Mid year pre-school application, NYC

[Nellie2477]

Hi all,
My family and I will be relocating to New York in January and I am trying to work out what I need to/can do about getting my 4.5 year old a place in a pre-school for when we arrive. He is just about to start in Reception (tomorrow!) so he will have completed two terms of full time Reception Year by the time we move. I have been researching and the application processes for pre-school seem to be as complex or more than the primary school admissions process here which is scaring me a little. Every school I find pretty much states on the website that they have filled their places for 2013-2014 :(
Does anyone know or have any experience of moving children this age mid-way through the critical application year? Do you have any tips or things I should look out for? I am even a bit confused as to what options he has because the schools I am finding are either private schools covering PK-5/8 or day-care schools up to age 5 that seem a lot like the preschools here where my son has graduated from to attend Reception. He will be 5 in February. I don't know if there would be any difference between the type of learning and activities between these two but he really needs to be engaged and learning. Also then there are Montessoris which I believe are different too but don't know too much about.
And then I guess there is also the fact that in order to get him enrolled somewhere for Kindergarten (Public School preferably) for next Sept, we really need to be starting this process now. Is that even feasible when we don't even know where we will be living??
I really would appreciate any advice anyone can offer as it is all a bit much really!
Thanks very much

Thanks Natasha. That is good to know. I did hear that but then it seems there is still a manic process to apply early so I wondered how that works if they have to give you a place anyway?

Will you be in NYC or the burbs?

Thanks Natasha! I will take a look at that thread too. I need all the help I can get...!

CoolStoryBro - we are thinking of either Manhattan (Upper West or East) or Brooklyn (Park Slope, Cobble Hill).

Early years education is more play based in the US. Kindergarten is the equivalent of yr1 so you'll be in time to apply to public schools (if you want private you need to start applying now). However, you'll have to go private for the remainder of this year and it will be more like preschool in the uk. I wouldn't worry though. It won't be boring because a good preschool will have lots of different activities, just the emphasis will be different. My dd had finished reception and then went into kindergarten here. She had a fabulous year. She was one of the stronger readers because of having been through reception in the UK but the teacher gave her books at her level.

Most of the competitive preschools will be full (watch nursery university on YouTube to see what it's like!) but phone around and explain your situation. The admissions people will be sympathetic and often have lots of information about where is best to try.

You should also be aware that in NYC, if your catchment school is oversubscribed you will be offered a place in another school in your district. This is becoming an increasing problem here and parents get very upset because of the expectation that your zoned school has to take you. It won't if it doesn't have space.

I suggest you also look at queens. It's the overlooked borough here and you may find the school situation less stressful then in park slope and the uws!

Btw, NYC is centralizing its kindergarten applications for 2014 into one online system so no need to apply separately at each school like before.

Http:schools.nyc.gov/ChoicesEnrollment/Elementary/Kindergarten

Thanks very much for this, Kungfutea - really helpful! I haven't looked at Queens at all so will research a little too. What is the commute like to Mid town from there? I'll be working in Times Sq. Any particular areas you'd recommend?

Forest hills, kew gardens, bayside, Murray hill are all good areas with decent public school in queens. If you take the lirr from forest hills or kew gardens you'll be in Penn station in less than 20 minutes. You also have express subway trains on the E and 7 lines to Times square. I also like the historic part of Jackson heights and Sunnyside gardens but I think the schools there aren't so great.