Important Information
The first day of school is September 2, 2008.
The NYC Public School Calendar is available here.
NYC Public Schools at-a-Glance
- There are over 1,400 public schools in NYC.
- NYC is divided into 32 school districts for the elementary and middle schools; nine (9) regions supervise the City's high schools.
- Approximately 1.1 million students attend NYC's public schools.
- Children are assigned to schools based on their home address; this school is referred to as your "zoned school."
- Students are guaranteed a seat in their zoned school; community registration in a zoned school is usually held during the Spring of the year before enrollment and continues throughout the school year.
- Families may investigate and apply to other schools within their school district as well as to schools outside their home district. Acceptance is not guaranteed and is dependent upon space and securing a "variance" from the District Office. Other schools to consider which have their own admission process include option schools, charter schools, gifted and talented, and bi-lingual or dual language programs.
- Transportation to and from school in the form of a free public school bus or a subsidized Metro Card is dependent upon the age of the student and the distance between home and school.
- Average class size is: 18 children (Pre-K), 25 children (K-3rd grade), 32 children (4th-12th grade).
Determining your Zoned School
To find the school for which your address is zoned, visit the NYC Department of Education website or call 212-374-5426 to speak with a representative in the Office of Zoning, NYC Department of Education.
Registering For Public School
Eligibility
Children aged 4 years by December 31 of the school year are eligible for pre-kindergarten (Pre-K) services through their home school district. Pre-K programs are typically available for 2-1/2 hours in the morning or afternoon; a limited number of school day programs exist.
Children aged 5 years by December of the school year are eligible for Kindergarten. Public kindergarten in NYC is offered for a full school day (8:20 a.m.-2:30 p.m.). Kindergarten attendance is optional in NYC; children must enroll in school by the 1st Grade.
Registration
When you are ready to register your child at your local school, your child must accompany you. You are required to provide the following documentation:
- Original birth certificate, passport, or baptismal certificate
- Immunization Record (for more information, click here for PDF)
- Most recent transcript or report card
- Proof of address: an original Electric Bill (Con Edison), a deed to your home or a letter from your employer verifying your home address. If the cost of electricity is included in your rent, you must secure a letter from the real estate management company.