2021 New York Catholic School Back-to-School Guide

New York Catholic schools are all privately managed by the Archdiocese of New York (ADNY), the Diocese of Brooklyn or the Diocese of Rockville Centre. The Diocese of Brooklyn oversees Catholic schools in Brooklyn and Queens, The Diocese of Rockville Center oversees Long Island schools, and the New York Archdiocese oversees Catholic schools in the rest of New York ambien and surrounding regions.  

Read the ADNY schools reopening plans for this fall and the Brooklyn Diocese COVID-19 safety protocols.    

Registration for the 2021 Test for Admission into Catholic High Schools (TACHS) for 2022 is now open. Students in the eighth grade during the 2021-2022 school year who wish to apply for fall 2022 admission into Catholic high schools in the Archdiocese of antabuse New York, Brooklyn/Queens and Rockville Centre are eligible. This year, the TACHS exam will be administered as an online, remote, at-home test.

New York Public Schools 2021 Back to School Guide

Let's talk back-to-school! The following is a summary of important updates pertaining to NYC public schools for the upcoming school year. For all official information related to NYC public schools please consult the Department of Education’s website

This past May, at the end of the 2020-2021 school year, Mayor DeBlasio and Chancellor Porter announced that, after a school year where more than 60% of NYC students learned remotely, schools would return to in-person learning for all students in September with no remote option.

The Mayor’s announcement was short on details of how the transition back to full-time, in-person learning will happen but he soon announced a new program, Summer Rising, for all kids (K-12) who want to participate. Summer Rising aims to help remediate some of the learning loss that happened throughout the school year and to prepare students for their return to in-school learning in the fall.

3-K results for children born in 2018 were released in June. All offers, including waitlists offers, need to be accepted by July 30th. Learn about 3-K admissions and sign up for a summer information session here.

Families with children born in 2016, 2017, and 2018 who need a 3-K, Pre-K or kindergarten program are invited to join virtual information sessions happening throughout the summer to learn about applicable programs.

Read Chancellor Porter’s letter to families about the academic recovery plan NYC public schools.

Despite changes to CDC mask guidelines, NYC is sticking to a universal mask mandate in all schools.

When schools reopen in September, NYC public school teachers will be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or be tested weekly.

The deadline to register for the summer SHSAT and LaGuardia High School audition is August 6th. This year’s test is open to both newcomers to the the city and to rising 9th and 10th-graders who were unable to take the exam and/or audition during the school year because of COVID-19. See Inside School’s SHSAT guide for full details.

Hunter College High School will send admission decisions for this year's entering 7th grade class starting Friday, July 30th and throughout the following week.

NYC mandates COVID vaccines for "high risk" sports. Vaccinations will be required for high school athletes and their coaches in football, basketball, volleyball, lacrosse, wrestling, competitive cheerleading, and rugby. Vaccination will also be required for bowling, since it takes place indoors.

NYC will require the COVID-19 vaccine for all DOE employees with no testing option.

School officials announced a COVID safety plan for NYC Schools detailing protocols for testing, quarantining, masking, and vaccines.

Applications for admission to Hunter College Elementary School for kindergarten in September 2022 are available as of Tuesday, September 14, 2021. Kindergarten is the only entry point to Hunter Elementary School and, this year, applications are available to families in all 5 boroughs for the first time. Application deadline is November 2nd.

New York City will eliminate it's Gifted and Talented test in kindergarten and phase out the program starting this fall.

2021 Specialized High Schools Admissions Test (SHSAT) is open. NYC 8th and 9th graders who wish to attend a Specialized High School must register to take the SHSAT, for entry to 9th and 10th grade in the 2022-2023 school year by Monday, November 15, 2021. The test will be administered in December 2021

The DOE will host online virtual high school and specialized high school admission information sessions this fall. A recording of the session is available, in case you are not able to attend.

Public Pre-K Spots Still Available For September 2013

LeeCMOM2There is still time to apply to free community-based organizations (CBOs) pre-k programs for September but spots are limited.  CBO programs are publicly funded (free) but are not in schools.  All info and application are available online at the DOE Website.

NYC 2012 Pre-Kindergarten Admissions Period Begins

Application season for the 2012/2013 school year is in full swing.  Kindergarten admission ended on Friday, and today, the month-long pre-kindergarten session begins.

