Important Information
The first day of school is Wednesday, September 9, 2009
The NYC public schools offer grades Pre K through 12. As diverse a city New York is so are the offerings in the NYC school system. Some public schools offer special programs and small environments that are similar to private schools while other schools are bustling with crowded classrooms.
Elementary School
Elementary schools typically house grades Pre-K to 5 or Pre-K to 6th grade. Traditional middle schools (also referred to as Intermediate Schools, Junior High Schools) house children in grades 6-8 and high schools serve student in 9th through 12th grade. There are however both well-established and new schools that are structured differently and serve children in grades K-8, 6-12, K-12; one school on the Upper West Side offers a successful program educating students in 5th to 8th grade.
Like other communities across the country children are assigned to schools based on their home address. These schools, known as zoned schools, vary widely. Some are considered extremely desirable and families from other NYC neighborhoods seek admission. During the elementary school years, most families are comfortable with their children attending their zoned neighborhood school. Others however seek out and have their children evaluated for gifted and talented programs, bi-lingual or dual language or charter schools in their neighborhoods or elsewhere or desire to identify and place their children in schools close to their workplace.
Middle and High School
At the middle school level, school choice is much more prevalent with students applying to schools within their home school district or in other districts. The choice process brings with it an admission process that is varied. Some schools invest hours to meet with student candidates and administer and review locally developed assessment tests while others accept students based on a review of the school documents.
Gifted and Talented Programs
There are many schools throughout the city that offer gifted and talented programs with one or more classes per grade for identified gifted and talented students. In addition, there are a handful of schools which are dedicated entirely to serving gifted and talented students including Hunter College Elementary School, and the Lower Lab School and New Explorations for Science, Technology, and Math (NEST+M).
For more information about individual schools, including magnet programs and talented and gifted programs, contact your local District Office, or visit Inside Schools.
To learn more general information about Gifted and Talented Programs and a list of programs citywide visit the Department of Education website.
Bi-Lingual/Dual Language Schools
Dual Language programs in NYC pubic schools teach children the usual curriculum in English as well as in a second language. Dual language programs are available in Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Korean, Haitian Creole or French. Your child can be a native English speaker or an English Language Learner (ELL) to enroll in a dual language program. Most programs do some type of screening to be sure that a dual language program will be an appropriate fit for your child. You should contact schools you are interested in to find out whether they accept students who are not zoned for that school.
The NYC Department of Education adds new dual language programs each year. You can search for established and new dual language programs on Inside Schools.
An additional resources for families interested in French enrichment and bi-lingual classes is Education Française à New York (EFNY) a non-profit organization that keeps track of efforts to bring French language programs and classrooms to schools in New York City. Check their website to find French-speaking programs.
Charter Schools
Charter schools operate as independent and autonomous public schools and typically rely on an active parent body. They are awarded a "charter" and are operated according to an approved plan that outlines how they will function pedagogically, administratively, and fiscally. In NYC charter schools are newly established schools and in some cases existing schools that convert to charter status.
Charter schools receive some funding from federal, state and public local funds, and typically must raise additional funds from individuals, foundations, and the private sector. A charter school must comply with all laws regulating public schools therefore any student that is eligible to attend a public school is also qualified for admission to a charter school. A school's charter and their autonomy is dependent upon their meeting educational performance standards, and maintaining sound fiscal and management practices. Charter schools are subject to oversight by the NYC Chancellor.
The New York City Department of Education, Office of Charter Schools website provides additional information about charter schools.
The New York City Center for Charter School Excellence provides a wealth of information about charter schools, including the location of charter schools throughout the city. Visit their website for more information.
Public School Assistance within the NY Metro Area
NYU's Employee Assistance Program, Carebridge Life Resources, is available by phone (800-437-0911) to assist you in gaining a better understanding of schools in your home community or a community in which you are planning to move. Or, you can also do some research on your own by exploring the websites for your state's Department of Education: