Great news—the high school application deadline for fall 2025 has been extended! You now have until Monday, December 9, 2024, to submit your application!

New Yorkers can save hundreds of gallons of water each week by following these simple water-saving tips

The Month Ahead (December 2024)

See what's in store for NYC Public Schools during the last month of 2024! Key dates this month include the start of fall 2025 kindergarten admissions, the end of fall 2025 middle and high school admissions, Computer Science for All Week, and of course, Winter Recess.

Check Your Calendar (Twice)!

Close-up of a small snowman featuring a tiny felt hat and scarf, along with a mini carrot for a nose, and tiny black dots for eyes and coat buttons.

Turn Trash Into Treasure on the First Climate Action Day of the School Year!

Climate Action Days are back! On Tuesday, November 19, join schools across the city as they participate in fun activities and creative lessons that promote sustainability and encourage students to take climate action. The theme for our first Climate Action Day of the school year will be waste! 

Learn how you can take Climate Action

Three students at the beach stand in front of the water on the sand. The first student (left) is holding a clipboard and pencil, while the second student (center) places litter into a trash bag held by the third student (right), using a trash picker.

We're Listening: Chancellor Announces Five-Borough Listening Tour

Beginning November 19, Chancellor Aviles-Ramos will be traveling across the five boroughs and listening to parents, educators, and other community member as part of her Five-Borough Listening Tour. Check out the Chancellor's schedule, and register to attend an event in your borough to let us know your thoughts about City schools!

Voice your opinions at an event near you!

Close-Up of Chancellor Aviles-Ramos superimposed in front of a green map of New York City.

Opportunities for Students (November 2024)

This November, there are several learning opportunities and programs available for City students of all ages. See what's available for NYC public school students this month and beyond, and register/apply for them today!

Apply for internships and scholarships today!

Two students having a conversation outside near a building skylight.

New York's Public Libraries Are Here to Help You Plan for Life After Graduation

The New York Public Library, Brooklyn Public Library, and Queens Public Library offer a wide range of resources—including individual counseling, college and career prep workshops, and programs to help our students take the next big step, whatever that may be.

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Two students in a library in front of a sign that reads 'College and Career Corner.' The student on the left is holding an open book.

Prepare for Remote Learning

In the event that weather conditions or other emergencies require the temporary closure of public school buildings, students will participate in remote learning at home. Make sure your family is ready with these tips and answers to frequently asked questions.

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A mother and daughter sitting together at a table with a laptop. The daughter is pointing at the laptop screen.

Stay Informed with a NYC Schools Account (NYCSA)

With a NYCSA, you can:

  • Access your child's school information on the go
  • See your student’s grades, test scores and more
  • Complete important forms
  • Take classes in Parent University
  • Get technology support through SupportHub

 

Find out what NYCSA can do for you

GIF of NYCSA overview

What We're Reading

There are a seemingly endless number of stories set against the backdrop of our city’s famous landmarks and the neighborhoods we call home on our library's shelves. This list of books that take place in New York City includes just some of our favorites. We hope students of all ages will enjoy them as much as we do! 

Early Readers (3K–Grade 2)

  • Boogie Boogie, Y’all, by C. G. Esperanza
  • Feivel’s Flying Horses, by Heidi Smith Hyde; illustrated by Joanna van der Sterre
  • Lost in the Library, by Josh Funk; illustrated by Stevie Lewis
  • Our Subway Baby, by Peter Mercurio; illustrated by Leo Espinosa 
  • Sugar Hill: Harlem’s Historic Neighborhood, by Carole Boston Weatherford; illustrated by R. Gregory Christie 

Elementary (Grades 3–5)

  • Bolivar, by Sean Rubin
  • Dragons in a Bag, by Zetta Elliot
  • From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, by E.L. Konigsburg
  • Jazz Day: The Making of a Famous Photograph, by Roxanne Orgill; illustrated by Francis Vallejo
  • Lost in NYC: A Subway Adventure, by Nadja Spiegelman; illustrated by Sergio García Sánchez

Middle School (Grades 6–8)

  • The Long Ride, by Marina Budhos
  • Remember Us, by Jacqueline Woodson
  • Some Places More Than Others, by Renée Watson
  • The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street, by Karina Yan Glaser
  • When You Reach Me, by Rebecca Stead 

Upper Grades (Grades 9–12)

  • 145th Street: Short Stories, by Walter Dean Myers
  • Imposter Syndrome and Other Confessions of Alejandra Kim, by Patricia Park
  • The Making of Yolanda la Bruja, by Lorraine Avila
  • They Both Die at the End, by Adam Silvera
  • Vinyl Moon, by Mahogany L. Browne
Image of two students reading.

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, including those in the "New York State of Mind" Collection. 

Missed our previous book recommendations?
Check them out in the "What We're Reading" Archive!

