InsideSchools and NYC Admissions Solutions teamed up to answer your questions about applying to NYC public high schools. We provided an overview of the process and covered a broad range of topics including admissions criteria, identifying schools of interest, applying to specialized and audition...
For our final poll of the school year we asked about students’ struggles with math. Among the 260+ responses the big takeaway is that families want math instruction that is rigorous, engaging, and less digital. Across grade levels several themes stood out: Families want stronger instruction...
The following is a paid message from Democracy Prep Public Schools. At Democracy Prep, they believe the best learning happens when children feel safe, supported, and free to be kids. In their Harlem and Bronx elementary, middle, and high schools, every student is celebrated for who they are and...
In our New Year’s poll, NYC families named stronger literacy instruction as a top priority for 2026. Digging deeper for our follow-up poll, we asked about students’ struggles with reading and literacy. A clear pattern emerged among the 200+ responses: Families want more inspiring and less...
The following is a paid message from Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of New York. Families who enroll before April 17 will save $100 per child in registration fees. For many parents, the search for the right school begins with a simple question: Where will my child truly thrive? Whether...
We kicked off 2026 with a single question poll: What should Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Chancellor Kamar Samuels prioritize in 2026 to strengthen NYC Public Schools? More than 300 people responded, selecting their top three priorities for NYC Public Schools. Academics for the win! The results...
The Basics Who? • Born in 2023 👉 3-K • Born in 2022 👉 Pre-K • Starting school September 2026 When? • Apply Jan 14 – Feb 27, 2026 • Find out on May 12 (Pre-K) & May 19 (3-K) Tip: Apply anytime in the window—it’s not first come, first served. How? • Apply at MySchools.nyc • Or call...
Kindergarten Applications! Let’s go over the basics. Who: - NYC children born in 2021 are guaranteed a spot for Fall 2026 When: - Apply December 9, 2025 - January 23, 2026 - Find out Tuesday, March 31, 2026 How it works: - List at least 12 choices - Zoned, non-zoned, dual language, and...
Got questions about applying to high school? We've got answers! Our high school admissions series presented with NYC Admissions Solutions covers everything you need to know about the high school application process and how to find schools that are right for you. Watched all three webinars and...
If your child didn't get the kindergarten spot you asked for, try to stay calm. Waitlists at schools move over the spring and summer. We have seen it happen year after year. Children get offers on a rolling basis as families make final choices. Hang in there. The city sent out offers for...
The following is a paid message from Kenny Tan Test Prep. Are you looking for expert guidance on preparing for the Specialized High Schools Admissions Test (SHSAT)? Join Greg's Tutoring NYC and Kenny Tan Test Prep for an exclusive webinar on self-prepping for the digital SHSAT. This webinar is...
On February 8, InsideSchools hosted a day-long event for nearly 100 immigrant families at The New School. The day felt especially urgent given the current political climate. Just two weeks earlier, the new administration took office in Washington, bringing rapidly changing immigration and...
PLEASE REGISTER HERE Free Metro Cards, Breakfast, Lunch, and Childcare Saturday, February 8, 2025 (9:30AM-1:30PM) Lower Manhattan, New York City Workshop Details 9:30AM - 10:15AM Registration & Breakfast 10:15AM - 10:30AM Welcome 10:30AM - 11:15AM Know Your Rights 11:30AM -...
We are excited to invite immigrant families to an in-person clinic event hosted by InsideSchools, INCLUDEnyc, and Masa on Saturday, January 25th. Families can make appointments to meet with experts to Help make an emergency plan Access special education services Apply for 3K or Pre-K Please...
The following is a paid message from Kenny Tan Test Prep. I once gave the following bits of advice to a former student. I recently polished them for my newsletter and now want to share them with you: Don't be afraid to ask for help. Find a mentor. Find someone older than you who is doing...
View a recording of the webinar here. Since the spring of 2022, more than 42,000 newcomer students have enrolled in NYC public schools, many of whom are between the ages of 18 and 21. These older newcomer youth bring amazing experiences and face unique challenges, including gaps in their...
