Choosing a school? Youāve got options.
Choosing where your child goes to school is one of the biggest decisions you face. While it may feel intimidating to navigate your school choice options in New York and make a choice, you can do it. The best starting point for choosing a good school fit is knowing your options. This post will break down the main learning environments available in your state.
New York families can choose fromĀ traditional public schools,Ā public charter schools,Ā public magnet schools, private schools,Ā online learning,Ā homeschooling, andĀ microschooling and mix-and-match learning.
One factor families consider when they choose a school is transportation. In New York, transportation is available for students who attend their assigned public school, transfer to another public school (New York City only), attend a public magnet or public charter school in their assigned school district, or have transportation services in their Individualized Education Plan (IEP). Transportation may be available to other school types – check out this transportation guide for more information.
Looking for special education options? You can learn what special education services are available in New York at theĀ Ultimate Guide to Special Education.
Widely
Available
Traditional Public Schools
Public Magnet Schools
Private Schools
Homeschooling
Microschooling
Partially
Available
Public School Transfer
Public Charter Schools
Online Learning
Not
Available
State Choice Funding
Widely
Available
Traditional Public Schools
Public Magnet Schools
Private Schools
Homeschooling
Microschooling
Partially
Available
Public School Transfer
Public Charter Schools
Online Learning
Not
Available
State Choice Funding
Download the School Choice Snapshot for New York
Click a School Type to See Your Options
Traditional Public School
Free public school based on your address or zone
Public Charter School
Free public schools open to all students run by an independent board of directors
Homeschool
School that takes place in your own home
Online Learning
Schools where students attend virtually, can be free public or private schools
Microschool
School that takes place with a small group of students
New York Traditional Public Schools
Most children in New York (74.6% of all K-12 students) attend traditional public schools. Traditional public schools are free to attend, open to all students, operated by schoolĀ districts, and funded by taxpayers like you. Each year, New York spends an average ofĀ $26,571 per public school student.
In New York, each district decides whether it will participate inĀ open enrollment. Open enrollment is a valuable choice that refers to whether parents can send their children to any public school, regardless of where it is located or what their zip code is.
If you would like to participate in open enrollment, check with your local school district to see if this is available. If so, you can visit and select from a wider array of public schools. For example, the New York City Department of Education listsĀ several reasons families may request school transfers. These include an accessibility need, a sibling being at a different school, a travel hardship or move, or a safety concern.
New York City is opening nine new public schools with innovative models in Fall 2024, including a film/TV-themed high school in Queens, a project-based elementary school in Brooklyn, and the cityās first Montessori-inspired public school.
You may also want to visit theĀ New York State Education DepartmentĀ or learn about New York CityāsĀ non-resident enrollment policies.Ā You can also learn more about open enrollment at āPublic Schools Without Boundaries: A 50-State Ranking.ā
New York Charter Schools
You can also choose fromĀ charter schools. In New York,Ā 6.3% of all K-12 studentsĀ attend a public charter school. These are another type of tuition-free, public school open to all students. Charter schools are distinct from traditional public schools in that they have extra freedom to innovate and determine their own policies. As one New York City charter school parentĀ described, āThere is a tremendous amount of variety among charter schoolsā¦ Shop around to find the school that is the best fit for your childās learning needs.ā
As they innovate, charter schools can share the fruits of their innovation with traditional classrooms. In New York, charters are accountable toĀ authorizing entitiesĀ for student achievement.Ā If there are more families seeking admittance to a charter school than there are seats, a lottery system is usually used to determine admittance.
New Yorkās first charter school opened inĀ 1999 in Harlem. Today, there are more thanĀ 350Ā charter schools across the state, with the majority of these located inĀ New York City.Ā Currently there is aĀ capĀ limiting the number of charter school licenses available in New York City.Ā As part of New Yorkās budget passed in 2023, up toĀ 14 new chartersĀ can be opened in New York City, and up to eight elsewhere in the state.
Free transportation is provided to all New York charter school students within their district. In New York City, students living more than 0.5 miles from their school receive transportation via MetroCard or school bus from the Department of Education. For Kā8 students over 2 miles away and grades 9ā12 over 3 miles away, transportation is also available. Parents must annually request transportation from the Transportation Department. Students with special needs and an Individualized Education Program (IEP) are eligible for transportation assistance.
Learn more about charter options at theĀ Northeast Charter Schools NetworkĀ or atĀ New York FamilyāsĀ 2023 Charter School Guide.Ā If youāre in the Buffalo area, you can apply to multiple charter schools at one time atĀ Enroll Buffalo Charters.
New York Magnet Schools
Magnet schools are free public schools that allow kids to narrow in on a specific learning track, such as anĀ International Baccalaureate programĀ or the performing arts. In New York,Ā 4.5% of all K-12 studentsĀ attend a public magnet school. At a magnet school, all the subjects are taught through the lenses of that specific track. If there is one near you with a theme that interests your child, it could be a great option to consider.
New York has several magnet schools throughout the state. You can easily search magnet schools in New York City atĀ NYC Magnet Schools. The website offers families application info and information about magnet schools in Brooklyn, the Bronx, Manhattan, and Queens. Other districts with magnet schools or programs include theĀ Rochester City School DistrictĀ and theĀ Buffalo School District. You can also search your local district to learn more.