SPOTLIGHT ON OUR SCHOOLS

NYC public schools were full of spooks and sweets celebrating Halloween on October 31. Here are some of our favorite costumes and festivities throughout our schools.

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A teacher and student dressed as wizards with the Chancellor.
Two students dressed a fairy tale character and superhero playing with magnet tiles.
A student dressed as a doctor parading outside of school.
A student dressed as a cheerleader sitting with her classmates.
Students dressed as superheroes and princesses solve puzzles.
A student dressed as a princess parades with her classmates.
The Chancellor and PS 345 staff and students in costumes celebrate Halloween.

Dates to Remember

  • December 2–6: Inclusive Schools Week
  • December 3: Chancellor's Listening Tour Stop #3 (Queens)
  • December 9: 2024–25 High School Admissions Applications Close
  • December 9–13: Computer Science for All Week
  • December 10: 2024–25 Kindergarten and Kindergarten G&T Admissions Applications Open
  • December 10: Chancellor's Listening Tour Stop #4 (The Bronx)
  • December 17: Chancellor's Listening Tour Stop #5 (Staten Island) 
  • December 20: 2024–25 Middle School Admissions Applications Close
  • December 23–January 1: Winter Recess; schools closed

The 2024-2025 School Year Calendar has been Updated

The latest calendar can be viewed on the 2024-2025 School Year Calendar page.

An Introduction to Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos

"I am honored and excited to be your new Chancellor. As a lifelong educator and mom of a New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) student, I am eager to work with and serve you."

Read More

NYC Public Schools Distributes Two Millionth Comic Book with Latest Releases

Watch out, Marvel and DC—NYC Public Schools have just entered the "Big Comic Book Distributor" chat!

GIF featuring covers of the comic books that the NYC Department of Education has distributed to its students since 2020.This month, we're celebrating the releases of Patsy Takemoto Mink and A Story in Every Object! An Asian American Comics Anthology, the two newest free comic book titles from our in-house Civics for All Comics Group. These outstanding works, available both online to everyone and in print form for free at City public schools across the five boroughs, are the latest in the unique literary series featuring work by renown writers and artists who have won their fair share of prestigious literary awards, including the National Book Award, Coretta Scott King Book Award, the Eisner Award, the Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal, and the Michael L. Printz Award.

Since 2020, the Civics for All Comics Group has produced and distributed 25 free comic book titles for NYC Public School students of all ages, and with this month's releases, we're incredibly proud to announce that our Comics Group imprint has just distributed its two millionth comic book in just five years! This milestone is especially notable, as it means that NYC Public Schools are now one of the 10 largest comic book distributors in the country!

 

Our Newest Comics

Cover for the comic book, Patsy Takemoto Mink tells the story of a third-generation Japanese American woman from Hawai'i who fought for Title IX and was an advocate for peace, civil rights, and environmental justice. To tell Ms. Mink's story, we collaborated with her daughter, Gwendolyn Mink, as well as writers Judy Tzu-Chun and Abigail Chun, illustrator Vian Nguyen, and the UCLA Asian American Studies Center.

 

Cover for the comic book, A Story in Every Object! An Asian American Comics Anthology  includes six short personal stories from six different outstanding, award-winning Asian American artists whose works were inspired by everyday objects in their lives. The six stories in this anthology include:

  • "Cleave" by Greg Pak
  • "Woodworking" by Trung "Trungles" Le Nguyen
  • "Cookbook" by Shing Yin Khor
  • "Wedding Dolls" by Nidhi Chanani
  • "Dearly Departed" by MariNaomi
  • "Name Plate" by Kolbe and Gene Luen Yang

Where You Can Read More

Missed out on our prior releases? No worries; all 25 of our Civics for All Comics Group releases, including our two latest works, are available online through WeTeach . There's also a convenient webpage created by the Comics Group that puts all of their releases on one page for easy reviewing/downloading—check it out; you might just find you new favorite comic book!

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On behalf of NYC Public Schools, we thank all of our partners who have helped make our Comics Group a success!

Make Your Own Upcycled Bird Feeder for Climate Action Day!

Celebrate Climate Action Day at home by recycling your milk carton into a beautiful, homemade birdhouse!

A graphic showing a completed milk carton bird feeder craft.

Learn how you can make your own

Apply to NYC Middle Schools for Fall 2025 by December 20

From October 15 until December 20, 2024, NYC families can apply to middle school for the 2024–25 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!

A graphic saying

    Start Your Middle School Search Now

    A MySchools.nyc Tutorial: Learn the Basics

    Throughout any stage of New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) application processes for 3-K, Pre-K, Kindergarten, middle school, high school, and Gifted and Talented (G&T) for grades 1, 2, 3, and 4, you can use MySchools.nyc—learn how to today!

    A screenshot of the MySchools homepage

      Learn the basics of MySchools!

      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!

      Read More

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