The kindergarten application for public schools will be open until Friday, January 19, 2024. If your child was born in 2019 and lives in New York City, they are eligible to attend kindergarten in fall 2024 in public and Charter schools. 3-K & Pre-K: Children born in 2020 (pre-K) and 2021 (3-K) will be eligible to apply. Both applications will open January 10th and close March 1st, 2024.
Applications for public schools
- Find out your zoned school
- Find out your District
- Attend open houses at your zoned school and un-zoned schools in your District and other Districts if you wish
- Review the Kindergarten directory to work on your list of schools
- List up to 12 programs on your application, rank them the way you want your child to attend
- You can list your zoned school, un-zoned schools in your District, Magnet schools, Dual Language programs and zoned schools that have taken out-of-zone students in the past.
- To apply for Dual Language Programs whether in zoned or un-zoned schools you need to list them as one (or more) of the 12 options. Those programs prioritize children who speak the target language at home.
- Wednesday, March 27, 2024: Kindergarten 0ffer release
You also have the option to apply to Gifted & Talented programs on the same application. If you list G&T programs on your application, eligibility will be determined after the application closes. Current pre-K students at DOE/district schools, Pre-K Centers, NYC Early Education Centers (NYCEECs), or charter school are evaluated by their current pre-K teachers. Current pre-K students at private or parochial school programs, or for children who are not yet in school will be contacted by the Division of Early Childhood Education to set up interviews that will determine eligibility. G&T programs in our neighborhoods are offered at PS 282, PS 32 and PS 38. Read more about Gifted and Talented programs here.
Public school admissions priorities in District 13 and 15
For families living in our neighborhoods in District 13 and 15 some admissions details to highlight:
- Six schools in District 15 set aside 30% of seats to out-of-zone students that qualify for free and reduced lunch, are homeless, live in NYCHA housing or are English Language Learners. PS 29, PS 58, PS 32, PS 38, PS 15, PS 261. All of these elementary schools now have utilization rates below 100% according to the Department of Education.
- PS 8 in Brooklyn Heights prioritizes students who are eligible for Free and Reduced Lunch, English Language Learners and those living in temporary housing after all zoned students are admitted
- PS 20 in Fort Green gives priority to applicants eligible for Free and Reduced Lunch and live in temporary housing for 40% of the seats
- The Children’s School in Carroll Gardens is an unzoned school in District 15 prioritizing students with IEPs, English Language Learners, applicants eligible for Free or Reduced Price Lunch and students who live in public housing
- PS 133 in Gowanus is an unzoned school and has kindergarten seats for applicants from District 13 and District 15. Approximately one-third of available kindergarten seats will be offered to residents of District 13. Approximately two-thirds will be offered to residents of District 15. For 35% of its seats, the school will prioritize English Language Learners first, then students eligible for free and reduced lunch
- The unzoned school Brooklyn New School in Carroll Gardens has kindergarten seats for applicants residing in Districts 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17. Fifty-five percent of Kindergarten seats are offered to residents of District 15. Forty five percent of Kindergarten seats are offered to residents of District 13, 14, 16, and 17. This school gives priority to applicants eligible for Free or Reduced Price Lunch (based on family income)
- The unzoned school Arts & Letters in Bed Stuy gives priority to applicants in District 13 and those eligible for Free or Reduced Price Lunch (based on family income) for 40% of seats
- New unzoned school PS 456 opening in Downtown Brooklyn featuring project-based learning and Spanish Dual Language Program. Find out more here.
Dual Language programs in our neighborhoods
Spanish
- PS 133
- PS 9
- PS 46
- PS 54
- New PS 456
French
- PS 133
- PS 58
- PS 20
Kindergarten Info Session
In these info session for families considering 3K for All, Pre-K and Kindergarten in private, public and Charter schools in our neighborhood we covered everything you need to know about local zoned schools, un-zoned schools, Charter and private school options, application details and deadlines, waitlists, free universal Pre-K options, languages and dual language programs, Gifted and Talented programs and more. Download the recording of our last public talk in October 2023 here.
Applying to Charter School
You can apply for Kindergarten in Charter Schools on each school’s website directly. The Charter School applications are separate from public school applications. Find out more about Charter Schools in our neighborhoods here.
Photo: Prospect Charter Schools