The following is a paid message from Kenny Tan Test Prep. Parents know that getting their child into their high school of choice can be an uphill climb. Helping them receive an offer from one of New York City’s nine specialized high schools may be challenging, but the results can be incredibly...
Mamadou Aliou Labe Diallo (second from the left) joins InsideSchools staff and family at the Rally for Immigrant Students. On June 6, 2024, InsideSchools joined the Rally for Immigrant Students, organized by the New York Immigration Coalition, to advocate for more resources and schools for...
When 17-year-old Amadou* arrived in New York City in March, his first priority was to enroll in high school. With his eyes on a career in business and dreams of starting his own company someday, he wanted to get on track with others his age as fast as possible. But when it came to getting...
Thank you to everyone who attended our event! And thank you to Dyslexia Alliance for Black Children for their partnership and providing the presenters, Debbie Meyer and Resha Conroy. View the recording of the webinar on InsideSchool's YouTube channel This workshop aims to empower families with...
Thank you to all who attended our event! View the recording of the webinar on InsideSchool's YouTube channel Details: The launch of NYC Reads, DOE's new literacy program based around the "Science of Reading" has raised many challenges, including how to communicate to families these new...
“What’s a MySchools account?” “How can I speak with my child’s teacher who doesn’t speak any Spanish? “Do my kids get a school bus?” “I used to be a mechanic in my home country, how can I get a job doing that here?” “Will it snow this year?” These were some of the questions asylum-seeking...
The following is a sponsored message from Ascend Public Charter Schools. Join Ascend, with caring, committed teachers who see the brilliance and potential in every child! Attend an Open House or apply for Fall 2024! Brand New Ascend Schools Open Fall ’24: Cypress Hills Ascend Middle School at...
The beginning of this school year saw numerous media reports on public schools struggling to enroll and accommodate nearly 30,000 school-aged children who have arrived in New York City since April 2022. Fortunately, a group of schools and organizations are already doing this work and offer an...
The following is a paid message from Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of New York. A Catholic education is the stepping stone to your child’s journey. Beyond an excellent education, Catholic schools instill family values, spirituality, and a sense of community. For many, Catholic schools are...
InsideSchools director Natasha Quiroga appeared before the New York City Council Joint Immigration and Education Committee to share our insights and observations from helping over 400 newly arrived families enroll their children in schools. The following is the full transcript of the...
For parents and caregivers, finding an affirming school for your LGBTQ+ child can be overwhelming. NYC public schools have policies protecting LGBTQ+ students, families and educators. Here are signs that a school goes above and beyond to create a safe space for the LGBTQ+ community. An Active...
The following is a paid message from Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of New York. A Catholic education is the stepping stone to your child’s journey. Beyond an excellent education, Catholic schools instill family values, spirituality, and a sense of community. For many, Catholic schools are...
Thank you to all who attended our event! View a recording of the webinar here. Over 30,000 newcomer students have enrolled in NYC public schools since the spring of 2022, and many have previously experienced interruptions in their education. What are the strengths, assets, and needs of New York...
The following is a paid message from Explore Schools. About Explore Explore Schools is a network of 8 K-8 public charter schools located in Central Brooklyn. Founded in 2002, their Mission is to provide students with the academic skills and critical-thinking abilities they need to succeed in a...
The following is a paid message from Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of New York. The Catholic School Difference A Catholic education is the stepping stone to your child’s journey. Beyond an excellent education, Catholic schools instill family values, spirituality, and a sense of community....
In middle school, the academic work gets harder. Help your tween read better with three easy tips you can do at home. 1) “Click or Clunk”: Check your understanding Help your child become a better reader with the "Click or Clunk" trick. Smooth, easy sentences are "clicks," and tricky ones are...
High school can be a scary time. One day you’re in a school with preteens, and the next you’re passing by 18-year-olds in the hallway who can drive and vote. Middle to high school is a huge transition. Hopefully, now that it’s October, everyone is settling in. Here are five tips to make the most...
