Families with children born in 2019 are now able to apply for UPK (universal Pre-K /4s) and families with children born in 2020 are now able to apply for 3K for All until March 10, 2023. UPK and 3K admissions are not first come, first served, and you can make changes to your application any time before the deadlines. You can list up to 12 programs on your application online, all programs are free. They are all 6 hours and 20 minutes long full day programs and follow the NYC public school calendar from September to June. Age cut offs are calendar year and holding back a child is not possible. Scroll down for open houses for prospective parents.
Families can choose from different types of settings for UPK and 3K programs:
- Privately run preschools and daycares
- District public schools
- Pre-K/3K centers run by the Department of Education
UPK for children born in 2019
Priority for the UPK programs have children currently enrolled in a center or a sibling at the center/school having priority, living in the school’s zone, living in the center’s/school’s district or other admissions priorities i.e. English Language Learner or student in temporary housing. Find out more here.
District 13 options (not complete)
- United BK Arts & Letters in Bed Stuy
- PS 307 in Vinegar Hill
- PS 287 in Downtown Brooklyn
- PS 20 in Fort Greene
- PS 46 in Fort Greene (Spanish Dual Language Pre-K and English Pre-K)
- PS 54 in Clinton Hill (Spanish Dual Language Pre-K and English Pre-K)
- PS 11 in Clinton Hill
- PS 133 in Gowanus (Spanish Dual Language Pre-K and English Pre-K)
- PS 282 North Slope
- PS 9 in Prospect Heights (Spanish Dual Language Pre-K and English Pre-K)
- Bright Horizons in DUMBO
- City Tots in Clinton Hill
- Compass Charter School in Fort Greene
- Dock Street Pre-K Center in DUMBO (District 13)
- Eladia’s Kids in Prospect Heights
- Imagine in Brooklyn Heights
- Imagine in DUMBO
- Imagine in Downtown Brooklyn
- Kiddie Korner in Brooklyn Heights
- NY Kids Club in Brooklyn Heights
- NY Kids Club in DUMBO
- New: Bright Horizons DUMBO
- Our Children’s Center in Downtown Brooklyn
- The Learning Experience in Clinton Hill
- Bumble Bees in Clinton Hill
District 15 options (not complete)
- PS 38 in Downtown Brooklyn
- PS 15 in Red Hook (Spanish Dual Language Pre-K and English Pre-K)
- PS 32 in Carroll Gardens
- PS 261 in Boerum Hill
- PS 29 in Cobble Hill
- PS 58 in Carroll Gardens
- PS 372 The Children’s School in Carroll Gardens
- The Brooklyn New School in Carroll Gardens
- A-Fantis in Downtown Brooklyn (Greek Dual Language Pre-K and English Pre-K)
- Strong Place Daycare Centers in Carroll Gardens, Downtown Brooklyn
- Brooklyn Treehouse Preschool in Gowanus
- Bumble Bees in Red Rook
- New: Kindercare Cobble Hill
- The Warren Street Center in Boerum Hill
Find more UPK programs in your district here.
3K for All for children born in 2020
Priority for the 3K programs is similar to Pre-K (4s programs priorities) with children currently enrolled in a center or a sibling at the center/school having priority, living in the school’s zone or living in the center’s/school’s district. Find out more here.
District 13 options (not complete)
- PS 307 in Vinegar Hill
- PS 287 in Downtown Brooklyn
- PS 20 in Fort Greene
- PS 46 in Fort Greene
- PS 54 in Clinton Hill
- Bright Horizons in DUMBO
- City Tots in Clinton Hill
- Bumble Bees in Clinton Hill
- Eladia’s Kids in Prospect Heights
- Imagine in Brooklyn Heights
- Imagine in DUMBO
- Imagine in Downtown Brooklyn
- Kiddie Korner in Brooklyn Heights
- Kinderprep Montessori in Brooklyn Bridge Park
- NY Kids Club in Brooklyn Heights
- NY Kids Club in DUMBO
- Our Children’s Center in Downtown Brooklyn
- The Learning Experience in Clinton Hill
District 15 options (not complete)
- PS 38 in Downtown Brooklyn
- PS 15 in Red Hook
- PS 32 in Carroll Gardens
- KinderCare in Cobble Hill
- Little Brooklyn Playschool in Carroll Gardens
- Regina’s Daycare Centers in Cobble Hill
- Strong Place Daycare Centers in Carroll Gardens, Downtown Brooklyn
- Warren Street Center in Boerum Hill
- Brooklyn Treehouse Preschool in Gowanus
- Bumble Bees Centers 335 Prospect Avenue Brooklyn (South Slope) and 501 8th Street (Park Slope)
- No information yet on the new 3K center that is supposed to open in Boerum Hill in September at 274 Atlantic Avenue District 15 Brooklyn with 90 seats. Stay tuned for more details
Find more 3K centers in your district here. Some of the public schools have Open Houses coming up in the next weeks, details here.
