NYC DOE: Kindergarten Admissions Update

The kindergarten admissions process is school-based, but there is a standard timeline for all schools and there are citywide guidelines for eligibility and admissions priorities. Families must submit an application for kindergarten admission, even if they are applying to their zoned school. Important dates in the kindergarten admissions process for the 2012–2013 school year can be found on our Calendar and Events page:

January 9 – March 2, 2012: Kindergarten admissions period.

March 19 – March 23, 2012: Assignment notification period.

March 26 – April 20, 2012: Pre-registration period.

During the kindergarten admissions period, families should visit their zoned school and any other school(s) of interest for which they are eligible to fill out an application. We will post district-specific information and further details about choice options and special programs on our website in January.

When families go to apply, they should make sure to bring their child's birth certificate or passport, and two documents which provide proof of residence. A list of acceptable documents for this purpose can be found on our Registration Information page. All applications received by the deadline of March 2, 2012 will be treated the same—it is NOT first-come, first-served.

District 1 Admissions

If a family resides in District 1, the admissions process is centralized. The District 1 Elementary School Directory, which includes information about the District 1 process, school options, and application instructions, is available online now and will be available at District 1 schools in December. The District 1 Elementary School Fair is on December 8, 2011 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at P.S. 20 Anna Silver (166 Essex Street).

Families can get more information about kindergarten admissions by visiting our website, emailing the Elementary School Enrollment Team at ES_Enrollment@schools.nyc.gov, or calling (718) 935-2009.