Field Notes
Notes from NYC parents.
Writing on NYC neighborhoods, schools, admissions, and the trade-offs that don’t fit in a spreadsheet. Short pieces, parent to parent.
AdmissionsMay 22, 2026The Complete Guide to NYC School Admissions
NYC school admissions isn't one process — it's several, each with its own calendar, portal, and rules. Here's the whole map: every entry point from 3-K to high school, how seats actually get assigned, and where to start.
The Motley Team · 9 min readRead →
AdmissionsMay 22, 2026NYC High School Admissions & the SHSAT, Explained
High school is the big one — a citywide choice process with screens, auditions, and a single specialized-schools exam. Here's how the SHSAT, the audition schools, and the match actually work, parent to parent.
The Motley Team · 8 min readRead →
AdmissionsMay 22, 2026NYC Gifted & Talented (G&T), Without the Anxiety
G&T is the most rule-changed corner of NYC admissions. Here's how the process generally works — eligibility, the lottery, district vs. citywide programs — and how to plan without chasing last year's rules.
The Motley Team · 6 min readRead →
AdmissionsMay 22, 2026How NYC Middle School Choice Actually Works
Middle school is where choice opens up — and where the rules depend entirely on your district. Here's how the methods differ, why your district map matters more than any ranking, and how to build a list.
The Motley Team · 6 min readRead →
AdmissionsMay 22, 2026NYC Kindergarten Admissions & the Zoned-School Question
Every NYC child is entitled to a kindergarten seat — but a zone is a priority, not a guarantee. Here's how zoned schools, choice, and the match work, and how to rank without overthinking it.
The Motley Team · 6 min readRead →
AdmissionsMay 22, 2026NYC Charter School Lotteries: How They Actually Work
Charter schools are public and free, but they run outside the DOE match on their own applications and a random lottery. Here's how the lottery, waitlists, and deadlines work — and why you can apply to both.
The Motley Team · 6 min readRead →
AdmissionsMay 22, 2026NYC School Admissions With an IEP or 504 Plan
An IEP or 504 doesn't shut any door in NYC admissions — but getting the right services means asking the right questions. Here's how placement intersects with the application, and what to ask every school.
The Motley Team · 7 min readRead →
AdmissionsApril 26, 2026The NYC 3-K Guide
A clear walk-through of how 3-K works in NYC — calendar, MySchools, after-school, priority rules, and what we wish someone had told us.
The Motley Team · 5 min readRead →
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