How To Enroll

By James Merriman

Each year,
thousands of
New York City parents ponder school choices for their children. In addition to
traditional public schools, there are now 136 charter schools operating in NYC,
educating more than 45,000 students.

Charter
schools are free public schools that are open to all city students. They
operate independently of the NYC Department of Education. Because they are separate from the
district system, charter schools have greater flexibility in the way they
function. They can develop their own academic program, choose staff and set their
own educational goals and standards for student behavior.
Many
also have longer school days and a longer school year, and they tend to be
smaller, providing a more intimate atmosphere for learning.

Most importantly, charter schools have
enrollment structures that are different from district schools. The following
information will help clarify the admissions process.

1. All students must fill out an application.

Since charter schools are independently managed,
parents must fill out an application for each charter school to which their
child applies. Parents should contact each school to inquire about their
admissions’ process.
Each school sets its own application deadline—a majority of
charter schools require that applications be in before April 1 for placement in
August/September. K
eep in mind that there may not be a
charter school in your area, and if there is, it may not serve your child’s
grade.

2. Charter schools run lotteries for admission.

The lottery is an admissions process required by
New York State law that is held when
there are more student applications to a charter school than seats available.
Students who are not selected in the lottery will be placed on a waiting list
for spaces that may become available in the future.

Students who are
accepted through a lottery will be enrolled in the school and be able to remain
there in future years. Parents cannot transfer their child from one charter
school to another without going through the application process for the school
that they would wish to move to. However,
if a school provides elementary grades at one site and middle school grades at
another site, that child will have the right to move to the middle school from
the elementary school.

3. Charter schools are required to give preferences in their
lotteries.

The law requires charter schools in NYC to give
preference to returning students, siblings of students already enrolled in the
school and students who reside in the
Community School District in which the charter
school is located. (Visit nyccharterschools.org/school-search to identify your
CSD.) In addition, charter schools are permitted to give preference to students
at risk of academic failure.

4. There are several ways to apply to charter schools.

There are typically several ways in which
families can acquire an application. Visit the school’s website and download an
application. Or call the school and ask them to mail you an application.
Otherwise, visit the
Charter Center’s website, nyccharterschools.org, to search for schools and
apply online through a common charter school application offered in multiple
languages.

To
learn more
about charter schools’ accomplishments, you can view their report cards from
the state at
schools.nyc.gov.

Relevant Directory Listings

See More

Sora Schools

<p dir="ltr">Sora Schools is the virtual, private middle and high school turning today’s students into tomorrow’s change-makers. Our approach is founded on inquiry-based and interdisciplinary learning. This gives students the opportunity to develop knowledge and skills through engaging projects, based on real-world challenges and problems. Students choose from over 400 interest-based learning experiences like “Create Your Own Civilization!,” “Food Science,” “ToMAYto ToMAHto: Intro to Language in Society,” and “Making Your Own Cell: Principles of Cellular Biology,” just to name a few.</p> <div> </div> <div>Sora families have the flexibility to learn from practically anywhere and enjoy a dynamic community. Student-life experiences include clubs, meetings with their “house,” filled with students in their geographical region, daily checkpoints with academic advisors, and fun events. Learn more about Sora, the future of school, at <a href="http://www.soraschools.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.soraschools.com&source=gmail&ust=1708530686934000&usg=AOvVaw2Nnl67LTIwlviYDWPiPYgB">www.soraschools.com</a>.</div>

Bay Ridge Prep

<p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal;" data-sheets-value="{" data-sheets-userformat="{">An Independent K-12 College Preparatory School. With a student-centered environment and fresh approach to education, the school provides an enriching academic experience in a socially mature environment.</span></p>

Franklin School

<p><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Franklin School is a visionary new high school </span><span style="color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">where students have the freedom to chart their own course through an </span><span style="color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">innovative curriculum where academic excellence meets real-world readiness. Franklin’s innovative hands-on curriculum empowers students to pursue their passions and have agency over their futures. </span><span style="color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In addition to a rigorous core curriculum, </span><span style="color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">students can choose from a wide range of AP</span><span style="color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and </span><span style="color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">elective classes, as well as micro-courses </span><span style="color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">taught by industry leaders. </span><span style="color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Franklin emphasizes applied learning — learning by doing both within and beyond the classroom. Much of what students “do” will be driven by their own interests and where they want to go on their educational journey.</span><strong id="docs-internal-guid-20eed8a2-7fff-eb59-fbf0-5008e984af46" style="font-weight: normal;"></strong></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Franklin’s makerspace houses design and technology courses and serves as an inspiring hub where students can apply their learning and innovate. </span><span style="color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It’s also home to the School’s incubator — Franklin Student Ventures — where students can bring their ideas for new businesses and nonprofits to fruition. During that process, they gain entrepreneurial skills, which are invaluable as technology and the working world continue to change at a furious pace.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A Franklin four-year journey also includes built-in academic support, skills curriculum, and communication training; built-in SAT/ACT prep; expert college counseling; access to state-of-the-art athletic facilities; personalized internships; and more. Attend an open house to learn more </span></span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;">— </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">register </span></span><a style="color: #35a3bf; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration-line: none; font-size: 16px; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" href="https://www.franklinjc.org/admissions/visit-us" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.franklinjc.org/admissions/visit-us&source=gmail&ust=1697321264007000&usg=AOvVaw0asz8yqoO78UnweqRMdq3A"><span style="font-size: 1.1rem; font-family: 'Brown Light', sans-serif; color: #0563c1; background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">here</span></a><span style="font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-size: 1.1rem; font-family: 'Brown Light', sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;">.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p>