Education system in New York: how students are distributed among schools

New York City has the largest public school system in the entire country. The New York City Department of Education is divided into 32 school districts and serves over 1 million students in more than 1 schools. How schools are zoned in New York, told the publication NYCasas.

In the United States, every child between the ages of 5 and 21 is eligible for free public education. The student is assigned to the respective school based on his place of residence. At the same time, the child does not need a green card or social security number to register for school.

Due to the growing number of New Yorkers, it is not always possible for a child to attend a nearby school, in which case he is placed on a waiting list and sent to another school.

Primary school (age: 5-9 years old)

Primary school education lasts until grade 5. Upon reaching the age of five, the child is sent to kindergarten. This means that if a child turns 5 at the end of September, October, November or December, then he can start school in September of the same year.

Some public schools also offer daycare for babies who are just 31 years old as of December 4st. The program is 2,5 hours or 6 hours of instruction with lessons of 20 minutes.

Secondary school (age: 10-14 years old)

After elementary school, students move to secondary. Here training lasts from grade 6 to grade 8.

Anyone who graduates in grade 5 from one of the New York public schools receive individual applications for admission. The application lists all high schools where the student can apply for admission. Students complete an application by ranking schools in order of preference and return it to their school. Applications must be submitted by early December, and the results of decisions will be communicated to candidates in late spring.

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Children outside the walking distance of the school are eligible for a free MetroCard.

High school grades (ages: 15-18)

After the end of grade 8, high school begins. Here children study from grades 9 to 12. To enroll in high school, a student must also apply for up to 12 programs in order of preference. Applicants are assigned to one of the eligible schools according to admission priority, place of residence and availability. The results of the first stage of selection become available to applicants in March.

It is best to start the application process for high school early. It is worthwhile to familiarize yourself with the schools in your area in the summer. Apply in December, wait for the results in February-March and, if you are not satisfied with the decision, then file an appeal.

Here are some tips to better prepare for the high school application process:

• Start preparing a portfolio of achievements and information on the extracurricular activities you attended.
• Check out the entrance exams and enrollment dates.
• Check out the school websites (links below)
• NYC Department of Education: High School High
• Inside schools
• NYC Department of Education: Finding Schools
• Visit educational institutions of interest
• Attend seminars and open days at educational institutions of interest

New York City Out-of-District and Special High Schools

Schools not tied to a district have their own admission criteria. Children from any area can apply to these schools. But in these schools, preference is also given to the students living nearby.

Some non-district schools require a specific special testing (SHSAT) upon admission. In such schools, as a rule, there is very high competition and few vacancies. More than 30 students are tested by SHSAT to earn one of 000 available seats.

How to proceed

Children between the ages of 5 and 10 can register directly at the school, while children from 11 years old must attend the admissions office. Admissions consultants will help you find suitable school options and submit the necessary documents to them.

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Most applications for admission are required in March, but if you want to get a place at a popular school it is best to apply as early as possible.

To define your school district, click on finding or call 311 (212-NEW-YORK for outside New York).

To register your child at school, you will need a vaccination certificate, birth certificate or passport, and records of attendance at other schools. Children in individualized education programs (IEPs) must also provide the above documents.

In addition, the city will need two documents to prove that the child lives in New York. The child's place of residence is the home of his parents or legal guardian. The proof of place of residence can be a utility bill or any other official document with the indicated home address on it.

New York City public high schools may require a tuition fee for non-residents. However, non-residents cannot enroll in specialized schools or take part in special programs for gifted children.

More detailed information can be found at Department of Education website.