With Pre-K for All, Opportunity Starts Now: In full-day PRE-K, teachers are sparking wonder and igniting learning in our children. Pre-K gives children stronger math and reading skills in elementary school…and a better chance at success in life. Studies show that early instruction improves performance throughout a child’s school experience. In these great programs, children develop and learn how to interact with others, behave in public, share, wait their turns, and listen.
What to Look for in a Pre-K Program: It is important that you find a program that is a good fit for your child and family. Learn about what to look for in a Pre-K program and what questions you can ask when visiting or speaking with pre-K program administrators or teachers.
Program hours and services offered
Daily schedule for your child
Expectations for learning
Family engagement practices
Apply for Free, Full-Day, High-Quality Pre-K for All: All NYC families with four-year-old children can apply to pre-K programs. There is a pre-K seat for every four-year-old in New York City. This year, families with children born in 2019 can apply to pre-K and enter programs in fall 2023. We welcome all children of this age to participate in pre-K admissions: current 3-K students at public district schools, Pre-K Centers, and NYC Early Education Centers (NYCEECs); current students in three-year-old programs at charter schools, private schools, parochial schools, or other preschools; children with disabilities; children with accessibility needs; children learning English; children in temporary housing; LGBTQ and gender nonconforming children; and children who are new to NYC public schools. Children do not need to be toilet trained to attend pre-K.
Your Pre-K Choices: Use MySchools to search for and explore pre-K program options. MySchools provides the most up-to-date information about pre-K programs. During the application period, you can also use MySchools to add programs to your child's application and submit it.
There are three different pre-K program settings: NYC Early Education Centers, district elementary schools, and Pre-K Centers. Learn more in the Pre-K Program Settings section below.
One program may offer up to three seat types, which differ in hours and eligibility requirements. When applying to that program in MySchools, be sure to add the seat type(s) you want and are eligible for to your child's application. .
Pre-K Programs Serving Students with Disabilities: All pre-K programs serve children with and without disabilities. If your child has an IEP (Individualized Education Programs) that recommends a Special Education Itinerant Teacher (SEIT) and/or Related Services only, these services can be provided at all pre-K programs, or at home under certain circumstances. If your child has an IEP that recommends "Special Class in an Integrated Setting" (SCIS) or "Special Class," the CPSE will arrange for an appropriate placement in a preschool special education program. These classes are available at community-based special education programs, and at some Pre-K Centers and DOE public schools. Learn more about how the DOE serves students with disabilities at schools.nyc.gov/SpecialEducation.
Pre-K Program Quality: The Pre-K Quality Snapshot is one important way to learn about and understand different elements of quality at Pre-K for All programs across New York City. The Pre-K Quality Snapshot is meant to help you choose the program that best meets your child's and family's needs. As you search, be sure to select the "Pre-K" option.
Every five-year-old New York City resident is guaranteed a seat in a public school kindergarten program. Children start kindergarten in the September of the calendar year they turn five. If you have a child born in 2018, they will begin kindergarten in September 2023. We welcome all of the following to apply to kindergarten: pre-K students currently attending DOE public schools, Pre-K Centers, NYC Early Education Centers, charter schools, private schools, or parochial schools; children who are attending school for the first time; students with disabilities; students with accessibility needs; students learning English; students in temporary housing; and LGBTQ and gender nonconforming students. We’re here to help! Call us at 718-935-2009, get support from a Family Welcome Center, or email us at ESEnrollment@schools.nyc.gov.
How To Apply: When the application period is open:
Choose up to 12 schools that you’d like your child to attend.
Add these programs to their kindergarten application.
Order these school choices in the application in your order of preference, with your favorite school at the top as #1.
Some elementary schools also offer Dual Language program or programs. To apply to a Dual Language program, add it to your child’s application.
If you’d like your child to attend your zoned school, be sure to add it to your application; however, you don’t have to place it as your first choice.
Submit only one application per child.
You can submit your kindergarten application one of two ways:
Online withMySchools(Open external link) in English, Spanish, Chinese, Bengali, Russian, Arabic, Urdu, Haitian Creole, Korean, or French. We’ll let you know when the application opens and you can apply online!
By phone at 718-935-2009. If you are applying by phone, interpretation services are available in more than 200 languages.
Kindergarten admissions is not first come, first served—all applications submitted online, by phone, or in person by the deadline will be treated the same based on admissions priorities.
All New York City children are guaranteed a seat at a public middle school. Apply to middle school when your child is in their last year of elementary school. Your child must be both of the following to apply:
A NYC resident AND
A current fifth grade student, or a current sixth grade student if their elementary school ends in sixth grade
Additionally, current fourth grade students who live or go to school in District 3 can apply to the Center School (03M243); current fourth grade students who live or go to school in Queens can apply to Louis Armstrong Middle School (30Q227); and all current sixth grade students can apply to Baccalaureate School for Global Education (30Q580).
Our middle schools welcome and serve all of the following:
Current public district and charter school students
Private or parochial school students
Students with disabilities: If your child's Individualized Education Programs (IEP) recommends District 75 programs, learn more at schools.nyc.gov/D75
Students with accessibility needs
Students learning English
Students in temporary housing
LGBTQ and gender nonconforming students
Submit your application by December 1. You can apply in one of three ways:
Online with MySchools.nyc –– recommended! Your middle school welcome letter contains a unique account creation code that you can use to create a MySchools account (if you don't already have one) and access your personalized search and applications.
If your child currently attends a NYC public school (DOE or charter), you can work with your child's current school to receive a copy of your welcome letter.
If your child attends a private, independent, or parochial school you can visit a Family Welcome Center to receive a welcome letter.
The G&T application for children entering programs in 2022 is closed.
Results. G&T results, including any offers, were released in early August, and the deadline to accept an offer was August 19
Waitlists.If your child is on a G&T waitlist and that program can make your child a waitlist offer, they will contact you directly. You can check where you are waitlisted by logging in to your MySchools.nyc account, emailing ESEnrollment@schools.nyc.gov, or visiting a Family Welcome Center.
For Children Entering G&T Programs in Fall 2023
We will update this page when information is available about G&T admissions for families with children applying to enter programs in fall 2023.
G&T Program Types
K-5 G&T Programs -These existing programs serve children throughout elementary school, from kindergarten through grade 5. Children can enter these programs in kindergarten, grade 1, grade 2, or grade 3.
Grade 3 G&T Programs - These programs––at least one in each NYC community school district––serve children from grade 3 to grade 5. Children enter these programs in grade 3. Highest-performing grade 2 students (whose grades are in the top 10% at their school) are invited to apply.