Most children in Queens attend their neighborhood elementary schools, and there isn’t a lot of room for shopping around. However, if you are dissatisfied with your zoned school, here are some possibilities.

PS 85, Judge Charles Vallone School, in Astoria has a gifted program with a science focus open to children citywide.

The Queens College School for Math, Science and Technology on the Queens College Campus admits children by lottery from across the borough.

Western Queens charter schools

The Renaissance Charter School in Jackson Heights, is a progressive school with a relaxed atmosphere.

Children get lots of instruction in music at VOICE charter school in Long Island City

Growing up Green, is a charter school with an environmental theme in Long Island City.

Our World Neighborhood Charter School in Astoria is another popular choice.

All four of these charter schools accept children by lottery, with preference for District 30 children.

Bayside and Flushing

District 25, serving Bayside and Flushing, has three well-regarded early childhood schools for grades K-3 which are open to children across the district: PS 130, PS 242, and PS 244, the Active Learning Elementary School.

PS 201, The Discovery School for Inquiry and Research, has a magnet grant, so children may apply from outside the zone. Children learn Chinese and have lots of hands-on project.

Elmhurst and Maspeth

District 24 is the most crowded district in the city . Two unzoned schools, PS 290, PS 330 and have opened recently to ease overcrowding and accept children from across the district.

Forest Hills

District 28 has one small, arts-focused early childhood school open to applicants from throughout the district: PS 303 The Academy for Excellence through the Arts.

Southeast Queens

Four schools in District 29 accept students by lottery, three of them are K-8 schools and a fourth is an early childhood school. All are housed in attractive well-equipped new buildings and are open district-wide: PS/IS 208, PS/IS 268, PS/IS 270 and PS 251.

PS/IS 266 accepts children from across District 26. It shares a campus with PS/IS 208 and the Queens High School of Teaching, Liberal Arts and the Sciences.

The Rockaways

Goldie Maple Academy is open to students throughout District 27. Formerly a G&T school, the admissions policy is under review.