NYC Extends the Deadline for Kindergarten Applications

The New York City Department of Education has given parents an extra week to apply for kindergarten in the city's public schools.

The original deadline was Friday. The new deadline is Jan. 19.

Any child born in 2013 who currently is eligible to attend in the 2018-2019 school year. 

At the new Family Resource Center on the Lower East Side, outreach coordinator Patricia Beato is working to get the word out. She has a stack of phone numbers of families who likely have a child eligible for kindergarten. And she's calling all of them.

“Every day we have a new list,” she said. She says she helps them figure out which schools might be best for their child. “What programs they have for the children, if they have after school programs, if they're free. All of that is taken into consideration.” 

Families can list up to 12 schools and should receive an offer in March.

Beato says families should rank at least five schools on their applications, because there's no guarantee students will get into their top choice. And she's encouraging families in District 1 to look beyond the school down the street.

The resource center, which opened in October, is meant to better integrate the schools by sharing more information about all the kindergarten options available.

Families can find the Department of Education’s kindergarten directory here.

There are three ways to apply to kindergarten: in person at a Family Welcome Center, by phone at 718-935-2009, or through the DOE’s online application site.

Families apply to charter schools, private schools and gifted and talented programs separately.