In New York City, children enter kindergarten in September of the calendar year they turn five. Children are guaranteed a kindergarten seat at a public school. Once your child starts kindergarten, they can remain at the same school until its final elementary grade.  Apply even if your child is a current pre-K student.

Below are the key dates for families applying during the 2024-2025 school year for admission to the 2025-2026 school year.

• Tuesday, December 10, 2024: Kindergarten and Kindergarten G&T Application Opens
• Friday, January 24, 2025: Kindergarten and Kindergarten G&T Application Closes 
• Wednesday, April 2, 2025: Kindergarten and Kindergarten G&T Offer Release

All New York City children are guaranteed a seat at a public middle school. Apply to middle school when your child is in their last year of elementary school. Your child must be both of the following to apply:

• A NYC resident AND
• A current fifth grade student, or a current sixth grade student if their elementary school ends in sixth grade

Additionally, current fourth grade students who live or go to school in District 3 can apply to the Center School (03M243); current fourth grade students who live or go to school in Queens can apply to Louis Armstrong Middle School (30Q227); and all current sixth grade students can apply to Baccalaureate School for Global Education (30Q580).

When you apply to middle schools, you’re not just applying to schools: you are applying to programs. Think of programs as doorways into a school. Some middle schools have more than one program, such as a general education program and a Dual Language Spanish program. If you’re interested in applying to more than one program at the same school, each program counts as a separate choice on your child’s application.