# School for your children: how to enroll Source: https://www.qaravan.org/resources/education/children-in-school/ Public school in New York City is free, and schools don't ask about immigration status. How to enroll a child age 3 to 21: which grade, which papers, where to go, and what to do if your child is learning English or you live in a shelter. ## Start here - Apply for fall 2027 in MySchools (available in Russian): kindergarten from December 9, 2026; 3-K and pre-K from January 13, 2027. - If you live in a shelter or other temporary housing, your child can enroll without documents. The school's Students in Temporary Housing (STH) Liaison can explain your child's rights, or write to NYS-TEACHS, the state's center for homeless students, at info@nysteachs.org. - Schools don't ask about immigration status, and you don't need a Social Security number (SSN) to enroll. ## Which grade your child starts in The grade depends on the year of birth: a child starts 3-K (a free program for three-year-olds), pre-K (for four-year-olds) or kindergarten (the first school year, for five-year-olds) in September of the year they turn three, four or five. There is also 2-K, from September of the year the child turns two. Fall 2027 dates may change. Grades by age | | | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ## How to enroll your child, step by step 1. Work out the grade For 3-K, pre-K and kindergarten the year of birth decides. In other grades your child continues where they left off or joins the grade that fits their age. 2. Find out whether you have a zoned school A zoned school is assigned to your home address, and children in its zone have priority. Enter your address in Find a School at [schoolsearch.schools.nyc](https://schoolsearch.schools.nyc). Most families have one, but not all: in school districts 1, 7 and 23 no elementary schools are zoned. 3. Decide where to go If you have a zoned school and your child is going into kindergarten or grades 1 to 8, go straight to that school. If you have no zoned school, your child is going to high school or you need help, book an appointment (virtual or in person) at a Family Welcome Center (FWC), an enrollment help center. If your child already got an offer through admissions, contact that school. 4. Gather the papers on the Registration Checklist Bring proof of your child's age (birth certificate, passport or baptism record), immunization records, the latest report card or transcript if you have them, and two proofs of address in your name. Accepted: a lease, a gas or electric bill, a rent receipt or a letter on government letterhead (for example from the IRS, NYC Housing Authority, HRA or ACS), each dated within 60 days, or an unexpired IDNYC card or last year's tax return. The full list is in the Registration Checklist, available in Russian. It does not include a Social Security number (SSN). 5. Fill in the forms that apply If you are new to New York City, fill in the Housing Questionnaire and give it to the school or a Family Welcome Center. If you are not the leaseholder or owner where you live, fill in the Parent Affidavit of Residency; if you are temporarily caring for a child who is not yours, the Non-Parent Affidavit. No notarization needed; leave that section blank. The forms are available in Russian on the Enrollment Forms page. 6. Say so if your child is learning English At enrollment every parent fills in the Home Language Identification Survey, a form about the language your child speaks at home. If it isn't English, the school may give the New York State Identification Test for English Language Learners. If your child needs help with English, they get English as a New Language (ENL) instruction, and the school must place them in a program within ten school days of enrollment (twenty with an IEP, a plan for a child with a disability). No program may refuse a student because of their English. 