These days, while making evening deliveries, I've noticed that the conversations I hear at the front door have become quite similar. Behind the mother who opens the door, I hear questions about whether they've reserved a BCA tour, and on the dining table, a laptop is open.

As fall approaches, the three letters that come up most often among parents in this neighborhood are BCA. This refers to Bergen County Academy, a county public school for specialized education located in Hackensack.

At first, I thought it was just a school for high achievers. However, after finishing my deliveries and browsing the official site at night, I found there was more to consider than I expected.

First, let's look at who can apply. The criteria are quite clear. As of this fall, only 8th-grade students can apply, and if accepted, they will enter 9th grade in September 2027.

There are also residency requirements. By September 1, 2026, your primary residence must be within Bergen County, and students attending private or charter schools can also apply.

They have clearly stated that mid-year transfers are not allowed. This means that for 8th graders in the fall, there is only one opportunity, which is why parents are understandably anxious.

The online application opened on September 1, 2026. The entire district's application is bundled together, so you can submit one application for both BCA and the Teaneck campus.

There is one important point to note here. If you apply to BCA or Teaneck, you cannot submit a second application to other district schools like Paramus or Applied Tech, as stated in the FAQ.

Creating two email accounts to apply twice is also not allowed. It is clearly stated that duplicate applications will be rejected, so it's best not to try any tricks.

For the contact email, they recommend using a personal email instead of a school account. This is because school accounts may not receive notification emails due to firewalls, which may seem trivial but is an easy detail to overlook.

Proving residency can be quite strict. They do not accept driver's licenses or bank statements; only utility bills or lease agreements are accepted.

If you are renting, the lease must include a statement that the landlord pays the utilities. There was also a note to combine multiple bills into one file for submission.

This week, the most urgent matter is actually the school tour. The BCA tour will take place on Sunday, October 11, and Monday, October 12, from 10 AM to 3 PM.

Reservations opened on Thursday, October 1, at 6 PM. They ask that each family only apply once, and the tour lasts about an hour.

Today is October 4, so spots may already be filling up quickly. It would be a good idea to check the district's admission page to see if there are any remaining slots.

The entrance exam is scheduled for November 21 and 22, 2026. It will be conducted using Chromebooks provided by the school, and they do not use private school tests like HSPT or COOP.

According to last year's application guide, the exam consisted of two parts: English and math. The English section involved reading passages and writing an essay for 45 minutes, while the math section had 40 multiple-choice questions to be completed in 60 minutes.

No calculators or cell phones are allowed at all. The guide also mentioned that students who have taken algebra and geometry in middle school generally have an advantage.

Interestingly, regarding tutoring, the school has stated that students who have gone through preparatory courses are not at an advantage compared to those who haven't, but judging by the local atmosphere, it seems many do not believe that.

Deadlines have varied slightly each year. A few years ago, the guide indicated that the deadline was the first Sunday in November, but this year's dates should be confirmed directly on the official site.

The exam is not the end of the process. Based on last year's guide, the results for advancing to the second stage will be announced at the end of February, and students who interview will find out the final results in mid-April.

There are a total of seven academies. They include Science and Technology, Business and Finance, Culinary and Hospitality, Engineering Design, Medicine, Computer Science, and Visual and Performing Arts.

You might be curious about the number of spots available. According to the school FAQ, each academy operates one to three classes, with each class having about 20 to 22 students.

So, they emphasize choosing a second choice seriously. If the first choice fills up, you may receive an acceptance offer for the second choice program.

We can't overlook the financial aspect either. If accepted, the tuition is covered by the school district where the student resides, and the transportation bus is also provided by that district.

The sports teams compete as one team called Bergen Tech Knights across the entire district. There are no late buses after practice, so it's advisable to plan for pickups in advance.

While making deliveries, I've noticed that everyone seems a bit worn out during this season. More homes are placing late-night orders, and it's become common to see kids holding math workbooks at the door.

If it were me, I would check the tour reservation first, prepare the residency documents in one file ahead of time, and discuss at the dinner table what academy truly interests my child.

Whether they get in or not, there are many good public high schools in this area. I hope the entire family doesn't get too shaken up by just one exam.

On my way back after finishing the last delivery tonight, I noticed that lights were still on in the windows late into the night. Under the deep blue sky, I hope everyone is preparing at their own pace.