The Month Ahead (November 2025)

Published October 31, 2025

So long, pumpkin spice... we hardly knew ye.

November 2025 is here, and as usual, this month is absolutely loaded with major events and happenings for us to note. From the NYC Marathon and the 2025 Mayoral election, to the end of Daylight Savings Time and our nation's annual Mariah Carey thaw-out, November is the kind of month that daily planners were made for—and we haven't even mentioned this month's holidays!

For City public schools, November features this year's second round of Parent-Teacher Conferences, the administration of this year's Specialized High Schools Admissions Test (SHSAT), and this year's first Climate Action Day. In addition to our Veterans Day and Thanksgiving Day holidays, our schools will also be celebrating and commemorating Native American Heritage Month throughout November.

And so, before your kids realize you've "disappeared" their unwrapped candied corn, come and take a closer look to see what's in store for New York City students and families this November, courtesy of the official 2025–26 NYC Schools Calendar:

NYC Schools Calendar — November 2025

Date	Details
All Month Long	Native American Heritage Month
Sunday, November 2	End of Daylight Savings Time/Return of Standard Time Don't forget to turn your clocks back by one hour!
Monday, November 3	Last Day to Register for Mark Twain I.S. 239 Testing and for District 21 Talent Tests
Tuesday, November 4	Election Day All NYC public schools closed
Thursday, November 6	Afternoon and Evening Parent-Teacher Conferences (Elementary Schools) For students attending K–5 and K–8 schools; students in these schools will be dismissed three hours early.
Tuesday, November 11	Veterans Day All NYC public schools and offices closed
Wednesday, November 12	SHSAT In-School Testing Day (Grade 8 Students) For current eighth graders attending NYCPS elementary (K–8) and middle school (6–8) programs ONLY; must have registered to take the 2025 SHSAT by the registration deadline on October 31, 2025.
Thursday, November 13	Afternoon and Evening Parent-Teacher Conferences (Middle Schools and D-75) For students attending middle schools (programs with only grades 6–8), as well as for students attending District 75 programs. Students in these schools will be dismissed three hours early.
Saturday, November 15–Sunday, November 16	SHSAT Weekend Testing Days (Grade 8 Students) For current eighth grade students attending charter or private schools, NYCPS programs with grades 6–12, and homeschooled students; must have registered to take the 2025 SHSAT by the registration deadline on October 31, 2025.
Wednesday, November 19	Climate Action Day #1 — "Waste" Check in with your school to see how teachers, students, and building staff members are working together to respond to climate change within your school community during this year's first Climate Action Day.
Thursday, November 20	Evening Parent-Teacher Conferences (High Schools, K–12 Programs, and 6–12 Programs) For students attending high schools (programs with only grades 9–12), as well as for students attending K–12 programs, and 6–12 programs. Check in with your school for further details, including possible date changes.
Friday, November 21	Afternoon Parent-Teacher Conferences (High Schools, K–12 Programs, and 6–12 Programs) Students attending high schools (programs with grades 9–12), K–12 programs, and 6–12 programs will be dismissed three hours early. Check in with your child's school for details and possible changes.
Saturday, November 22–Sunday, November 23	SHSAT Weekend Testing Days (Grade 9 Students) For all current ninth grade students who registered to take the 2025 SHSAT by the registration deadline on October 31, 2025.
Thursday, November 27–Friday, November 28	Thanksgiving Recess All NYC public schools and offices closed

Some notes about this month's schedule:

November is National Native American Heritage Month

All month long, NYC Public Schools is recognizing the history, cultures, and contributions of the indigenous peoples of our nation to New York City and beyond. So join our students, and help us celebrate Native American history and heritage throughout November!

Check with your children's teachers to see how Native American heritage is being recognized at your children's schools this year.

November's Parent-Teacher Conferences Begin November 6

The 2025–26 school year's second set of Parent-Teacher Conferences will take place throughout November 2025 on the following dates:

November 6 for elementary schools (K–8 buildings);
November 13 for middle schools (buildings with just grades 6–8) and District 75 programs
November 20 and 21 for high schools, K–12 programs (schools with grades K–12), and 6–12 programs (schools with grades 6–12)

Contact your school for details about this month's conferences, including sign-up links for virtual meetings with your child's teachers. Please note that schools hosting Parent-Teacher Conferences on November 6, 13, or 21 will be dismissing their students three hours earlier than usual—speak with your school's teachers or parent coordinator for more information.

For conference tips and suggestions, check out our official Parent-Teacher Conferences webpage.

Specialized High School Admissions Test (SHSAT) Dates Scheduled Throughout November

The Specialized High Schools Admissions Test (SHSAT), the test required for admission to any of the City's eight testing Specialized High Schools, will be administered on different dates throughout November 2025.

Visit our official Specialized High Schools webpage to learn when and where students will be taking the SHSAT this year. Remember: only students who registered to take the SHSAT by the October 31 deadline will be able to take the test during this month's testing dates (November 12, 15–16, and 22–23).

Students should speak with their school counselors for questions about their SHSAT registration. To learn more about what is actually on the SHSAT, visit our NYC SHSAT Portal for an overview of the SHSAT, including practice tests.

Help Support the Environment During This Year's First Climate Action Day

On November 19, City public schools across the five boroughs will be celebrating this year's first official Climate Action Day with fun, environmentally-themed, creative learning opportunities for entire school communities. This month's Climate Action Day theme is "Waste," and participating schools will be hosting activities that promote outdoor learning and stewardship for green spaces.

Check with your/your child's school to find out how they will be celebrating November's Climate Acton Day.

Middle and High School Applications for Fall 2026 Admissions Remain Open; Will Close in December 2025

NYC families seeking admission to NYC's public middle schools and high schools have all of November to continue working on their applications and learning more about their school and program preferences. Check out the MySchools Event Calendar to look up any of the hundreds of admissions events our middle and high schools will be hosting throughout November, including open houses, classroom tours, and community presentations.

Remember: high school applications will close on December 3, while middle school applications will close on December 12. To learn more, visit our middle school and high school admission overviews right here on The Morning Bell.

Applying for I.S. 239 Mark Twain and/or the Talent Programs in District 21? Note that your students must be registered for Mark Twain/D21's Talent Tests on MySchools on Monday, November 3. Visit our Middle School Auditions webpage to learn more.

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And that is all for November! For the latest updates regarding NYC Public Schools, bookmark The Morning Bell, and check out our social media channels on Instagram, Facebook, and X.

On behalf of NYC Public Schools, we wish you all a warm and bountiful November!

Banner/teaser photo by cottonbro studio; original photo can be found on Pexels.

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