Have children turning three or four years old in 2024?

Then great news: New York City’s 2024 3-K and Pre-K applications are open!

Beginning January 10, 2024, NYC families with children born in 2021 and 2020 can apply to City 3-K and Pre-K programs, respectively, for the 2024–2025 school year.

With hundreds of school options available across the five boroughs, we know that applying to NYC's early childhood education programs can be a bit overwhelming at first for some City families, especially first and even second-time applicants.

Fortunately, you can help make your application process a bit easier for you and your family by using the following tips and tools!

1. Visit our  Sign Up page and register your email address to get the latest alerts, updates, and reminders about NYC Public Schools, including admissions events, sent directly to your inbox.
   
   
2. Review our 3-K and Pre-K webpages thoroughly—each admissions process has key differences that you should know, especially if you’re applying at the same time on behalf of children in both grade levels. Our website will have the most up-to-date information about admissions at any given time.
• Both webpages also include two useful resources:
  
  • Our Elementary Admissions Video Series:  3-K and Pre-K, embedded near the top of both our 3-K and Pre-K pages, walks you through various stages of our application processes, including creating a MySchools account, searching for programs, and submitting your application.
    
  • The 2024 NYC Public Schools Admissions Guide at the bottom of both webpages. Available in 10 languages, this book provides an overview of NYC's public school admissions processes and resources for all NYC public schools and early childhood programs.
    
3. Get to know MySchools, and use it as your main tool for exploring and applying to early childhood programs. Through MySchools, you can:
   • Discover and explore 3-K and Pre-K programs available to you. Use filters to narrow your search to find the best fit for your child and family.
   • Find and register for in-person and virtual events listed in the MySchools events calendar, including open houses and information sessions. There are hundreds of events in all five boroughs, and they are scheduled at various times to accommodate family needs.
   • Finalize your choices and submit your child’s application! If you need to make changes afterward, you have until 11:59 PM on Friday, March 1, 2024, to update and submit again. Please note that only your last and final application will be used.
   • Cue the confetti (literally, you’ll see this once you hit the “Send” button!)

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We hope these websites and resources can help make this year's 3-K and Pre-K application processes smooth for you and your family! On behalf of NYC Public Schools, we wish all our participating families a smooth application period!

Photo by Yan Krukau. Accessed via Pexels