The Tweed Courthouse, where new Pre-K classes are expected to open.
The city’s Dept. of Education is continuing to take applications for kindergarten with the deadline being Feb. 13.
Families who apply on the last day have the same chance as getting their first choice as those who have already applied.
A 5- year-old child who is zoned for a school and who has a sibling already enrolled is given top priority, followed by children already zoned for a school.
Education officials advise parents that there is no advantage to being “strategic” about choice lists, and to list them in true preference order.
In Lower Manhattan, there have been kindergarten waiting lists in most recent years, but with the expected expansion of Peck Slip School into its new building, it is possible there will be none this September. Last year P.S. 276 in Battery Park City was the only one with a waiting list for zoned students.
P.S. 234 in Tribeca, which has consistently waitlisted applicants because the school is in such high demand, last year was able to offer spots to non-zoned families when it had room to offer two extra kindergarten classes.
For more information or to apply visit schools.nyc.gov/ChoicesEnrollment/Elementary/kindergarten. Parents may also apply by calling 718.935.2400.
Pre-K
The city’s Dept. of Education has not yet announced the pre-K spots this year, but Schools Chancellor Carmen Farina told Downtown Express last year that there will be a few classes in the D.O.E.’s headquarters on Chambers St.
Last year, the city expanded its full-day pre-K program to over 50,000, fulfilling one of the central promises of Mayor Bill de Blasio’s 2013 campaign. The city hopes to expand to 70,000 full-day seats for this September, which should be enough to offer a spot somewhere to every eligible family who wants one.
The pre-K registry is expected to be released in March at: schools.nyc.gov/ChoicesEnrollment/PreK/default.html or call 718-935-2009.
