Admissions 2025-2026
Open House Information
Click here for a recording of a Virtual Open House.
Brooklyn New School will host in person Open Houses and virtual tours this fall / winter. These events are geared towards parents and will last an hour. After a presentation, 5th graders will take small groups of parents on tours of the building. This event is appropriate for parents with children entering pre-K through grade 5. BNS is not an accessible space. Please let us know if you’d like accommodations.
Open Houses start in the auditorium at 9 am (unless noted):
Tuesday, November 12, 2024
Tuesday, December 10, 2024
Wednesday, January 8, 2025 at 5 pm on Zoom. Register here
Wednesday, January 22, 2025
February 6, 2025 at 5 pm on Zoom. Register here
February 25, 2025
General Admissions Information
Brooklyn New School is in year nine of the Diversity in Admissions (DIA) plan. There are now over 90 schools participating in the DIA plan, designed to help foster diversity within each school. The DOE prioritizes students who identify as low income for all our open seats after siblings each year. You can indicate on your application if your child meets this criteria. This year, you’ll be asked to give the DOE permission to view your income status. If you do not give the DOE permission, you will not receive this priority.
Children are admitted to BNS by lottery. Pre-K and Kindergarten children are admitted through Myschools, and 1st-5th grade children are admitted by independent lottery conducted by BNS (see below).
There is no entrance test and no pre-admission interview. BNS is not a zoned school; children who live in Brooklyn are eligible to apply. Low income families who live in Districts 13, 14, 15, 16 & 17 have priority for all open seats after siblings are admitted.
Families should re-apply every year; applications do not carry over from year to year.
We encourage all families to join an Open House before they apply. The Brooklyn New School will host in person and virtual Open House events so prospective families can visit the school and learn about our approach and our community.
Check the DOE website for general information about elementary school enrollment. You can email ES_Enrollment@schools.nyc.gov with questions.
Fall 2025 Admissions Timeline and Grades 1-4 Admissions for 2024-2025
Below are the application open, close, and offer release dates for each of the admissions processes. These dates are for students who are applying during the 2024-2025 school year for admission in the 2025-2026 school year.
*Please note: These dates are subject to change. Any changes will be announced and communicated directly to families. Sign up for updates here (Open external link).
Pre-K: Pre-K children are admitted through Myschools
Wednesday, January 15, 2025: Pre-K Applications Opens
Friday, February 28, 2025: Pre-K Applications Close
Tuesday, May 13, 2025: Pre-K Offer Release
Kindergarten: Kindergarten children are admitted through Myschools
Tuesday, December 10, 2024: Kindergarten Opens
Friday, January 24, 2025: Kindergarten Closes
Wednesday, April 2, 2025: Kindergarten Offer Release
Grades 1-5: BNS does an independent lottery for open seats in grades 1-5. This application is closed for the current school year.
For the 2025-2026 school year:
The application for September 2025 will be available starting in January 2025.
We will admit children in 1st-5th grade in the summer and fall of 2025 as seats open.
Please fill out one application for each child. If you applied in 2024, please fill out a new application; paperwork does not carry over.
Middle School Application Timeline and Admissions
October: Middle School Application opens Wednesday, October 9, 2024 Middle School open houses, Tours (in person or virtual).
October: Alumni Night Tuesday, October 29, 2024 at 5:30pm.
November: Deadline to register to test for Mark Twain I.S. 239 (21K239) and District 21 Talent Tests, November 8, 2024.
December: Middle School Applications are due, Friday, December 13, 2024
April: Middle School Offer Release on Wednesday, April 9, 2025
MS Admissions Website: https://www.schools.nyc.gov/enrollment/enroll-grade-by-grade/middle-school