Families who are getting ready to apply for Kindergarten in local public schools with children born in 2015 should mark their calendars for fall open houses at elementary schools in our neighborhood. You can apply to Kindergarten in public schools until January, 21st 2020 for children born in 2015 online. Pre-K applications will open in February 2020 for children born in 2016. To find out which elementary school you are zoned for, click here.
Zoned schools
PS 8 / Brooklyn Heights: Only takes in-zone students, has had a wait-list for Kindergarten in the past. They will host an open house on January 22, 2020 and March 2, 2020 starting at 9 am. More information here.
PS 307 / Vinegar Hill: Magnet school for STEM studies takes out of zone students. Tours take place on January 10, January 24, January 31 and February 7 at 8.45 am. More information here.
PS 11 / Clinton Hill: Zoned school, has been taking out-of-zone students in the past but less and less in past years. Open houses at 8.45 am on Tuesdays 1/21/20, 2/25/20 and 3/17/20. More information and sign-up here.
PS 20 / Fort Greene: Zoned school, also runs a French Dual Language Program. Open houses on Tuesdays at 9 am on 10/22, 11/12, 12/3, and 12/17. More information and sign-up here.
PS 9 / Prospect Heights: Zoned school, has been taking out-of-zone students into their general education and Spanish dual language programs. Their G&T program for District 13 will most likely get phased out. School tours will take place at 9 am on 1/17/20, 2/28/20, 3/20/20 and 4/24/20. More information here.
Currently zoned schools with upcoming admissions changes
District 15 school community members and representatives from the Department of Education (DOE) have been discussing potential rezoning and admission changes for 7 elementary schools: PS 15, PS 29, PS 32, PS 38, PS 58, PS 261 and PS 676 in District 15. Two approaches are being discussed to a. reduce the zones of the overcrowded schools PS 29 and PS 58 and set aside 35% of seats to low income students from out of zone or b. to create a new shared zone for all seven schools together with a lottery system and a set-aside for low-income students for each school to relieve overcrowding and create more integrated schools. The timeline for the admissions changes is not confirmed yet, either for school year 20/21 or 21/22. Read more about the upcoming admissions changes here.
PS 29 / Cobble Hill: Currently zoned school and overcrowded. PS 29’s only information session for families will be on January 6th at 9 AM. Please note that this is an adult only event. More information here.
PS 32 / Carroll Gardens: Currently zoned school, has been taking out-of-zone students in the past. Also runs G&T program for District 15. RSVP needed for open houses at 9 am on 10/16, 10/31, 11/7, 11/18, 12/5 and 12/19. More information on their website.
PS 58 / Carroll Gardens: Currently zoned school and overcrowded. The school runs a French dual language program in addition to general education classrooms. PS 58 will conduct Open House events on 1/10/20 at 9.30 am and 2/12 at 9 am. More information here.
PS 261 / Boerum Hill: Zoned school, has been taking out-of-zone students in the past but less and less in past years. School tour will take place on January 8th at 9 am. More information here.
PS 38 / Downtown Brooklyn: Zoned school, has been taking out-of-zone students in the past. Also runs G&T program for District 15. Open houses will take place on 1/29, 2/5 and 2/13 at 8.30 am. More information here.
PS 15 / Red Hook: Zoned school, has been taking out-of-zone students in the past. Also runs Spanish dual language program. Open houses will take place on 1/24 and 2/28 at 8.30 am. More information 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. Tours take place on January 16, 2020 and February 6, 2020 at 9 am. Find out more and RSVP here. A special info session about the Dual Language programs will take place on January 24th at 9 am, no need to RSVP.
Brooklyn New School / Carroll Gardens: Un-zoned school, draws by lottery from District 13, 14, 15 and 16. Open houses will take place on 1/10/20 from 9-10:30 am, as well as 1/28/20 and 2/25/20 from 6-7:30 pm. More information here.
Arts & Letters / Fort Greene: Un-zoned school, draws by lottery from District 13. Due to capacity issues at current co-location with PS 20, the school will most likely move to a new school building in Bed Stuy for the school year 20/21. Information sessions/tours take place on the following Wednesday mornings at 9:15 am: November 13th, November 27th, December 7th, December 11th and December 18th. Register here.
Do you want to know more about local schools? Attend one of our upcoming info sessions about Pre-K and Kindergarten in public, Charter and private Schools. More information here.
Photo: PS 307 in Vinegar Hill
