Your independent guide to NYC public schools

Hi,
I will go to register my son at our zoned school for Kindergarten. I have heard that we have to put a second and third choice in case there is no seat available for him in our zoned school. Do we have to give these choices during this admission process that starts February 1st or it will be later when they will know they do not have enough seats?
Thanks for your answer

Severine

It really depends on where you live.According to the DOE if you live in districts 1,3, 25 or 29 you have the opportunity to rank your choices for kindergarten admissions on an application.
If you don't live in those districts, but live in a zone with a very crowded school, you might want to look into alternative schools and apply to those as well. You would apply directly at each school. MOST schools in the city do have room for all kindergartners who want to attend. In a few cases schools have had to cap the kindergarten and send the children elsewhere.

Where do you live?

I live in district 3 and my zoned school is PS199. When I did the tour a few months ago they warned us they were not sure to have a seat for all the zoned school students. They have this year 8 kindergarten classes but plan to open only 6 next fall. Similarly PS87 (the closest school after PS199) is also crowded with 9 kindergarden classes instead of 6. DOE partially resolved the issue for PS87 with the opening of a new school in a building close to PS87 but I have no idea if we will be OK at PS199. I planned to visit other schools in district 3 (PS9) and non-zoned school in district 2 (PS212) to have other choices if PS199 is overcrowded.
My fear is that my son could be assigned to PS191 on 61st street and I have not heard good things about this school and do not really like the environment.

Thanks for your answer

Severine