Brooklyn NYC - state elementary schools anyone???

[hiphophippity]

Any NYC residents have any insight into state (public) elementary schools in Brooklyn/Williamsburg?
DH has been approached about his dream job, based in NYC. Would be a bit of a pay cut though and we would be looking at state schools for our DDs (5 and 2) who are currently in private London nursery and school... I know there is no private pre-K in the US. But are there any great state primaries? If we are looking for a place to rent anyone have any idea of a good catchment to go for?! I am totally at sea. Trying to be open minded for DH so doing my own research.
Not sure if this is posted in right place...
Thanks for any help

Bump

In NYC but not Brooklyn and kids in private. I'd be very careful with Brooklyn. There are some excellent schools but there are some absolutely dire ones. Although you are usually zoned for a school, if they're overcrowded your kids can be bussed to a neighboring one. I think you would need a back up plan.

Check out greatschools.org . It lists public elementary schools and rates them according to API (kind of like Ofsted in the UK, I believe) and a variety of other issues. It lists number of attending pupils, ethnicity, number of 'socioeconomically disadvantaged' pupils and second language learners.

I'm not sure why you think there is no private pre-K in the USA?? There are plenty of private nurseries and preschools here, it's big business in fact. My 4 year old attends a private preschool. Usually the best way to find good ones is personal recommendations though so it's harder to research those in advance.

I think most pre-k is private. There is universal pre-k so the providers get reimbursed a bit (it's like the provisions for 3 years olds in UK). You'd probably be too late to apply for a pre-k attacked to an elementary school as the seats are limited.

Thanks all. Not sure what is happening now... I meant "no state pre-K" but perhaps I am mistaken?

Where is your DH going to be working? I'd suggest avoiding Brooklyn. The good school districts have tiny catchment areas. If you don't live in that specific area you will not get a place. The rent on a home in those areas is crazy. To give you an idea, a 2 bed flat will cost you about $2 million or about $7500+month in rent. For that sort of rent you can live downtown Manhattan and use excellent public schools there.

If that is more than what you want to spend on rent you need to look at other areas IMO. More than happy to help, just give the area your DH will be working.

Also, there are state provided preK options.

Want2bSupermum thanks for input. Office would be Flatiron... I know price of real estate, but not familiar with rental market. We own our house in London so would rent it out and rent a flat in NYC. I would prefer to be in Manhattan, but I know NOTHING about schools...

I'd take a look at Manhattan. Lower east side has lower rents because of rent control. You can get a nice 3 bed for $6k a month. I would also look at the flatiron district too.

Take a look on zillow at rentals and you can see the ratings of the assigned schools.

Thank you

Check out schooldigger.com too, I've found it very helpful.