Public Elementary School- need help!

ljcjpc

I am moving there in April and I have no idea how to navigate the school system!  I would love to enroll my daugher in public school but (obviously) I want her to attend a good one.  I am willing to move anywhere in Manhattan/Brooklyn.  Does anyone know how to get into a good public elementary school?  I understand enrollment ends in March and I won't be there yet. 

 Thanks!

MrsKocal

It is based on where you live.  That determines where you are zoned for.  And I believe if you haven't moved here yet, I don't think the March deadline would not apply to you.  You will just need to register when you move.  But you can call 311 and ask.

As far as getting into a good school - if you are willing to move anywhere, just go to the NYC Dept. of Ed website and check out the school's report cards.

http://schools.nyc.gov/ChoicesEnrollment/default.htm

juniper19

Don't worry about the end of enrollment.  Schools will accept your registration when you move, even if it is after the enrollment date.

The other poster is correct that enrollment is based on a zoned system.  There are districts, and within most districts there are zones, and you are assigned to a school based on your address.  Unfortunately a number of the most popular schools there are more students than seats, so children are put on waitlists and run the risk if ending up in another school in the district.  What grade is your child entering?  The wait list problems are bigger in the younger grades because there has been a huge explosion in the student population in recent years.

In Manhattan districts 2 and 3 have excellent reputations.  In Brooklyn district 15 is very good.

The school report cards issued by the city are a good source of information.  Be sure to read the whole report card and don't just look at the letter grade.  The city's method for assigning letter grades is faulty IMO and some excellent schools end up with Bs and even Cs.  The website insideschools.org is a great resource for evaluations of schools. I also has details for enrollment for new arrivals to the city. 

Another enrollment choice to consider is gifted and talented schools and programs.  If your child scores well on the test (they give tests over the summer for new arrivals who missed winter testing) you will open up some additional options aside from your zoned school.

And there are also a handful of schools that don't rely on your zone address but are open to all students in a given address.

Sorry to inundate you with information.  The Department of Education is difficult to summarize in a brief Internet post.  If you want t discuss it in more detail you can PM me.

firedancer22

juniper19:

In Manhattan districts 2 and 3 have excellent reputations.  In Brooklyn district 15 is very good.

this.

i am a teacher, and work in district 15.  i'm a 6th grade teacher, so as i get to know the parents, i hear aaaaalll about the elementary schools the kids attended--the good, the bad, and the ugly.  plus, i get to see how the kids trend out--if most of the kids who come from a certain elementary school are fantastic students in one way or another, it tells me something about that school.  

there are a number of great schools in this district, and it's an absolutely lovely (if a bit more expensive) place to live.  however, there are some amazing schools that are just outside the district's borders, too.  here are some of the area standouts, in my opinion.

PS 261

PS 29

PS 58

PS 8

PS 39

also, i HIGHLY recommend you use the website www.insideschools.org to look up potential schools.  they are an independent reviewing organization, and students, teachers, and parents are all allowed to comment on their reviews of a school.  (feel free to look up the middle school i work at, MS 447.)