The NYC Department of Education offers Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) programs for eligible 4 year olds who reside in New York City.  UPK programs

provide a nurturing environment where children’s natural curiosity is used as a springboard to learn skills that are necessary for success in school.  In pre-kindergarten, children learn how to share, take turns and work in groups.  They also develop the skills that form the foundation for reading, writing, and mathematics.

All UPK programs are free of charge.  Programs can be half-day or full-day; half-day programs may take place in the morning or afternoon.  Programs are available at select public schools and at many community-based organizations (CBOs).  CBOs are independent groups that contract with the Department of Education to provide pre-kindergarten programs and other services to families. 


Starting today, March 5, you can submit a pre-k application in person at an Enrollment Office or online.  Applications  deadline for public school programs is Thursday, April 5.  The Pre-Kindergarten Directory is available at your local borough enrollment office and at the DOE  pre-k webpage.

Before you begin the application, review the Pre-K directory  and brochure and become familiar with the Universal Pre-Kindergarten programs in your community.  Take time to gather as much information as possible; visit schools and attend open house events or tours.

New York's Universal Pre-K program facts:

- All universal pre-k programs are free of charge for children born in 2008 who reside in New York City

- Even though all 4 year olds are eligible, a seat in a public universal pre-k program is not guaranteed

- Programs can be half day (two and a half hours, AM/morning or PM/afternoon) or full day (six hours and twenty minutes)

- Programs are housed in public schools or in community based organizations, and each has their own separate application process.  You can find the CBO application directory online here.  To apply, contact each site directly to obtain specific information.

- Admissions are NOT first come first serve.  Placement offers are made based on standardized admission priorities.

- Public school spots are given by lottery.  First preference is given to Zoned students with a verified sibling who will be in grades K-5 in the school in September 2012.  Additional admission priorities are detailed in the Pre-K Brochure.

- Applications available online or at a borough enrollment office only.  Do not apply by mail.  You may apply for a number of schools in one submission and rank those schools by order of preference.

There are information sessions in each borough starting next week.  Representatives from the Office of Student Enrollment and the Office of Early Childhood Education will be available at the sessions to answer your questions.  The sessions are often crowded so be sure to arrive early.

Pre-Kindergarten Information Sessions

All sessions will be held from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.

 

Brooklyn

March 12, 2012

Sunset Park High School

153 35th Street

 

Manhattan

March 15, 2012

The High School of Fashion Industries

225 West 24th Street

 

Queens

March 19, 2012

Flushing High School

35-01 Union Street

 

Bronx

March 20, 2012

P.S. 121 Throop

2750 Throop Avenue

 

Staten Island

March 22, 2012

P.S. 69 Daniel D. Tompkins

144 Keating Place

Once your application is complete the waiting begins.  Notifications are not sent out until early June.


Applying to Schools? Then Come to Our School Information and Networking Night

'Tis the Season...the school application season...and everyone is talking about schools -- at the playground, on anonymous online message boards, at the supermarket-- but are you talking to the right people and are you getting the right information?

  • How do you know what the right school is?  What do you really need to know about tours, play dates, thank you notes, lottery schools, testing, etc.?
  • Financial aid for private schools – is it real?

We have done the research for you and have put together a group of parent experts from the schools that you want to attend, who are ready to share their experiences.  Let’s Talk Schools is having a social mixer, to provide parents applying to schools an opportunity to connect with other parents in an informal setting to 'talk schools’ with each other.

Come mix and mingle at our School Information Speed Date Night with parents that will give you the real, unedited scoop on schools and answer your questions live, one-on- one.  Our Parent Experts have knowledge of ongoing schools*, experience of successfully completing the application process and they don’t mind talking about schools all night long!

Come join our conversation.

*Schools represented include the following:-

  • Fieldston Lower / Dalton / Trevor Day / Riverdale Country /
  • Bank Street / Columbia Grammar & Prep / St Hilda’s and St Hughe’s / Spence
  • NEST+m / PS 166 G&T / Hunter /PS 180 /Manhattan School for Children / Ascension
  • New York French-American Charter School / Upper Westside Success Academy
  • Weekday Preschool / Claremont (now MontClare) / Twin Parks Schools – Riverside, Central Park and Park West Montessori
* Final list of schools subject to change

Pre-kindergarten registration for this school year ends on October 28, 2011!

There is still time to enroll in a Pre-K program for the 2011-2012 academic year!