7. Check the vaccinations Children from 2 months to 18 years old entering child care or school must be vaccinated. Everyone needs DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis), polio, MMR (measles, mumps, rubella), varicella and hepatitis B vaccines. Children under five in child care and pre-K also need Hib, PCV (pneumococcal) and a flu shot by the end of December. Grades 6 to 12 need the Tdap booster (by grade 6) and MenACWY (meningococcal, by grade 7). Your child's doctor can tell you how many doses are needed. If a vaccine is missing, the school sends a notice with a deadline. 8. Learn about meals and the school account During the school year every student gets free breakfast, lunch and after-school meals. The NYC Schools Account (NYCSA) lets you follow your child's progress and update your contacts; Parent University offers parents free courses, events and resources. ## If you live in a shelter or temporary housing - McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act Any status NYC residents Free A federal law about children without stable housing. A student in temporary housing (a shelter, a hotel or motel, a car, a bus or train, a park or other public place, an abandoned building, or doubled up with relatives or friends because you can't find or afford your own place) has the right to: enroll without documents, meaning no proof of address, date of birth or immunizations; stay in their previous school or choose one where you live now; get transportation to and from school; and keep receiving special education services. Fill out the Housing Questionnaire and give it to the school. Every school has a Students in Temporary Housing (STH) Liaison: ask the principal, social worker or counselor who it is, or, in a shelter, the NYC Public Schools staff there. NYS-TEACHS (the state's center for homeless students) also explains your child's rights by email: info@nysteachs.org. These rights are set out in Chancellor's Regulation A-780; NYC Public Schools' Parent's Guide to the McKinney-Vento Act is on the same page, with translations. [schools.nyc.gov](https://www.schools.nyc.gov/school-life/special-situations/students-in-temporary-housing) ## Language programs for children learning English You choose the program. If the school has a bilingual program, your child goes into it unless you choose ENL only. If it has none, your child still gets ENL at their school, and you can ask for a bilingual program; if too few students at the school want one, your child may be able to transfer to another City school that has it. Programs for children learning English | | | | | --- | --- | --- | | | | | | | | | | | | | ## A 3-K or pre-K seat now - 3-K and pre-K seats for this school year Any status NYC residents Free If you live in New York City and your child was born in 2023 (3-K) or 2022 (pre-K), they can start 3-K or pre-K in the 2026-2027 school year. Open MySchools and use the filter "Need a Seat for This School Year?", or email ESEnrollment@schools.nyc.gov. For a dual language program or language support, write to prekduallanguage@schools.nyc.gov. Extended Day and Year seats (up to 8 or 10 hours a day, year-round) are free or low cost depending on family income and need a child care application through MyCity (the City's portal for applying for services). [schools.nyc.gov](https://www.schools.nyc.gov/enrollment/enroll-grade-by-grade/pre-k) ## Family Welcome Centers A Family Welcome Center (FWC) helps you enroll a child, transfer schools and use MySchools. Book online (virtual or in person, at any center). Bring the documents from the Registration Checklist, in electronic form for a virtual appointment. Centers are open Mon–Thu 8 am to 5 pm and Fri 8 am to 3 pm. - Fordham Family Welcome Center (Bronx) Any status NYC residents Free School districts 7, 9 and 10. [schools.nyc.gov](https://www.schools.nyc.gov/enrollment/enrollment-help/family-welcome-centers) 1 Fordham Plaza, 7th Floor, Bronx, NY 10458 Mon–Thu 8 am–5 pm, Fri 8 am–3 pm - Zerega Family Welcome Center (Bronx) Any status NYC residents Free School districts 8, 11 and 12. [schools.nyc.gov](https://www.schools.nyc.gov/enrollment/enrollment-help/family-welcome-centers) 1230 Zerega Avenue, Room 24, Bronx, NY 10462 Mon–Thu 8 am–5 pm, Fri 8 am–3 pm - 89 Street Family Welcome Center (Brooklyn) Any status NYC residents Free School districts 13, 15, 20 and 21. [schools.nyc.gov](https://www.schools.nyc.gov/enrollment/enrollment-help/family-welcome-centers) 415 89th Street, 4th Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11209 Mon–Thu 8 am–5 pm, Fri 8 am–3 pm - St. Marks Family Welcome Center (Brooklyn) Any status NYC residents Free School districts 14, 19, 23 and 32. [schools.nyc.gov](https://www.schools.nyc.gov/enrollment/enrollment-help/family-welcome-centers) 1665 St. Marks Avenue, Room 116, Brooklyn, NY 11233 Mon–Thu 8 am–5 pm, Fri 8 am–3 pm - Ocean Avenue Family Welcome Center (Brooklyn) Any status NYC residents Free School districts 16, 17, 18 and 22. [schools.nyc.gov](https://www.schools.nyc.gov/enrollment/enrollment-help/family-welcome-centers) 1780 Ocean Avenue, 3rd Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11230 Mon–Thu 8 am–5 pm, Fri 8 am–3 pm - 333 7th Avenue Family Welcome Center (Manhattan) Any status NYC residents Free School districts 1, 2 and 4. [schools.nyc.gov](https://www.schools.nyc.gov/enrollment/enrollment-help/family-welcome-centers) 333 7th Avenue, 12th Floor, Room 1211, New York, NY 10001 Mon–Thu 8 am–5 pm, Fri 8 am–3 pm - Morningside Family Welcome Center (Manhattan) Any status NYC residents Free School districts 3, 5 and 6. Closed daily from 1:00 pm to 1:30 pm. [schools.nyc.gov](https://www.schools.nyc.gov/enrollment/enrollment-help/family-welcome-centers) 123 Morningside Drive, Room 235, New York, NY 10027 Mon–Thu 8 am–5 pm, Fri 8 am–3 pm - Sutphin Family Welcome Center (Queens) Any status NYC residents Free School districts 27, 28 and 29. [schools.nyc.gov](https://www.schools.nyc.gov/enrollment/enrollment-help/family-welcome-centers) 90-27 Sutphin Boulevard, 1st Floor, Jamaica, NY 11435 Mon–Thu 8 am–5 pm, Fri 8 am–3 pm - Linden Family Welcome Center (Queens) Any status NYC residents Free School districts 25 and 26. [schools.nyc.gov](https://www.schools.nyc.gov/enrollment/enrollment-help/family-welcome-centers) 30-48 Linden Place, Flushing, NY 11354 Mon–Thu 8 am–5 pm, Fri 8 am–3 pm - Queens Plaza North Family Welcome Center (Queens) Any status NYC residents Free School districts 24 and 30. [schools.nyc.gov](https://www.schools.nyc.gov/enrollment/enrollment-help/family-welcome-centers) 28-11 Queens Plaza North, 3rd Floor, Long Island City, NY 11101 Mon–Thu 8 am–5 pm, Fri 8 am–3 pm - Bay Street Welcome Center (Staten Island) Any status NYC residents Free School district 31. [schools.nyc.gov](https://www.schools.nyc.gov/enrollment/enrollment-help/family-welcome-centers) 365 Bay Street, Staten Island, NY 10301 Mon–Thu 8 am–5 pm, Fri 8 am–3 pm ## Teenagers and young adults aged 15 to 21 who are behind or recently arrived Every New York City resident has the right to attend public school from age five until graduation or the end of the school year in which they turn 21. If a teenager missed school or moved before earning credits (units for completed courses), special programs still lead to a diploma. If you are 21 or older: “[Free English classes for adults](https://www.qaravan.org/resources/education/free-english-classes/)”, “The High School Equivalency (HSE) diploma: how to earn it in New York State”. - Transfer High Schools Under 25 Free Small full-time high schools for students who dropped out or fell behind in credits: classes Monday to Friday, tutoring, Regents exam preparation (state exams needed for a diploma), activities, and plans for college and work. All are supported by Learning to Work: paid internships and student support. Ages 16 to 21, catching up on credits or exams; a few options for 15-year-olds and students new to the country. Students earn a high school diploma. Pick schools from the Transfer Schools Guide and contact them. [schools.nyc.gov](https://www.schools.nyc.gov/enrollment/other-ways-to-graduate/transfer-high-schools) - Pathways to Graduation Under 25 Free Free HSE exam preparation for ages 17 to 21: all parts of the exam, special sections for ENL and Spanish bilingual students, classes for every reading and language level, paid internships, breakfast or lunch at some