The 2020 NYC High School Admissions Process Has Begun

Students can apply to the 12 programs they like best. The application deadline is December 2.

By Jacqueline Neber October 11, 2019

This year, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza simplified the high school admissions process by eliminating the second round of applications students used to be responsible for each cycle. This year’s cycle will be more transparent and less nerve wracking for students–and it has officially begun, SI Live reports. Students can apply online to the 12 high school programs they like best by December 2. If a student chooses not to apply to any specific school, he will receive an offer from the nearest school with available seats.

Students will apply through the Department of Education’s MySchools website. According to the DOE, there is no advantage to applying early. Students can change and resubmit their applications anytime before, and up until, December 2. Before applying, your child will receive an admissions welcome letter at his home or school address, or at his Family Welcome Center location. The letter will provide him with instructions for how to create a MySchools account. Once all of his applications are submitted, your child will have to wait until March to receive her school match.

Her offer letter will include any offers from specialized schools, as well as a list of any schools where she was waitlisted. If she chooses not to send any applications out, she will receive an offer from the closest school with available seats.

Read up on the changes de Blasio and Carranza have made to the admissions process here. For more information on applying to NYC’s public high schools, call 718-935-2009, visit your local Family Welcome Center, email [email protected], or visit the DOE website.