You can still enroll your four-year-old in a Universal Pre-kindergarten (UPK) program at a public school or an early childhood community-based organization (CBO) program. Universal Pre-kindergarten programs are free for children who turn four by December 31, 2011 and live in New York City.

To find a UPK program in your area you can:

The deadline to register is October 28, 2011. Be sure to contact the Pre-kindergarten programs in your area to find out about availability. Openings will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis.

When you go to register, bring the following:

  • Your child
  • Proof of residence (two documents)
  • Child’s birth certificate or passport
  • Child’s immunization records

For more information about Pre-kindergarten programs, visit the Department of Education's website, review Early Childhood resources, or call 311.

See previous post for additional details on the NYC 2011-2012 Public Pre-K Admissions process.

Source: DOE Website

NYC 2011-2012 Public Pre-K Admissions


Starting today, March 7, you can submit a pre-k application by mail or online.  Applications are not considered on a first come first served basis, so take your time – you have until Friday, April 8 to submit an application.  The Pre-Kindergarten Directory and application are available at your local elementary school, borough enrollment office, and at the DOE  pre-k webpage.
Before you begin the application, review the directory and become familiar with the Universal Pre-Kindergarten programs in your community.  Take time to gather as much information as possible.  Visit schools and attend open house events or tours.

Here are a few things to note about New York's Universal Pre-K programs:

- All universal pre-k programs are free of charge for children born in 2007 who reside in New York City

- Even though all 4 year olds are eligible, a seat in a public universal pre-k program is not guaranteed

- The application deadline is Friday, April 8, 2011

- Programs can be half day (two and a half hours, AM/morning or PM/afternoon) or full day (six hours and twenty minutes)

- Programs are housed in public schools or in  community based organizations, and each has their own separate application process.  You can find the CBO application online here.

- Public school spots are given by lottery.  First preference for all universal pre-k programs in public schools is given to siblings of students already registered in a NYC public school.  Additional admission priorities are detailed in the directory.

- Applications available by mail or online.  To apply by mail, you need to get a printed application from this year's pre-k directory, available at all borough enrollment offices. The directory is also available online.  You may apply for a number of schools in one submission and rank those schools by order of preference.

There are information sessions in each borough this week.  Representatives from the Office of Student Enrollment and the Office of Early Childhood Education will be available at the sessions to answer your questions.  Feedback from parents who attended the sessions last year was that all the information you need can be found in the directory or online at the DOE website.  The sessions are often crowded and not well organized, but perhaps there will be improvements this year.


Pre-Kindergarten Information Sessions
All sessions will be held from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
Monday, March 7 - Queens
Long Island City High School
14-30 Broadway
Tuesday, March 8 - Bronx
Theodore Roosevelt Educational Campus
500 East Fordham Road
Tuesday, March 8 - Brooklyn
Sunset Park High School
153 35th Street
Wednesday, March 9 - Staten Island
New Dorp High School
465 New Dorp Lane
Wednesday, March 9 - Manhattan
Louis D. Brandeis High School
145 West 84th Street

Once your application is complete the waiting begins.  Notifications are not sent out until early June.

Questions?
If you have any questions, please e-mail the Office of Student Enrollment at ES_Enrollment@schools.nyc.gov or call 718-935-2009.

Pre-K Registration Round 2 for 2010-2011 School Year

Round 2 Pre-K admissions for the 2010-2011 school year are underway.  These are pre-K options for families who applied in Round 1 and did not receive an offer, as well as opportunities for families who are applying for the first time for pre-K options at both DOE sites and community based organizations.

Directories and applications are available online and at borough enrollment offices.  The deadline to submit an application is Friday, July 30. Offer letters will be sent to families in late August.  See our previous post on the subject for additional details.

If you live in Distritct 3, an additional Pre-K section will open at PS 191 (210 West 61 Street).

For more information, visit the Pre-Kindergarten Admissions page on the New York City Department of Education website.

NYC Pre-K applications for the 2010-2011 school year

It's the most wonderful time of the year (not!).  The Preschool application season has begun anew in New York City for the 2010-2011 school year.  Here's the deal - if your child turns 4 years old before December 31, 2010 then you can enroll him/her in a public school pre-k program that starts in September 2010.  That's the easy part.  How to do so will take a bit more effort on your part.  But do not despair, I'll help walk you through the process. Continue reading "NYC Pre-K applications for the 2010-2011 school year"