What is the Office of Student Enrollment?
The Office of Student Enrollment (OSE) manages 3-K through grade 12 admissions, enrollment and transfers for all students enrolling in Districts 1-32, 75, Summer Rising and homeschooling. We receive close to 500,000 applications across all of our admissions processes, support over 75,000 families working with our Family Welcome Centers (FWCs), and average 400 calls daily to our call center. OSE supports families via email, at virtual and in-person information sessions, over the phone, in person support at our FWCs and more.
How We Engage
OSE prioritizes engagement with key stakeholders (including, but not limited to families, school staff, advocates, and elected parent officials) by actively seeking their input and insights through regular feedback sessions. This collaborative approach allows us to better understand the needs and expectations of families. By integrating the feedback we receive, we continuously refine admissions and enrollment policies and procedures, fostering an environment that truly supports and empowers the families we serve.
We Welcome Your Feedback!
Hearing from the New York City Public Schools community is instrumental to our goal in servicing families. If you would like to share feedback, about your experience applying or enrolling in school, please click here to complete the form.
Family Engagement: Surveys
OSE conducts annual surveys to gather feedback from families who participated in 3-K, pre-K, kindergarten, middle and high school admissions. You can view the results from the Fall 2024 admissions surveys below.
Family Engagement: Focus Groups
OSE facilitates focus groups on specific topics among a small group of families with shared characteristics. This allows us to gain in-depth insights into their perspectives on admissions and enrollment policies and functionalities. Below are the results of our most recent family focus groups.
MySchools Directory
Background: In the winter of 2024, OSE conducted focus groups with families to gather feedback on the MySchools directories. Specifically, we wanted to learn:
- If families found MySchools directories clear,
- If the directories provided the information needed to make informed decisions on which programs to apply to, and
- How OSE can improve communications with families regarding directory utilization.
Who attended? Focus groups were held both virtually and in-person. There were 64 attendees for the virtual sessions (across all admissions processes) and approximately 20 for the in-person sessions. The in-person sessions were done in conjunction with Days of Action events which are in-person support sessions for families residing in temporary housing applying to 3-K, pre-K and/or kindergarten. All boroughs were represented except for Staten Island.
Findings: Based on family feedback, OSE has made the following changes to the MySchools directories for the fall 2025 admissions cycle:
3-K, Pre-K, and Kindergarten
- Added filters for Dual Language, Specialized Programs, and before/after school care
- Allowed schools to provide specific overviews on their school card
- Provided the number of applicants (by priority group) that received offers by program
Middle and High School
- Reorganized filters so that they align with family priorities (ex: Admissions Method and Interest Areas) as they are selecting programs to apply to
High School Chance of Offer Focus Groups
Background: In the summer of 2024 OSE conducted focus groups for key high school admissions stakeholders to preview the Chance of Offer tool. The tool gives families more information about the estimated chance of getting an offer to each program of interest, making it easier for them to build a balanced application.
Who attended? Focus groups were held virtually. There were approximately 130 attendees ranging from school staff, families, advocacy groups and elected parent officials over 15 sessions. All boroughs were represented.
Results for Engagement: The feedback gathered from the demonstration was critical in how we communicated this new tool to families. Learn more about the Chance of Offer tool.
Daily Interactions. We are in constant contact with families through our admissions inboxes, visits to the Family Welcome Centers, admissions events and more. As we’re supporting families with their admissions and enrollment needs, often this is where we identify challenges families may be experiencing. This ongoing communication allows us to improve family experiences in real time and long term.
Staff Engagement
Every year in late spring OSE engages with school staff (including 3-K and pre-K leaders in NYC Early Education Centers [NYCEECs]) to better understand how they navigate admissions and enrollment systems, identify specific pain points and hear ideas for improvements. During the last staff feedback cycle we conducted over a six sessions. Below are the topics that were discussed for the 2023-2024 school year:
- Elementary Admissions: Following what we heard from families about what information was important to them and missing from school directories, we discussed if schools could provide families with more detailed information on:
- which schools provide before and/or after school care options.
- school specific overviews to the MySchools directory so families can learn more about individual schools.
- High School Admissions: Understanding how school staff counsel families regarding program demand.
Recent Policy Changes and Process Improvements
Through our ongoing engagement efforts, we were able to implement policy changes and process improvements to the benefit of families.
Fall 2025 Admissions
- Chance of Offer Feature in MySchools (High School)
High school applicants see an icon indicating whether they have a high, medium, or low chance of receiving an offer to a program. For more information, view the Chance of Offer webpage.
Benefit: This information provides families with a simple indicator that will help them build a more balanced application and make the admissions process easier to navigate.
