Brooklyn Schools 101: How to Get Into the Public Elementary School of Your Choice
School applications. Ugh. Cue backstabbing, pushy parents hiring tutors to get their 3-year-olds into the “right” private preschools so that one day they may be accepted into Harvard. But it’s really not that bad, at least not in Brooklyn. There are a number of strong public schools in New York City — many of them better…
School applications. Ugh. Cue backstabbing, pushy parents hiring tutors to get their 3-year-olds into the “right” private preschools so that one day they may be accepted into Harvard. But it’s really not that bad, at least not in Brooklyn.
There are a number of strong public schools in New York City — many of them better than private schools elsewhere in the country. And one perk of city life, as opposed to the suburbs, is your kid has at least some opportunity to attend almost any one.
In other words, there’s a lot of choice. But so much choice can also be daunting.
Here is Brownstoner’s step-by-step guide to finding and getting into the public elementary school of your choosing.
Photo by Barbara Eldredge
Plan Ahead
To enroll your child in public elementary school in Brooklyn, you must apply. If you apply in time for kindergarten, you’ll have the best chance of getting your child into the school of your choice because the classes have the most open spots at that time — they are all open.
(Incidentally, if your child is planning to attend pre-k, you must also apply to that, but it doesn’t stick. You still have to apply to kindergarten.)
Parents should start making plans at least a year in advance. A child is eligible to attend kindergarten the year he or she turns 5. Applications are due the winter before.
So, for example, if your child turns 5 in January 2016, he or she will start kindergarten in September 2016. The application is due January 15. But you need to start planning now.
Find Your Zone and District
A zone is the geographical area whose residents may attend the school. A district is larger than a zone. Districts encompass several neighborhoods and many schools. If your zoned school is overcrowded, you may be put on a waiting list. But generally, children in the zone are given priority over others.
Not all schools have a zone. The Earth School on the Lower East Side, for example, is not zoned, so it gives equal weight to children who apply to it from the entire district. District 1 and 7 in Manhattan and District 23 in East New York are choice districts, which means there are no zoned schools.
Children who apply to a school inside their district may also be given priority over others who apply from outside the district.
You will find your zone and district using the Department of Education’s search tool.
Visit Potential Schools
Schools throughout the city hold tours and open houses at various times throughout the year. November and December are common times to visit, in preparation for the January 15 application deadline.
Research Schools
The DOE offers kindergarten information sessions about the process in December. Read more about it on the DOE website.
For more information about which schools to apply to, consult the DOE’s kindergarten directory.
More information may also be found at nonprofit Insideschools. This online guide features information about every public school in New York City, including stats on attendance and test scores, and parent comments.
You can also hire a school consultant. Some may scoff at the notion, but an expert can help parents sort through overwhelming amounts of information quickly.
Consultants look for schools that are changing and have space but are not already so well known they are overcrowded and already have wait lists of students in zone.
A consultant will match you up with a list of five or six schools that meet your particular needs and where you are likely to get in.
Photo by Mary Hautman
What to Look for in a School
Test scores are important, but they don’t tell the whole story. A convenient location, a school that “feels” right, or special programs may also be important.
Some schools have Gifted & Talented programs, dual-language programs or other unusual offerings, such as courses in robotics.
Pay special attention to schools that have lots of fun books, not just textbooks, displays of artwork created by students, visible samples of student writing even in low grades, and evidence of hands-on learning such as pets and plants, according to Insideschools.
Parents should also consider the principal: A good leader can turn around a troubled school and a poor one can harm a school, according to Insideschools.
Apply for Schools
Once you have selected your top choices, you can apply online, by phone or in person. To apply online, you fill out one application online at the Department of Education’s Student Enrollment Management System. You may list as many as 12 schools, in order of preference.
To apply in person, go to a Family Welcome Center. There are four in Brooklyn. You will find the addresses on the DOE website.
To apply by telephone, call (718) 935-2400.
The much-vaunted P.S. 321 in Park Slope. Photo by Cate Corcoran
Wait for the Results
You will get your answer in March. If you are waitlisted, you may find out you got in as late as September — or even October, after school has already started.
“All the in-district kids have to be accepted and then bail and go elsewhere throughout the summer before we have a shot at getting in which usually takes until September or October — that’s how long kids are trading up to better schools as spaces open up,” said a Brownstoner reader.
Lobby for Acceptance
If you are waitlisted, you can lobby the principal at your top school or schools to accept you.
One Brownstoner reader who lives in Bed Stuy met with a consultant and applied to 12 schools. All were out of district, and the child was waitlisted at every one.
The parents set up meetings with the principals at the two or three schools highest on their wish list. Finally, in August, they were accepted at their top school.
Accept and Register
If you are accepted, you must register or you will lost your spot. To register, you go to the school in person.
If you accept, you will remain on the waitlist for any school you listed as a higher choice.
[Top photo: Barbara Eldredge]
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I would add that if you have a child with special needs and an IEP, it’s time to get the ball rolling on the necessary evaluations. I hear that the waiting list for Nest/Horizon ASD program evaluations, for example, is growing quite long.
this article is really helpful. i’m not a parent but as a new homeowner i’ve started giving this a tiny amount of thought, for the future. and i’m generally too scared to get too involved with heated discussions and what i’m sure is a technical language rabbithole of brooklyn parents on the internet. it’s nice to get a very short and basic explanation in layman’s terms!
I just went thru this for the 2015/16 school year.
I’m not sure this statement is accurate:
“If you apply in time for kindergarten, you’ll have the best chance of getting your child into the school of your choice because the classes have the most open spots at that time — they are all open.”
The choice schools (and many in brooklyn) are overcrowded. If you’re not in the zone, you have less chance of your child getting in. We were wait listed on all our choices except our zoned school, which is where my child is going.
What’s important to note on the application:
Put your selections of schools in the order or your preference! If you get into the first school that you list on your application, they WILL NOT offer you a seat at any of the other schools you list. If there’s no spot in your 1st choice school, they’ll move down the list to 2nd, 3rd, etc. Put your zoned school as your last choice, you’re guaranteed a seat there.
agree reinedeboerum! The exception that proves the rule. . . .
We had our child tested for the G&T to enter Kindergarten (2015). We reviewed with him for a month prior to the test. Shit is hard!
There are two parts:
NNAT (nonverbal) and OLSAT (verbal)
They combine the scores. Must score in the 90% and above for the G&T program. Must score in the 97% for the city wide G&T schools. Altho, not many kids getting less than the 99% have been accepted.
Our child was in the 88%. He’ll test again in january
Thanks for sharing. Are you planning to re-test in the future (is that even an option)?
pot calling the kettle black a little bit, hmm?
oh, and the deadline to apply for the G&T testing is nov 12th.
http://schools.nyc.gov/ChoicesEnrollment/GiftedandTalented/default.htm
you can test for entering K, 1st, 2nd, 3rd grades. The test progressively gets harder.