More than 2,000 eighth-graders and their families attended a fair last weekend to learn about a dozen new high schools that will open in September. The fair came a day after the distribution of lettersto some 28,000 students who learned whether or not they had been received an offer to attend one of the city's nine specialized high schools.

Eighth-graders who choose to apply to one of the new schools must submit a new high school application to their guidance counselors by February 28, the first day back in school after the President's Week vacation.

Unlike the very selective  specialized high schools, most of the new high schools have a "limited unscreened" admissions policy, which means preference is given to students who attend a fair or an information session about the school. Their academic record is not a factor in admissions.

Only one new school, Millennium Brooklyn, has selective admissions. It is open to students with an 85 or above grade average, who have scored a Level 3 or 4 on state exams. Maspeth High School, is a new zoned school in overcrowded Queens. Jamaica Gateway to the Sciences is the only new school with "educational option" admissions, accepting students with a wide range of academic achievement. For a full list of the new schools, including contact information, see the directory online.

For families who missed last weekend's fair, several schools will hold information sessions to give students an opportunity to learn more about the school and to sign-in, demonstrating their interest.

Here are the info sessions that have been announced so far. We'll add more if we learn about them.

  • Millennium Brooklyn:   Feb. 16, 6-7 p.m. at 345 Dean St, at the building shared by MS 447 and Brooklyn High School of the Arts

  • Maspeth High School: Feb. 16 6-8:30 p.m., atIS 73, 70-02 54th Avenue, Queens

  • Jamaica Gateway to the Sciences:  Feb. 17, 6-7:30 p.m. at IS 238, 88-15 182d St, Hollis

  • The Urban Assembly Gateway School for Technology:Feb. 17 , 6 p.m. at Urban Assembly School of Design and Construction, 525 West 50th Street, Manhattan

  • New Visions will have a meeting about its two new charter schools: New Visions Charter School for Advanced Math and Science and New Visions Charter School for Humanities: Feb. 28,  6:15-8pm at Mosholu Montefiore Community Center, 3450 Dekalb Ave, Bronx.

Insideschools.org was at the fair talking to principals and school leaders. We'll be posting previews about the new schools soon.

Were you at the fair? Please share your thoughts.