Yonkers Public Schools offers you and your child many exciting educational options. The Online School Choice Process is a key component that takes place once a year. Parents/Guardians must actively participate in the process to take advantage of these opportunities. To participate in the School Choice Process, your child must be registered prior to commencement of the School Choice application period from December 1–December 31, 2024.

Who Must Complete an Online School Choice Application for the 2025-2026 School Year?

• New students for September 2025. If your child is not registered, please visit www.yonkerspublicschools.org/register to enroll your student.
• Fifth grade students at Museum School 25 and School 17
• Sixth grade students at prekindergarten to grade 6 schools, except for those at Montessori School 27 and Montessori School 31 who are automatically assigned to Yonkers Montessori Academy.
• All eighth grade students except for those at Barack Obama School for Social Justice and Yonkers Montessori Academy.

How are Students Placed in Schools?

The seating capacity in the requested grade, school and admission requirements will be considered when making a school assignment determination for Transition Students.

Sibling Preference

First preference is given to siblings of currently enrolled students based upon seat availability if the school is selected as the first choice on the online School Choice Application. Siblings are defined as brothers or sisters living in the same household. Sibling preference does not apply to schools or programs that have entrance requirements or require special education placement.

Attendance Zone

Most schools have attendance zones. The schools give preference based upon seat availability to students living within the attendance zone of the school. Students are placed in schools according to the following factors:

• Eighty percent (80%) of the available seats will go to the attendance zone students who request the school as their first (1) choice.
• Twenty percent (20%) of the available seats will be made available to students from throughout the school district who request the school as their first (1) choice.

Attendance zone does not apply to these elementary schools: Yonkers Montessori Academy, Montessori 27, and Montessori 31.

How Can Parents/Guardians Appeal the School Assignment their Child Received Through the School Choice Process?

The Appeal Process is available ONLY to Transition Students who participated in the School Choice Process. After the student’s school assignment has been received in the mail, a placement decision may be appealed by completing the Appeal of School Assignment Form online at yonkerspublicschools.org. The online Appeal must be submitted between March 1 and March 31, 2025. Appeals will be granted based on seat availability in the requested school and the nature of the request, including academic criteria.

If the request cannot be accommodated, the student will remain at his or her assigned school. All appeal responses are final for the current academic year. Student Enrollment will respond to all appeals by May 2025.

How Can Parents/Guardians Transfer Their Child To A Different School If They Are Not Eligible To Participate In The School Choice Process?

A Transfer Request Form is available online for currently enrolled students in grades prekindergarten through 12. Transfer requests must be submitted between March 1 and March 31, 2025. Parents/Guardians need to provide a reason for requesting a school transfer. All families will receive notification on the status of their transfer request by the last week of May 2025. Approved school transfer requests are effective for the 2025-2026 academic year. The nature of the transfer, the seating capacity in the requested grade, school and admission requirements will be considered when making a transfer determination.

If Assistance Is Needed During The School Choice Process, What Services Are Available?

The staff in Student Enrollment will be available throughout the School Choice Process to provide additional assistance. You may contact Student Enrollment by phone at (914) 376-8050, via email at studentenrollment@yonkerspublicschools.org, or you may visit the Family Support Center during operational hours.