New York Private Schools
There are more thanĀ 1,800Ā private schools across the state of New York. Overall, the average tuition for private schools in the state isĀ $22,346Ā for elementary schools andĀ $26,788Ā for high schools. In New York,Ā 12.8% of all K-12 studentsĀ attend a private school.
New Yorkās private schools feature diverse learning methods.Ā One of the private schools we spoke to, The Learning Tree Cultural Preparatory School, offers students an award-winning drumming program and takes eighth-graders on international trips each year. āOur philosophy is that inner-city children should be able to experience anything that other children experience,ā says founder Lois Gregory.
While there are no state-run scholarship options in New York, many private schools, such as The Learning Tree Cultural Preparatory School, work with scholarship-granting organizations to keep tuition affordable for all families who are interested.Ā In fact, there are more thanĀ 200 New York City private schoolsĀ with an average annual tuition of $6,065.
Additionally, New York City students with disabilities may be eligible to have private school tuition paid for orĀ reimbursed by the Education DepartmentĀ when there is not an appropriate public education able to serve their special learning plan.Ā According toĀ WNYC, āBecause children with disabilities are entitled to a free and appropriate public education under federal law, the Education Department may recommend a nonpublic school program if it is unable to provide the services mandated for your child in his or her Individualized Education Program.ā
Learn more about private school opportunities at theĀ Childrenās Scholarship Fund ā New York,Ā BISON Childrenās Scholarship Fund,Ā Tomorrowās Hope Foundation, Advocates for Children of New Yorkās Guide to Special EducationOpens PDF in new tab, Inner-City Scholarship Fund,Ā Futures in Education,Ā Oliver Scholars,Ā Prep for Prep,Ā Student Sponsor Partners,Ā andĀ Private School Review: New York.
New York Online Learning
Online learning is sometimes overlooked, but it offers a uniquely flexible learning environment that meets a variety of family needs. Whether your child wants to accelerate his or her learning or needs a quieter environment in which to focus, you may be interested in giving virtual school a try.
While most states offer a free, statewide, full-time online learning program for all grades, New York does not currently do so. However, New York City recently launched a virtual high school, Virtual Innovators Academy (currently open to ninth graders), and a hybrid high school program, A School Without Walls (currently open to ninth and tenth graders)
While New York is currently one of the most restrictive states for online schooling options, students in some districts, especially students with medical exemptions, may also be able to access remote learning programs.
Keep in mind that there are also fee-based full-time online school options that are available to students in New York and all 50 states. These includeĀ George Washington University Online High School,Ā The Keystone School, andĀ K12 Private Academy.
Additionally, there are part-time online learning opportunities available in many New York schools. For example, New York City offers a digital learning program calledĀ iLearnNYC. This allows students in participating schools to take specific online courses unavailable in their brick-and-mortar school. Additionally, the New York State Education Department listsĀ course providersĀ that schools statewide may collaborate with to offer online courses to students.
To read more about online learning in New York, check out the Digital Learning Collaborativeās state profile.Opens PDF in new tab
New York Homeschooling
Homeschooling is another school option in all 50 states. Homeschooling is the process of parents educating students at home.Ā There are aboutĀ 54,000 studentsĀ (1.9% of all K-12 students)Ā who homeschool across the Empire State!
Homeschooling Requirements:
In New York, notice of your intent to homeschool is required within 14 days of starting and annually by July 1. Families in New York City should submit their paperwork to the NYC Education Departmentās Office of Homeschooling. Families outside of New York City should submit to their districtās superintendent. While homeschooling, families should also submit anĀ annual individual home instruction plan and quarterly reports.
Homeschooling parents are required toĀ teach specific subjects (such as reading, writing, and physical education) and assess their child annually.Ā Unfortunately, children who are homeschooled may face roadblocks if they want to participate in public school sports or activities in New York. But, you can always look for other sports leagues and activities near you!
In the case that you decide to return to public school, the school will determine your studentās placement based on records, potential assessments, and the principalās decision.
If you are looking for a highly customizable and flexible education for your child and think homeschooling could fit the bill, view theseĀ resources about homeschooling specific to New York.
New York Microschools and Mix-and-Match Learning
Today, some New York families are mixing and matching school options to come up with new ways to personalize education.Ā MicroschoolsĀ are one of these ways. A microschool refers to students gathering together in a small group ā with adult supervision ā to learn, explore, and socialize. Microschools can take a variety of shapes and legal forms, from homeschoolers coming together at an enrichment center to a private school committed to small classrooms. What microschools share in common is a commitment to small-group learning and close-knit relationships, along with an emphasis on children as individual learners.
Examples of microschools and related resources in your state:
- There are at least fourĀ Acton AcademyĀ microschools either open or planning to open in New York ā these are in Riverhead, Mount Vision, Rochester, and New York City.
- Joyful Learning AcademyĀ in Brooklyn is a learning center for homeschoolers founded by a former public school teacher, focused on holistic living and creative learning.
- Art of Words Community SchoolĀ is a small private school in Brooklyn focused on art, literature, community, and project-based learning.
Remember, microschooling is more a mentality than a specific legal distinction in most cases. Often, a family participates in a microschool while legally homeschooling, or being enrolled in a private or online school.
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