This was originally published in Urban Matters by our colleagues at The Center for New York City Affairs at The New School. Tomorrow, roughly one million students will begin classes in New York City public schools. Among them: almost 19,000 recently arrived migrant children who, with their...
Welcome our newest blogger, Marilyn O'Day (pictured on the far left). Marilyn volunteers at InsideSchools events for newly arrived families and is entering her junior year of high school. “We’re all nervous,” says Laura Zingmond in her introductory Zoom with me. “We’ve never hosted an event like...
On a recent hot summer day, July 27th, InsideSchools hosted its first workshop for asylum-seeking immigrants. Our group included several InsideSchools staff, and parent and student volunteers. On a table in an atrium at the New School University Center, we spread out our sign-in sheet, name...
InsideSchools has helped millions of families like yours understand the NYC public school system. Now, we need your help to make sure the newest New Yorkers can navigate their educational journey in their new country. You know how complicated the New York City public school system can be. Just...
The following is a paid message from Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of New York. Now is the Time to Invest in Your Child’s Education. Time is Running Short to Secure Kindergarten Seats for 2023-2024! Apply HERE Kindergarten at a Catholic school engages kids in learning while having fun...
We are so glad you are here. The InsideSchools community is made up of a wide range of people who come for different reasons. Do you see yourself here? If not, tell us in the Comments who you are and what brings you here! Our users are 👇 New to NYC—and parenthood! "I need help navigating...
This interview was originally published in Urban Matters by our colleagues at The Center for New York City Affairs at The New School. Last month, Natasha Quiroga, formerly director of the Parental Education and Readiness Program (PREP) and senior counsel for the Education Opportunities Project...
The wait is over! Fifth-graders across the city received their middle school offers. What was your school search like? What did you look for? How did you learn about schools? Are you happy with your child's placement? Tell us what you thought about the middle school application process. We...
The following is a paid message from School in the Square. School in the Square (S2) is a FREE, PreK–12 public charter school now accepting applications for the 2023-24 school year. S2 engages, educates, and empowers its students to respond mindfully and creatively to life’s opportunities and...
Why should parents and guardians care about the workbooks, textbooks, handouts, and online programs that teachers use for lessons? In this webinar, our friends at EdReports talk to parents about why instructional materials are so important. They discuss: How to quickly find out if your...
The wait is over! Eighth-graders across the city received their high school offers. We know that applying to high school in New York City can be a complex and stressful process. A lot is asked of students and their families. Tell us what you thought about the high school application process. ...
During Fall 2022 we sent out a survey asking families to tell us how they currently engage with their children’s school and how InsideSchools can further support them. Offered in English and Spanish, our short survey covered a range of topics. They included the frequency with which parents...
The problem with public education in America isn’t that all schools are bad. The problem is that the quality is so uneven. In New York City, some lucky parents simply enroll their children in their neighborhood school with nothing more than proof of address. But many parents, unsatisfied with...
Progress in America has never been a straight line, as President Barack Obama remarked after Donald Trump was elected president in 2016. We zig and zag, sometimes forward, sometimes back. The way we teach American history is no different. We move ahead, and then fall back. Look at the zigs and...
Last week, as I fried onions and garlic for the burritos I would soon share with my family, I propped my laptop on my yellow kitchen stool, turned up the volume and attended my third Community Education Council (CEC) meeting in a month. These took place online, at dinnertime, and represented...
Thank you to all who joined us for our webinar, NYC 3-K, Pre-K, and Kindergarten Explained, presented on December 14, 2022. Videos of the event are now available for viewing in English and Spanish. In this webinar, we provide an overview of the NYC public school system (districts and zones),...
Gracias a todos los que nos acompañaron en nuestro webinar, NYC 3-K, Pre-K, y Kindergarten Explicado, presentado el 14 de diciembre de 2022. Los videos del evento ya están disponibles en español y inglés. En este seminario web, proporcionamos una visión general del sistema de escuelas públicas...
If your child has special needs, applying to high school can be an especially daunting task. The information you need to make good choices may not be readily available on school websites or in the high school directory. While all schools are expected to offer special education services, the...
