With the largest public school system in the country, navigating the New York City Department of Education can feel overwhelming. But along with scale comes an amazing diversity of options for families!

When applying to public schools in New York, it is important to stay up to date on deadlines and on changes in the admissions process from year to year, so you can make a plan and approach the process in an organized way. 

Each grade-level entry point within the DOE system has its own application and notification schedule. The earliest deadlines are for middle and high school applicants, so we will provide guidance on those processes first. Keep an eye out for an introduction to the preschool and kindergarten application process in an upcoming post!

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Your Application Checklist: Public Middle School

• Set Up your MySchools Account: If you have not already done so, be sure to set up and familiarize yourself with your MySchools account. It is also a good idea to sign up for DOE updates.
  
  
• Explore Your Middle School Options: The fall of the year your child is in 5th grade is a busy one as you explore middle school programs. Depending on where you live, you may have a zoned middle school, or you may have full school choice with no zoned school. Use MySchools and InsideSchools to search schools by location or interest.
  
  Many schools offer opportunities to attend an open house or tour, which we recommend you do. Some middle schools list their open house and tour dates on the calendar on MySchools. For others you’ll need to check the school website or contact the school. Sign up early, especially for schools with high demand.
  
  
• Create a Family Admissions Calendar: As you confirm open houses, tours, and any school-specific deadlines, we highly recommend creating a shared calendar to keep everything organized.
  
  A few key fall deadlines to be aware of: Check MySchools on October 14 when middle school applications open to find your child’s random number (RAN). Refer to SCK’s guide to decoding your RAN to understand what your child’s number means for their admissions process. Register to test for specialized programs by November 2.
  
  
• Confirm the Admissions Criteria for the Schools on Your List: Admission into most middle schools is by lottery, determined by a combination of your child’s RAN and your ranking of schools by preference. A few schools require auditions, and Hunter College High School requires a test for entry into 7th grade. Be sure to check and confirm specific deadlines for these auditions and assessments. Several of the city’s districts, including District 2 in Manhattan, offer screened honors programs for high-performing students. Entrance into those programs is based on 4th grade report cards.
  
  
• Submit Applications: Middle School applications are due on December 11 and you will find out which school your child has been matched with on April 9!

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Your Application Checklist: Public High School

• Set Up your MySchools Account: If you have not already done so, be sure to set up and familiarize yourself with your MySchools account, and sign up for DOE updates. Your child will be uploading their applications, essays, portfolios, and audition materials to MySchools. Don’t wait until the last minute to learn how to navigate the site.
  
  
• Explore Your High School Options: There are more than 400 high schools and 700 programs within high schools in NYC! Many high schools offer specialized programs or themes. Two good resources for learning about schools are the Facebook group, Applying to NYC High Schools, and NYC-Sift.
  
  Find out if you have a zoned school. There are no zoned high schools in Manhattan, only a few in Brooklyn and the Bronx, and many more in Queens and Staten Island. Most zoned high schools are large and offer several different programs.
  
  
• Create a Family Admissions Calendar: As you confirm open houses, tours, and deadlines for screened, audition-based, or test-based programs, we highly recommend creating a shared calendar to keep everything organized.
  
  A few key fall deadlines to be aware of: Check MySchools on Oct. 6 when high school applications open to find your child’s academic group number (1-4) and your random number (RAN). Refer to SCK’s guide to decoding your RAN to understand what your child’s number means for their admissions process. Register for the SHSAT and Laguardia auditions by Oct. 30.
  
  
• Attend Tours and Open Houses: Schedule tours and open houses as soon as possible. Some schools list them on MySchools; for others you may have to check the school website or call. Consider taking turns with other parents on school visits. One parent can take several students to a tour, allowing families to lighten the individual parent load. If you are unable to tour in person, check the school’s website for virtual tours and videos.
  
  
• Confirm the Admissions Criteria for the Schools on Your List: Familiarize yourself with admissions methods. The most common are screened, screened with assessment, open (lottery), and EdOpt. Some high schools require you to sign up for a test, or submit and audition online. Make sure to meet those deadlines.
  
  
• Prepare Essays and Audition or Portfolio Materials: Review the prompts for screened schools online and have your child write their essays. If your child will be auditioning or preparing a portfolio for an arts program, these can take time to prepare. Encourage your child to begin now and not to wait until the last minute.
  
  
• Submit Applications: Be sure your student submits their application by December 4! Your child will find out their results on March 30. 

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Stay tuned for more guidance from Smart City Kids on the public Preschool and Kindergarten application process coming soon, and on navigating waitlists and school decisions later in the season!

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