Pre-K

Who Can Apply?

All NYC children born in 2020 can apply for pre-K for the 2024-2025 school year, including children currently attending 3-K or other preschool programs, children with disabilities, children with accessibility needs, children learning English, and students in temporary housing. Children do not need to be toilet trained to attend pre-K.

Pre-K Programs Serving Students with Disabilities

All pre-K programs serve children with and without disabilities. If your child has an IEP (Individualized Education Programs) that recommends a Special Education Itinerant Teacher (SEIT) and/or Related Services only, these services can be provided at all pre-K programs, or at home under certain circumstances. If your child has an IEP that recommends "Special Class in an Integrated Setting" (SCIS) or "Special Class," the CPSE will arrange for an appropriate placement in a preschool special education program. These classes are available at community-based special education programs, and at some Pre-K Centers and NYCPS public schools. Learn more about how the NYCPS serves students with disabilities at schools.nyc.gov/SpecialEducation.

How to Find Programs

Use MySchools to search for and learn about pre-K options. During the application period, you can also use MySchools to add programs to your child's application and submit it.

• There are three different pre-K school settings. Learn more below.
• A specific school may offer up to three seat types, which differ in hours and eligibility requirements. When applying to that school in MySchools, be sure to add the seat type(s) you want and are eligible for to your child's application.

Pre-K Settings

There are three settings for pre-K. Each setting offers the same high-quality, play-based curriculum to New York City’s four-year-old children:

• NYC Early Education Centers (NYCEECs). These are community-based organizations with early childhood expertise. NYCEECs could be private schools, daycares, or other sites that partner with NYCPS to provide pre-K. Additionally many programs may offer early dropoff or late pickup options for a fee.
• District Schools. Some public elementary schools offer pre-K. Consider this option if you want your child to attend a program in an elementary school setting.
• Pre-K Centers. Pre-K Centers are run by NYCPS staff and only offer grades before kindergarten. Consider Pre-K Centers if you want your child to attend a program with only young children.

Pre-K Seat Types

Dual Language Programs and Language Supports

Some pre-K options also offer a Dual Language program. In these programs, students are taught in two languages: English and a target language. Learn more about specific Dual Language programs in MySchools and by contacting pre-K programs directly.

Some NYC Early Education Centers offer language supports to families whose home language is a language other than English. Language supports include:

• A staff member who is fluent in the target language and is available to support families
• Interpretation services at family meetings
• Translated communications in the target language
• Teaching staff who support the continued development of both English and the target language during instruction

Learn about pre-K language supports in MySchools, and contact schools directly to learn more. Dual Language programs and pre-K programs offering language supports give priority to students based on their home language. For more information about Dual Language programs or programs with language supports, email prekduallanguage@schools.nyc.gov.

Half-Day or Charter School Pre-K Programs

You can also find half-day pre-K programs and charter school pre-K programs in MySchools. However, these programs have separate pre-K admissions processes. Call these schools directly to get more information and learn how to apply.

How to Apply

During the pre-K application period, families can apply one of three ways:

1. Online with MySchools. Apply online in English, Arabic, Bengali/Bangla, Chinese, Haitian Creole, French, Korean, Russian, Spanish, or Urdu.
2. By phone at 718-935-2009. Interpretation services are available in more than 200 languages for over-the-phone applications. You can ask questions and request information about admissions in any language when you call.
3. In person at a Family Welcome Center. An Enrollment Counselor can assist you in submitting an application.

Families Applying to Pre-K for More than One Child

If you are applying to pre-K for more than one child and want your children to attend the same school, you can apply for all children at the same time. First, create your MySchools account. Then add all your children to your MySchools dashboard. After all children have been added to the dashboard, make sure to list which children are multiples (such as twins or triplets) when submitting your application.

Tip: Pre-K admissions is not first come, first served! You can make changes to your application any time before the deadline. All applications submitted by this date are treated the same based on admissions priorities.

Need Care Now?

Some pre-K programs can enroll children at any time throughout the year, if their family is eligible based on income and needs. See the Enrollment for Pre-K Extended Day and Year Seats and Head Start Seats section of this page to learn more.

If you have questions about pre-K admissions, email ESEnrollment@schools.nyc.gov.

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 pre-K offers based on three key factors: 

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

Pre-K admissions is not first come, first served, and you can make changes to your application any time before the application 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 Dual Language program and a Pre-K School Day 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 pre-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 pre-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 DOE 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 pre-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. Pre-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 pre-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 Pre-K Setting

NYC Early Education Centers

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

1. Children who currently attend the center's 3-K or other three-year-old program
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 pre-K program
4. Children who speak a language other than English that the center specializes in serving, if applicable
5. All other children

District Schools (Zoned Schools)

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

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

District Schools (Non-Zoned Schools)

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

1. Children who currently attend 3-K at the school*
2. Children who live in the district who will have a sibling at the school
3. Children who live outside the district who will have a sibling at the school
4. Other children who live in the district
5. Other children who live outside the district

Pre-K Centers

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

1. Children who currently attend 3-K at the Pre-K Center (If applicable)
2. Children who live in the same district as the Pre-K Center
3. Children who live outside the district

*If there are more current student applicants than there are available seats in a pre-K program, current students will receive offers to that pre-K program based on admissions priorities in the order outlined in the 2nd-7th priorities for zoned schools, in the 2nd-5th priorities for non-zoned schools, in the 2nd-3rd priorities for Pre-K Centers, or in the 2nd-4th priorities for NYC Early Education Centers.

Watch this animation to learn how children, including pre-K applicants, get offers to NYC public schools:

Get Your Pre-K Offer

Pre-K offers are released in the spring. All families who submit a pre-K application by the deadline receive a pre-K offer letter; those with MySchools accounts can also view their offer in MySchools. Your pre-K offer letter includes your child's pre-K offer and lets you know where your child is waitlisted, if applicable. 

Accept Your Offer

Secure your child's seat by accepting and registering for your pre-K offer by the deadline provided in your offer letter. The program will work with you to register your child. Be sure to accept your offer even if you are waitlisted at another program or programs.

Waitlists

Programs use waitlists to fill open seats after offers are made.

• Your child will be automatically added to the waitlist for any program you ranked higher on your pre-K application than the program where your child got an offer.
• You can also add your child to additional program's waitlists: this is optional.
• Programs will contact you directly if they are able to offer your child a seat from the waitlist.
• Learn more on our Waitlists page.

Students Who Move During the Admissions Process

If your family moves during the admissions process, call 718-935-2009 or email ESEnrollment@schools.nyc.gov to update your information and talk about changes to your pre-K application or program. Your child’s priority to attend certain programs may change if you move.

Transportation

In New York City, enrollment in a pre-K program does not include school bus service. Only children who are eligible for specialized transportation will get bus service.