Upcoming Open Houses
Zoned schools
- PS 307 / Vinegar Hill: Magnet school for STEAM studies takes out of zone students. Find out more here. Email the parent coordinator [email protected] for a tour date.
- PS 11 / Clinton Hill: Zoned school, has been taking out-of-zone students in the past but less and less in past years. RSVP for open houses February16, March 16 and April 18 at 9am RSVP here.
- PS 20 / Fort Greene: Zoned school, also runs a French Dual Language Program. In-person school tours will take place February 8 at 9am, RSVP here.
- PS 9 / Prospect Heights: Zoned school, has been taking out-of-zone students into their general education and Spanish dual language programs. Open house on February 4, 2023 at 9.30am. February 16, 2023 at 9.30 and March 16 at 9:30am. Please sign up here.
- PS 29 / Cobble Hill: Zoned school with new admissions policy to take on 30% of students who live in poverty, NYCHA housing and who are English Language Learners from outside the zone. Upcoming school tours (virtual) here.
- PS 32 / Carroll Gardens: Zoned school, has been taking out-of-zone students in the past. The school is setting aside 30% of seats for students who live in poverty, NYCHA housing and who are English Language Learners from outside the zone. Virtual open house here.
- PS 58 / Carroll Gardens: Zoned school, has been taking out-of-zone students in the past. The school is setting aside 30% of seats for students who live in poverty, NYCHA housing and who are English Language Learners from outside the zone. The school runs a French dual language program in addition to general education classrooms. Upcoming open houses. Stay tuned for dates.
- PS 261 / Boerum Hill: Zoned school, has been taking out-of-zone students in the past but less and less in past years. The school is setting aside 30% of seats for students who live in poverty, NYCHA housing and who are English Language Learners from outside the zone. School virtual tour here.
- PS 38 / Downtown Brooklyn: Zoned school, has been taking out-of-zone students in the past. The school is setting aside 30% of seats for students who live in poverty, NYCHA housing and who are English Language Learners from outside the zone. In-person tours will be held on: Friday, February 3 at 9am & 10am RSVP here.
- PS 15 / Red Hook: Zoned school, has been taking out-of-zone students in the past. Also runs Spanish dual language program. Zoned school, has been taking out-of-zone students in the past. The school is setting aside 30% of seats for students who live in poverty, NYCHA housing and who are English Language Learners from outside the zone. Stay tuned for dates.
- PS 46 / Fort Greene: Zoned school offering 3K to 5th Grade, has been taking out-of-zone students in the past. Also runs Spanish dual language program. Virtual open house tours presentation here.
Unzoned “Choice” Schools
- PS 133 / Gowanus: Un-zoned school that runs French and Spanish dual language programs as well as general education classes, draws by lottery from District 13 and 15. School tours will take place on February 9 at 9am. Find out more here.
- Brooklyn New School / Carroll Gardens: Un-zoned school, draws by lottery from District 13, 14, 15 and 16. School tour will take place on February 8 at 5:30pm (virtual). Register here.
- PS 372 The Children’s School / Carroll Gardens: Un-zoned school, draws by lottery from District 15 and sets aside seats for students with special needs (IEP). Open house virtual tours here. Very small group tours on Thursdays can be arranged by contacting here
- Arts & Letters 305 United / Bed Stuy: Un-zoned school, draws by lottery from District 13. Stay tuned for dates.
- BumbleBeesRus Early Child Care Education / Bedford Stuyvesant / Red Hook: Located in Districts 13 and 15. Walk-ins are welcome or schedule tours on our website at any time here.
- District 13 Pre-K Center At 25 Dock Street: In-house tours for Pre-k center are on consecutive Thursdays at 9:15 am and 9:45 am through the end of February. Email the parent coordinator [email protected] for more information and a tour and out more here. Virtual tour available here.
Photo: PS 307 in Vinegar Hill
