Applying to Kindergarten will be different this year

By Joyce Szuflita
Kindergarten applications open Dec. 7 and the deadline is Jan. 20, 2023.

The big change is that you will apply for zoned schools, unzoned programs, dual language programs AND Gifted and Talented programs ALL ON THE SAME application. You will apply for G&T even though you don't know yet if you qualify. If you do end up qualifying then your G&T choices will go into the mix. If you don't qualify, then they are not a factor in your placement.

You will have an application that will allow you to rank up to 12 choices on MY SCHOOLS. Generally, you will put your zoned school on this list somewhere. You may also like one of the few interesting non-zoned schools such as Brooklyn New School or Arts & Letters/305 United. (there are more). There are Dual Language programs in some schools that might be interesting to you, like the French program at PS 20 or Dual Language Spanish at 705 (there are many more). You can apply to schools in and out of your district if you prefer. If you are considering programs outside of your zoned school, you can fill those 12 choices pretty fast. Now you also need to use spots for G&T. You get priority for G&T options in your district first, but you can apply out of district if you prefer. There are also 5 Citywide G&T schools. You are using spots on your application, but you don’t even know if your child is eligible.

If you are attending a DoE preschool (Public School, Prek Center, NYCEEC, etc.) your child will be evaluated by their teacher. If you are attending a private or parochial school, after your application is submitted with G&T programs on it - then the DoE will contact you to schedule an interview. Based on these interviews, early childhood education experts nominate eligible applicants for G&T admissions. If you are eligible, then your G&T favorites will be in the mix for placement. If not, it will as if you didn’t rank them, so you won’t be disadvantaged in any way other than not being able to use those application spots for other general ed programs.

THEN you will only get only one placement from that application.

In the past, you would get a general ed placement and then later, if you qualify and want it, a separate G&T placement that you could accept or reject later. All the decisions about preference need to be made now.

Get cracking. You have a little over a month to consider your options. Time to get touring.