3-K

Visit Programs' Websites and Attend Open Houses

We encourage you to visit programs’ websites or contact programs directly to learn more about them and find out if they are hosting any virtual or in-person open houses or information sessions, or if they have other resources to share with prospective families. . The 3-K Directory on MySchools is a resource you can use to find contact information for schools of interest.

Visiting a 3-K program is a great way to explore if it may be the right place for your child. Virtual tours also provide a way to imagine what attending that program would be like.

When visiting a 3-K program virtually or in person, consider asking staff members questions about the program, such as:

• How will the teachers learn about my child's interests, strengths, and needs?
• How will your program help children get to know the teachers and the other staff?
• How would you describe the community of teachers and families here?
• How do teachers work with families?
• How do teachers guide children's behavior?
• How will staff members make sure my child feels safe and cared for?
• What are your program's strengths? What are you working on improving?
• How do teachers support children who speak a language other than English at home?

Learn How Children Get Offers

Learning how offers are made is helpful to know your child’s chances of getting an offer from one of your preferred choices on the application. Children get 3-K offers based on three key factors:

1. Your application choices
2. Program's seat availability
3. Admission priorities

3-K admissions is not first come, first served, and you can make changes to your application any time before the deadline.

Admissions Factor: Your Application Choices

The choices that you add to your child's application and the order in which you place them matter!

1. Choose up to 12 programs that you'd like your child to attend.

2. Add them to your application, placing programs in your true order of preference, with your first choice at the top as #1. Some schools offer more than one program at a site location, so be sure to add the correct program—such as a 3-K School Day program and a 3-K Head Start program—to your application.

Your child will be considered for admissions at each program you list on your application. They will get one offer to the 3-K program you listed highest that also has an open seat. If your child does not get an offer to a program listed on your application, they will get an offer to the closest available program.

Programs' Seat Availability

Each 3-K program has a certain number of available seats. Programs vary in size, and many have more applicants than seats. If a program has more applicants than seats, admissions priorities are used to make offers.

Types of Admissions Priorities

Your child has a better chance of getting into some programs than others. When a program can't make offers to applicants, offers are made based on which children have the highest admissions priority to attend that program.

• Children are considered in priority groups, and all students in the first priority group are considered first.

• If seats are available, children in the second priority group will be considered next, and so on.

Program demand varies greatly. Some programs admit applicants from most or all priority groups, while others only admit applicants from their first priority group.

Current Student Priority

If your child is currently enrolled at a program that you apply to, they have priority at that program. If you would like your child to remain at the program, be sure to list the program on your application and indicate that your child is a current student. On the last page of the application, let us know where your child currently attends.

Sibling Priority

If your child's sibling attends a program that you list on your application, they have a higher chance of getting an offer to that program. A sibling is defined as an applicant's brother or sister, including half-brothers, half-sisters, stepbrothers, stepsisters, foster brothers, and foster sisters who live in the same household. Sibling priority will only be granted in cases where either of the following applies: the applicant's sibling attends the school now and will still be enrolled in September 2024, or the applicant's sibling has an accepted offer for September 2024. This includes siblings enrolled in District 75 programs in the same building. On the last page of the application, let us know if you have a sibling attending a school you applied to. 

District Priority

New York City has 32 school districts. Your school district is determined by your home address. Your child may have priority to attend programs at NYCPS public schools and Pre-K Centers in the school district where your family lives.

Zoned Priority

• Most families in NYC have a zoned elementary school. This means that children who live in the zone, or area around a school, have priority to attend that school. If you have zoned DOE public school that offers a 3-K program, your child will have priority to attend that program.

• You can look up your child's zoned school (if they have one) and your school district at Find-a-School or by calling 311.

• Families living in Districts 1, 7, and 23 do not have a zoned school—children living in these districts have priority to attend all schools in the district.

Diversity in Admissions Priority

NYCPS is committed to creating and supporting learning environments that reflect the diversity of New York City. We believe all students benefit from diverse and inclusive schools and classrooms. 3-K programs across the city are participating in an initiative to increase diversity by giving admissions priorities for a certain percentage of seats to specific groups of children, such as low-income students, students in temporary housing, Emergent Multilingual Learners, and other groups. The current list of 3-K programs participating in this initiative, as well as details about each priority, is available on the Diversity in Admissions Page.

Admissions Priorities for Each 3-K Setting

NYC Early Education Centers

Applicants receive offers to 3-K at NYC Early Education Centers in the following order:

1. Children who currently attend the center
2. Children who will have siblings enrolled at the NYC Early Education Center
3. Children whose families currently get free or subsidized social services from the organization running the center's 3-K program
4. Children who speak a language other than English that the center specializes in serving, if applicable
5. Other children who live in the district
   • The priority is not applicable for Extended Day and Year seats or Head Start seats.
6. All other children

District Schools - Zoned Schools

Applicants receive offers to 3-K at zoned schools in the following order:

1. Children who live in the zone and will have a sibling at the school
2. Other children who live in the zone
3. Children who live in the district and will have a sibling at the school
4. Children who live outside the district and will have a sibling at the school
5. Other children who live in the district
6. Other children who live outside the district

District Schools - Non-Zoned Schools

Applicants receive offers to 3-K at non-zoned schools in the following order:

1. Children who live in the district who will have a sibling at the school
2. Children who live outside the district who will have a sibling at the school
3. Other children who live in the district
4. Other children who live outside the district

Pre-K Centers

Applicants receive offers to 3-K at Pre-K Centers in the following order:

1. Children who live in the district and who will have a sibling at the Pre-K Center
2. Children who live outside the district and who will have a sibling at the Pre-K Center
3. Other children who live in the district
4. Other children who live outside the district

Family Child Care (Home Based Programs)

Applicants receive offers to 3-K at Family Child Care programs in the following order:

1. Children currently enrolled at the Family Child Care program
2. Children who will have siblings enrolled at the Family Child Care program
3. Children whose families currently get free or subsidized social services from the organization running the Family Child Care 3-K program
4. Other children who live in the district
   • The priority is not applicable for Extended Day and Year seats
5. All other children

*If there are more current student applicants than there are available seats in a 3-K program, current students will receive offers to that 3-K program based on admissions priorities in the order outlined in the 2nd-5th priorities for NYC Early Education Centers and in the 2nd-3rd priorities for Family Child Care.

Watch this animation to learn how students of all ages get offers to NYC public schools: