UES - Elementary School Process

Would like to know also:

Are wait lists random? Eg besides having siblings in the school, there are no other factors for wait list (e.g particular address in zone, time lived in zone etc etc)

Wait lists are random but prioritized (in-zone before out-of-zone), except if applications are received after the spring registration period. Twins have sequential spots on waitlist, if waitlisted. Thus far, no-one who has registered in a timely fashion, with a sibling in their zoned school has been waitlisted. Heard through the grapevine that a late registrant (zoned, with sibling) was waitlisted.

NYC10023, would you be able to assist with my questions?

I don't know what is going on with the UES schools & capacity. And the situation is evolving rapidly.

All my info is UWS (District 3) specific.

This is what I can tell you has happened in District 3.

Capping of incoming K classes started fall 2010 (this year's graduating K class). Prior to this, there were no waitlists. The cap was set at 25 kids/class (K only). There were classes larger than 25 kids in higher grades, and no waitlists existed for the higher grades. I don't know what the official cap is on non-K classes. It's not 25, not 30...

So this leads me to think that even though someone might not have gotten in from the waitlist for K (fall 2010), that they would succeed in getting in for 1st grade because that 25 student cap doesn't exist (or hasn't existed) in the past.

Okay, so how does this apply to you? If there is a waitlist for the kids entering K in Sept 2011 at P.S. 290, they remain eligible to go to P.S. 290 (even if they are assigned another school for K). If a waitlisted child registers in a timely manner to go to P.S. 290 for the fall of 2012, and if there is a waitlist for 1st grade entrants in fall 2012 - wouldn't those kids be ahead of your child? And what is the class size cap at P.S. 290 for 1st grade? These are the questions that you have to ask the DOE and get the answers in WRITING.

One place to start is to email the CEC for P.S. 290 (District 2 Community Education Council). They should have a website.

The district 2 placement office is at 333 7th avenue (28th street) on the 12th floor.

Agree with bloomsday. Also speak to the D2 placement office, try to get stuff in writing if possible.

Thank you NY10023! I am currently living in the upper west and zone to PS 84. Earlier May, I was thinking about renting in the west 70s to put my son into PS 452. But I was told by the DOE that there were only three spots left and if a family with twins were to apply before you, I would have been out of luck. My son would have to attend a school somewhere in district 3. So I decided to stay for another year and keep him in private for now. To be honest, my timing was totally off and missed the boat. I should have moved in January of this year. With PS 452 and the new zoning for 87/452, I would think that there wouldn't be much of a 1st grade capacity issue.

I don't want to buy an expensive UES apartment to realize later that my son didn't get accepted in the zone school and be placed at a lower-end PS. Also if there were a cap at 35 with only 3 more spots to fill on a first come first serve basis, how can I buy under those circumstances? What do you recommend? Should I rent first?

Yes, rent unless you absolutely want to buy that specific apartment and the zoning is not a factor in the purchase. You might get into PS290 and decide that it's not for your kid.

Yes, there is a chance your child will end up going to school in East Harlem.

NYC Matt, you are kidding right? If not the chances, are small...

That's a conceptually flawed question. With NYCMatt, there's no "kidding" or "not kidding"; there's only Matt.

Ha,you know what I mean. Can you assist with my questions?

Don't forget about G&T testing.

RE_PRO: what Matt said hasn't happened yet to my knowledge - google this to see "alternate offers" & waitlist & PS290.

This stuff never ceases to amaze me.

NYC10023, There a few articles on this topic, which were very helpful. I am getting a better understanding of this process. Some of the alternate schools for PS290 have performed very poorly on the NYS exams in math and language arts. Renting seems to be the right option. Thanks for your help again!

NYC10023 -- How would I get the DOE to put in Writing? We have been calling the DOE office only. Should we send a letter instead?

Ask for email addresses. Email your questions to someone. Get response.