sites, MetroCards for eligible students, and College and Career Resource Centers. Enroll any time during the school year through a Referral Center. [schools.nyc.gov](https://www.schools.nyc.gov/enrollment/other-ways-to-graduate/high-school-equivalency) ## Your rights and support at school - Immigration status and NYC Public Schools Any status Free Every child in New York City has the right to attend public school whatever their immigration status. NYC Public Schools says employees will not ask about status and must keep it confidential if they learn it, and that it does not track the status of students or families. Federal agents, including ICE, are admitted to schools only when the law requires it. Update the list at school of who may pick up your child when you can't. For free immigration legal help, call [311](tel:311), say "Russian" for an interpreter, then "immigration legal help." For discrimination, contact the school's Respect for All liaison or report it to the NYC Commission on Human Rights online: [nyc.gov/ReportDiscrimination](https://nyc.gov/ReportDiscrimination). [schools.nyc.gov](https://www.schools.nyc.gov/school-life/school-environment/immigrant-families) - Enrollment for LGBTQ and gender nonconforming students Any status Free Enrollment is open to all students, including LGBTQ and gender nonconforming or gender expansive students. For a single-gender school or program, you will be asked the gender your child consistently asserts at school. City policy prohibits discrimination, including by citizenship or immigration status; Respect for All protects students from bullying. LGBTQ+ support questions: LGBTQ@schools.nyc.gov (checked on weekdays). [schools.nyc.gov](https://www.schools.nyc.gov/enrollment/enrollment-help/meeting-student-needs/lgbtq-and-gender-nonconforming-students) - Free school meals Any status Free Free breakfast, lunch and after-school meals for all students during the school year; menus and kosher and halal options are [on the website](https://www.schools.nyc.gov/school-life/school-meals). Questions: food@school.nyc.gov. [schools.nyc.gov](https://www.schools.nyc.gov/school-life/school-meals) ## Glossary: definitions of special terms and abbreviations - ****: - ****: - ****: - ****: - ****: - ****: - ****: - ****: This is general information, not legal advice: QARAVAN has no lawyers. QARAVAN does not help anyone enter the US and cannot arrange visas, invitations, sponsorship or evacuation. For your own case, talk to a licensed immigration attorney or a representative accredited by the U.S. Department of Justice. [All pages: English and education](https://www.qaravan.org/resources/education/) **Sources, checked November 2026** - [schools.nyc.gov/school-life/special-situations/students-in-tem…](https://www.schools.nyc.gov/school-life/special-situations/students-in-temporary-housing) - [nysteachs.org](https://www.nysteachs.org/) - [schools.nyc.gov/enrollment/enroll-grade-by-grade/pre-k](https://www.schools.nyc.gov/enrollment/enroll-grade-by-grade/pre-k) - [schools.nyc.gov/enrollment/enrollment-help/family-welcome-cent…](https://www.schools.nyc.gov/enrollment/enrollment-help/family-welcome-centers) - [schools.nyc.gov/enrollment/enrollment-help/enrollment-forms](https://www.schools.nyc.gov/enrollment/enrollment-help/enrollment-forms) - [schools.nyc.gov/school-life/school-environment/immigrant-famil…](https://www.schools.nyc.gov/school-life/school-environment/immigrant-families) - [schools.nyc.gov/enrollment/enrollment-help/meeting-student-nee…](https://www.schools.nyc.gov/enrollment/enrollment-help/meeting-student-needs/lgbtq-and-gender-nonconforming-students) - [schools.nyc.gov/school-life/school-meals](https://www.schools.nyc.gov/school-life/school-meals) - [schools.nyc.gov/enrollment/other-ways-to-graduate/transfer-hig…](https://www.schools.nyc.gov/enrollment/other-ways-to-graduate/transfer-high-schools) - [schools.nyc.gov/enrollment/other-ways-to-graduate/high-school-…](https://www.schools.nyc.gov/enrollment/other-ways-to-graduate/high-school-equivalency) - [nyc.gov/ReportDiscrimination](https://www.nyc.gov/ReportDiscrimination)