You can sign up to receive emails for the latest updates on high school admissions, including events. You can also get updates on the Department of Education website.

Admissions Timeline

• Week of January 18, 2021: application period begins
• March 1, 2021: deadline to apply
• Spring: offer letters mailed and results available on MySchools

Explore Schools

You can apply for up to 12 programs on your application.

To decide which programs to include on your application, you can:

• Research high school programs using School Finder.
• Read the High School Admissions Guide. You can pick up a copy from your school counselor or at a Family Welcome Center.
• Visit or attend open houses or other events at schools you’re interested in
• Attend a high school fair to speak with representatives from different schools

How to Apply

During the application period, you can apply:

• Online with MySchools
• Through your school counselor

You can list to up to 12 programs on your application. Rank each program in order of preference.

Offers

All students who applied will receive a high school offer in March. Offers will also be available to view in MySchools.

Offers are based on seat availability, admissions priorities, and admissions methods.

Most students get an offer to attend one of the programs ranked on their application, but it’s not guaranteed. If you don’t get an offer from one of the programs on your application, you will get one to another school.

You cannot appeal to change your high school match.

Waitlists

Your child will be automatically added to the waitlist for any school that you placed higher on your application than the school where you got an offer. For example, if your child got an offer to attend the school you listed third on their application, they will be added to the waitlist for your first and second choice schools.

You will also be able to add your child to a waitlist for schools lower on their list or a school you didn’t list on your application.

You can check your child’s place on the waitlist for any school through your MySchools account. You can also contact the school. If a seat opens up, the school will contact you directly with an offer.

Students who are new to public school and returning students who were not assigned a high school or have moved to a new neighborhood must register at a Family Welcome Center.

You can get more information online or by phone.

Online

Get high school enrollment information.

By Phone

The Department of Education (DOE) assists former public school students under 21 years old with returning to school. Students or parents must contact the District where the student's last high school is located.

Look up information for a public school.

Further assistance is available by phone.

What to Bring to Register

To register your child for school, you must bring:

• Two proofs of address
• Proof of the child's age, such as a birth certificate, passport, or record of baptism
• Your child's immunization records
• Latest report card/transcript (if available)
• Individualized Education Program (IEP) and/or 504 Accommodation Plan (if applicable and available)

All children under the age of 5 years (6-59 months) are required to receive the flu shot if they attend a New York City regulated preschool or child care center. Visit the Flu Shot and Prevention page to learn more.

Proof of Address

Bring two of the following to prove your address:

• Income tax form for the last calendar year
• State, City, or other government-issued identification (including an IDNYC card) which isn't expired, and includes the address of residence
• Official NYS Driver License, Non-Driver ID card, or learner permit which isn't expired, and includes the address of residence
• A rent receipt, which includes the address of residence, dated within the past 60 days
• A residential utility bill (gas or electric) issued by National Grid, Con Edison, or the Long Island Power Authority dated within the past 60 days
• Water bill for the residence dated within the past 90 days
• A cable bill for the residence, which includes the name of the parent and the address of residence, dated within the past 60 days
• Documentation or a letter on letterhead from a federal, state, or local government agency dated within the past 60 days that includes the resident's name and address. Examples of agencies include:
  • Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
  • New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA)
  • The federal Office of Refugee Resettlement
  • Human Resources Administration (HRA)
  • Administration for Children's Services (ACS) or an ACS subcontractor
• A lease agreement, deed, or mortgage statement for the residence
• A current property tax bill for the residence
• Official payroll documentation from an employer issued within the past 60 days that includes the home address, A letter on the employer's letterhead isn't adequate. Examples include:
  • Paystub with home address
  • Form submitted for tax withholding purposes
  • Payroll receipt
• Voter registration documents that include the name of the parent and the address of residence
• Unexpired membership document based upon residency, such as neighborhood residents' association, which includes the name of the parent and the address of residence
• Evidence of custody of the child, including judicial custody orders or guardianship papers issued within the past 60 days that includes the name of the student and the home address

At High School Admissions Fairs, you can speak with representatives from all of the City's public high schools, including specialized schools, and participate in workshops related to the high school admissions process.

You can also get copies of publications, including the Directory of the New York City Public High Schools.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, dates and locations for the high school fairs as listed in the 2021 NYC High School and Specialized High Schools Admissions Guide will change.

You can sign up to receive emails with the latest updates on high school admissions, including events.

This fall and winter, DOE will be hosting virtual information sessions about high school and Specialized High Schools admissions in New York City.

All current 8th and first-time 9th grade students and families may attend both events.

Each event will be hosted live on Zoom. A captioned recording will also be posted on the DOE website two weeks after the first event.

After the presentation, staff will respond to your questions about these topics.

Dates, times, and language access information for these sessions are available online.

Get more information about DOE virtual information sessions, including Zoom links and recordings.

You can get help with the high school admissions process and enrollment.

Online

Get high school enrollment information.

Family Welcome Centers are also providing assistance online.

By Phone or In Person

Speak with your school counselor. For contact information, visit the School Finder page.