Expert advice for NYC parents seeking the best school for their child

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Pre-Kindergarten

  • Every 4-year-old is guaranteed a spot
  • Choose public or private schools or child care centers
  • Apply in February for the following September

Elementary Schools

  • Most children attend school based on their home address
  • Other options include gifted programs, charters and unzoned schools
  • Apply in January for the following September

Middle Schools

  • All students must apply even if they have a zoned school
  • Some districts have zoned schools; others are all choice
  • Apply in December for the following September

High Schools

  • There are hundreds of high schools to choose from
  • Some require an exam or audition, others admit children by lottery
  • 8th- & 9th-graders apply in December for the following September

Recent Blog Posts

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The flawed specialized high school system - and ways to fix it

By Clara Hemphill
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Mayor Bill de Blasio faces an uphill battle in Albany in his quest to get rid of the admissions test for elite high schools including Stuyvesant and Bronx High School of Science, but there’s a lot he can do now to advance his Administration’s stated goal of increasing opportunities for talented...

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Beyond test scores: Introducing our new tool to evaluate schools

By Clara Hemphill
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It’s tricky to use data to evaluate a school, and we all wrestle with confusing and sometimes conflicting information. It’s hard to know: Will my children be safe? Are the teachers effective? Does the school prepare students for college? Now, we’ve redesigned our website to try to answer these...

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