- Manhattan Borough Priority (High School)
The following six Manhattan high schools prioritize 75% of their seats for students and residents of the borough: Eleanor Roosevelt High School (02M416), The Clinton School (02M260), NYC Lab School for Collaborative Studies (02M412), The Museum School (02M414) and Baruch College Campus High School (02M411).
Benefit: This change allows Manhattan students priority to remain in borough.
- Expanded Access (Middle School)
Families can now list any New York City public middle school on their application. Previously they could largely only apply to schools in their zoned district (or elementary school district of attendance if different). Zoned schools continue to prioritize zoned students for seats. Most programs will also have a district priority, which means that seats will first be filled by students and residents of the district. If seats remain, students and residents from other districts will be considered.
Benefit: This change gives families greater access to schools across the City, especially those that are close to home but just over district lines.
- Increased Transparency in Program Demand (3-K, Pre-K & Kindergarten)
Families applying to elementary schools can view seat and applicant data in MySchools.
Benefit: Families will have a better understanding of program demand and their chances of receiving an offer.
- No Limit to Application Choices (All processes)
Students across all grades will be able to list any number of application choices, an expansion of the original twelve.
Benefit: This change provides families with expanded choice, and they can now maximize their chances of receiving an offer to a program from their application.
Fall 2024 Admissions
- Clearer Directory Information (3-K & Pre-K)
Program names clearly state whether the program has income additional eligibility requirements.
Benefit: This change provides families with clarity on which programs have income and/or need requirements.
- Publicizing the Admissions Timeline (All Admissions)
OSE publicizes key admissions dates such as application open/close and offer release dates in advance.
Benefit: This change provides greater transparency for all stakeholders regarding the admissions processes.
- Moved District 75 Placement to the Office of Student Enrollment (District 75)
The shift of District 75 to OSE allows for the expansion of admissions and enrollment best practices to District 75.
Benefit: This includes better internal placement systems, and a move towards greater transparency and family choice in the placement process.
- Summer Rising added to MySchools (Summer Rising)
Summer Rising admissions is managed by OSE and the application is administered through MySchools.
Benefit: Integrating Summer Rising into MySchools means that families can use a system (MySchools) that they are already familiar with.
- Family Welcome Center Appointment System (All Admissions & Enrollment)
Introduced the option for families to schedule both in-person and virtual appointments with counselors.
Benefit: This provides flexibility and ease for families who need admissions and enrollment support.
Fall 2023 Admissions
- Updates to Screened Admissions (High School)
Top performing applicants across each middle school and citywide (based on 7th grade core course grades) are prioritized for admissions to screened high school programs.
Benefit: This change rewards top students from every school in the City while being responsive to family feedback seeking greater fairness and transparency for admissions into screened programs.
- Displaying Prior Year Waitlist Offer Information (High School and Middle School)
Prior year waitlist offer information is added to the MySchools directory.
Benefit: This helps families understand their chances of being made a waitlist offer to programs of interest.
- Consolidating Discovery Invitations (High School)
Discovery program invitations are included in high school offer letters.
Benefit: Families who are eligible for Specialized High Schools Discovery programs are notified sooner.
- Updates to Screened Admissions (Middle School)
Middle school applicants who applied to screened programs received a composite score based on the average of their final fourth-grade core course grades.
Benefit: This change provides transparency for families as to how students are evaluated for admissions into screened middle school programs.
- Simplifying Admissions (Kindergarten and Gifted & Talented)
Kindergarten Gifted and Talented (G&T) programs are included in the general Kindergarten application and families receive one single offer. The G&T admissions process moving forward only refers to grades 1-4.
Benefit: This change brings simplicity and convenience to kindergarten applicants who express interest in G&T as they only need to manage one central application.
- Central Open House Calendar (All Admissions)
All families will be able to view admissions events and school open house/tour information in one place (MySchools).
Benefit: The introduction of the calendar provides families with ease as they can centrally keep record of events, add to their personal calendars and RSVP directly on MySchools.
Fall 2022 Admissions
- Updates to Gifted & Talented Admissions (Kindergarten and Gifted & Talented)
Eligibility for kindergarten G&T programs is based on either a nomination by the applicants’ pre-K teacher or an interview conducted by the Division of Early Childhood Education. Eligibility for grades 1-4 G&T programs are based on satisfying grade requirements on their most recent report card.
Benefit: This change reduces access barriers to accelerated programming.
- School Day SHSAT Testing (High School)
8th graders attending NYC public middle schools who have expressed interest in attending a Specialized High School will test at their current schools during the school day.
Benefit: This change provides convenience for students and their families as they no longer require travel to testing sites on the weekend.