New York's Public Libraries Are Here to Help You Plan for Life After Graduation
The New York Public Library, Brooklyn Public Library, and Queens Public Library offer a wide range of resources—including individual counseling, college and career prep workshops, and programs to help our students take the next big step, whatever that may be.
The Month Ahead (November 2024)
See what's in store for NYC Public Schools during the month of November 2024! Key dates this month include Diwali, Election Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Recess, and this year's second round of Parent-Teacher Conferences.
Get Ready for November’s Parent-Teacher Conferences
On Thursday, November 7, 14, and 21, and Friday, November 22, NYC Public Schools (NYCPS) are holding their second round of Parent-Teacher Conferences (PTCs) of the 2024–2025 school year. Check out some of our tips to make your conference productive!
Learn About the NYC School Bus App
The NYC School Bus App is a resource for families to keep track of their child's yellow bus commute. Learn how to access it and join your child on their journey to and from school.
Get Ready for Life After High School!
As thousands of City high school seniors and their families prepare for life after graduation, find out about time-sensitive opportunities to participate in NOW!
Apply to NYC Middle Schools for Fall 2025 by December 20
From October 15 until December 20, 2024, NYC families can apply to middle school for the 2024–25 school year. Learn more about this year's admissions processes, including suggested tips and tools that you can use to discover and select programs, and submit your application!
Stay Informed with a NYC Schools Account (NYCSA)
With a NYCSA, you can:
- Access your child's school information on the go
- See your student’s grades, test scores and more
- Complete important forms
- Take classes in Parent University
- Get technology support through SupportHub
Native American Heritage Month Highlight: Mary Golda Ross
In celebration of Native American Heritage Month, we're sharing the story of Mary Golda Ross, one of NASA's famous “Hidden Figures,” and the first Native American woman to become an aerospace engineer.
What We're Reading
Tuesday, November 5 is Election Day! We encourage all of our eligible students and families to be voters: if you and your family haven't voted yet, you can make your voting plan and find a sample ballot for this election at planto.vote.nyc.
To promote civic engagement this week, our book recommendations will get both current and future voters excited to participate in our democracy, teach students about the history of elections and suffrage, and will help them discover new ways to make their voice heard, even if they are not yet able to vote!
Early Readers (3K–Grade 2)
- Fight of the Century: Alice Paul Battles Woodrow Wilson for the Vote, by Barb Rosenstock; illustrated by Sarah Green
- I Voted: Making a Choice Makes a Difference, by Mark Shulman; illustrated by Serge Bloch
- Vote for Our Future, by Margaret McNamara; illustrated by Micah Player
Elementary (Grades 3–5)
- Ballots for Belva: The True Story of a Woman’s Race for the Presidency, by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen; illustrated by Courtney A. Martin
- Grace for President! By Kelly S. DiPucchio; illustrated by LeUyen Pham
- When You Grow Up to Vote: How Our Government Works for YOU, by Eleanor Roosevelt with Michelle Markel; illustrated by Grace Lin
Middle School (Grades 6–8)
- Drawing the Vote: A Graphic Novel History for Future Voters, by Tommy Jenkins; illustrated by Kati Lacker
- Lifting As We Climb: Black Women’s Battle for the Ballot Box, by Evette Dionne
- Roses and Radicals: The Epic Story of How American Women Won the Right to Vote, by Susan Zimet and Todd Hasak-Lowy
Upper Grades (Grades 9–12)
- Amazons, Abolitionists, and Activists: A Graphic History of Women’s Fight for their Rights, by Mikki Kendall; A. D’Amico
- One Person, No Vote: How Not All Voters Are Treated Equally (A Young Adult Adaptation), by Carole Anderson and Tonya Bolden
- Turning 15 On the Road to Freedom: My Story of the 1965 Selma Voting Rights March, by Lynda Blackmon-Lowery
You can find these books and many more great reads on Sora, our Citywide Digital Library, which provides free access to thousands of digital e-books and audiobooks for our students. You can also find even more great recommendations in the “Election Day” Collection.
Missed our previous book recommendations?
Check them out in the "What We're Reading" Archive!
SPOTLIGHT ON OUR SCHOOLS
NYC public schools were full of spooks and sweets celebrating Halloween on October 31. Here are some of our favorite costumes and festivities throughout our schools.
Dates to Remember
- All Month Long: National Native American Heritage Month
- November 1: Diwali; schools closed
- November 3: Daylight Savings Time ends
- November 5: Election Day; no classes for students
- November 7: Afternoon and Evening Parent-Teacher Conferences (Elementary Schools); early dismissal for affected students
- November 11: Veterans Day; schools closed
- November 14: Afternoon and Evening Parent-Teacher Conferences (Middle Schools and D75 Programs); early dismissal for affected students
- November 19: Climate Action Day — "Waste"
- November 21: Evening Parent-Teacher Conferences (High Schools, K–12, and 6–12 programs)
- November 22: Afternoon Parent-Teacher Conferences (High Schools, K–12, and 6–12 programs); early dismissal for affected students
- November 28–29: Thanksgiving Recess; schools closed
The 2024-2025 School Year Calendar has been Updated
The latest calendar can be viewed on the 2024-2025 School Year Calendar page.
An Introduction to Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos
"I am honored and excited to be your new Chancellor. As a lifelong educator and mom of a New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) student, I am eager to work with and serve you."
Class is in Session with Parent University
Parent University is a free online learning platform for NYCPS families. Start the 2024–25 school year by enrolling in courses you're interested in today!
The Fall 2025 High School Application is Now Open
From October 1 until December 4, 2024, NYC families can apply to high school for the 2024–25 school year. Learn more about this year's admissions processes, including suggested tips and tools that you can use to discover and select programs, and submit your application!
OMNY Card 'Taps' Into NYC Schools This Fall
This fall, NYC Public Schools will begin distributing Student OMNY Cards to students across the City. Learn how OMNY Cards improve upon Student MetroCards in almost every single way, and get ready to "tap in!"
A MySchools.nyc Tutorial: Learn the Basics
Throughout any stage of New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) application processes for 3-K, Pre-K, Kindergarten, middle school, high school, and Gifted and Talented (G&T) for grades 1, 2, 3, and 4, you can use MySchools.nyc—learn how to today!
Ready to Read: Literacy Resources for Families
NYC Reads is reshaping the way that we teach our students to read, but the learning doesn't have to stop at the classroom door! Whether it's a family book club or a phonics-based 20 questions game, you can bring the "science of reading" home by using any of our helpful resources that will help your children continue to develop their literacy skills, like:
- Reading Games
- Phonics, Vocabulary, and Storytelling Practice
- And more!
