Families who covet seats at lower Manhattan's prize elementary schools PS 234and PS 89are legion -- and, if the Times' trend story is any harbinger, their number will climb in the coming kindergarten seasons.

Following DOE admissions protocol, both schools turn to lotteries if their applications for kindergarten enrollment exceed available seats. Inevitably, that means that some families, even those who live very close to the schools, risk being shut out and sending their youngsters elsewhere. This fall, local kids will go to the new schools that will incubate at Tweed, PS/IS 276 and the Spruce Street School. (The oft-fraught Ross Global Academy,which has been housed at Tweed, will move to new quarters at 420 East 12th St.) But, DOE reps say, Tribeca locals have another shot at 234 and 89, according to the Downtown Express-- which reports that the DOE will grant families who live "near" the schools entry in first grade, in 2010, but never exactly defines what "near" actually means.

For parents curious about the new neighborhood schools, check out Principal Terry Ruyter's PS/IS 276 blogand Principal Nancy Harris'Spruce Street blog. If you want your info in person in addition to online, two open houses are scheduled for this week: February 25 from 5 pm to 7 pm at Tweed (52 Chambers Street) and February 26, 6:30 pm to 8 pm, at Manhattan Youth Downtown Community Center, 120 Warren Street.