likely just catching your breath after getting your child started in a new school. You can relax a bit now….but not for too long because there are more choices to make on the horizon! For parentsRead More

Imagine if the principles of individualized, self-paced learning could be merged with the brutal competitiveness of the business world.  You might need to “Think Different” (-ly) to see the result.  Eleven schools in the Netherlands, dubbed “Steve Jobs Schools” think they know what that vision looks like — it involvesRead More

Are you or someone you know in the market for a school for your child? General Academic teams up with Rice University for the second year in a row to help parents better navigate the maze of choices and requirements as they select a private or application-based school for theirRead More

Most high school juniors, and many sophomores and freshmen, will be sitting for the PSAT this year on either October 16 or 19.  Short for Preliminary SAT, the PSAT / National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (NMQST) serves two primary purposes—to provide students a heads up on how they will performRead More