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.
Prepare for Remote Learning
Make sure your family is ready for remote learning with these tips and answers to frequently asked questions!
Opportunities for Students (November 2026)
With the second full month of fall upon us, let's check out some of the fun learning opportunities available for NYCPS students in November 2026!
The Month Ahead (November 2026)
Grab your planner and write down everything happening this November! From remote learning on Election Day to Thanksgiving break, you have a lot of info to gobble up.
Make Your Voice Heard This Election Day
Decision Day is on Tuesday, November 3, 2026—if you are a U.S. citizen, 18 years of age or older, a resident of New York City, and are registered to vote, then head on over to your designated polling place to cast your vote!
Don't Get Scared Out of College Application Month!
October is New York State College Application Month—learn how City students can start getting ready for life after high school by taking advantage of the resources and opportunities available to them this month and beyond, including application fee waivers, online virtual events, and more!
It's Time for November’s Parent-Teacher Conferences
The next round of Parent-Teacher Conferences (PTCs) of the 2026–2027 school year takes place on Thursday, November 5, 12, and 19, and Friday, November 20. Check out some of our tips to make your conference productive!
Apply to NYC Middle Schools for Fall 2027 by December 11
From October 14 until December 11, 2026, NYC families can apply to middle school for the 2027–28 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!
Apply to High School for the 2027–28 School Year
From October 6 until December 4, 2026, NYC families can apply to high school for the 2027–28 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!
It’s officially spooky season! Whether it’s scary ghost stories or cozy adventures with witches and pumpkins, these books are helping us get into the Halloween spirit! We hope you enjoy them as much as we do.
Early Readers (3-K–Grade 2)
- 10 Spooky Pumpkins, by Gris Grimley
- The Ghostly Carousel, by Calef Brown
- The Ofrenda We Built, by Jolene Gutierrez and Shaian Guiterrez; illustrated by Gabby Zapata
- Trick-or-Treating in the City, by Tiffany D. Jackson; illustrated by Sawyer Cloud
- Vlad the Rad, by Brigitte Barrager
Elementary (Grades 3–5)
- A Bite Above the Rest, by Christine Virnig
- Elvira Vance and the Monster Mystery, by Kacy Ritter
- Mystery James Digs Her Own Grave, by Ally Russell
- The Witch Boy, by Molly Knox Ostertag
- Witches of Brooklyn, by Sophie Escabasse
Middle School (Grades 6–8)
- More Bones: Scary Stories from Around the World, by Arielle North Olson and Howard Scwartz
- The Ojja-Wojja, by Magdalene Visaggio
- Pumpkinheads, by Rainbow Rowell; illustrated by Faith Evan Hicks
- The Skeleton Flute, by Damara Allen
- Spirit Hunters, by Ellen Oh
Upper Grades (Grades 9–12)
- Cemetery Boys, by Aiden Thomas
- The Dark Becomes Her, by Judy I. Lin
- The Ghosts of Rose Hill, by R.M. Romero
- Our Shadows Have Claws: 15 Latin American Monster Stories, edited by Yamile Saied Méndez and Amparo Ortiz
- The Taking of Jake Livingston, by Ryan Douglass
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 recommendations in the Carve Out Time with a Good Book Collection on Sora. Happy Halloween!
Missed our previous book recommendations?
Check them out in the "What We're Reading" Archive!
SPOTLIGHT ON OUR SCHOOLS
For many of our students and families, October was a month where routines normalized and the academic year kicked into high gear. Students across the five boroughs spent the month completing major assignments, starting new projects, and improving the skills they picked up at the start of the school year.
Last month, we proudly announced the citywide expansion of our 2-K program—beginning in fall 2027, children across all five boroughs, including the Bronx and Staten Island, will have access to free, high-quality early childhood education. This means that 10,000 more families will soon be able to obtain child care for their two-year-old children without having to deal with the stress of paying for it!
Check out our photos from the past month!
Keep Track of Your Child's Progress with NYCSA
Learn how an NYC Schools Account (NYCSA) can help you access your child's grades and transportation information, update important forms, explore exclusive online learning opportunities, stay connected with your local parent leader groups, and more!
NYC Schools to Remain Distraction-Free in 2026–27
For the second year in a row, NYC Public Schools will be enforcing its new Cell Phone and Electronic Device Policy across all K–12 City public schools, including charter programs, in accordance with New York State law. Learn more about this policy, and let's all do our part to keep our schools free of screen-based distractions!
2026–27 NYCPS Calendar Now Available
The official New York City Public Schools calendar for the 2026–2027 school year is now available! Learn more about next year's calendar, and start making your plans for the upcoming school year 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!
