Group of students engaged in activity with clay and chisels. Newspaper protects the tabletop.

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.

  • Wednesday, December 3, 2025 at 9:00 AM — in person

  • Tuesday, January 20, 2026 at 5:00 PM — Zoom (registration link to come)

  • Thursday, January 8, 2026 at 9:00 AM — in person

  • Tuesday, January 20, 2026 at 5:00 PM — Zoom (registration link to come)

  • Thursday, February 5, 2026 at 5:00 PM — Zoom (registration link to come)

  • Thursday, February 26, 2026 at 9:00 AM — in person

General Admissions Information

Brooklyn New School is in year ten 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 and Timeline for Pre-K through 5th Grade

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 14, 2026: Pre-K Applications Open 

  • Friday, February 27, 2026: Pre-K Applications Close 

  • Tuesday, May 12, 2026: Pre-K Offer Release 

Kindergarten: Kindergarten children are admitted through MySchools

  • Tuesday, December 9, 2025: Kindergarten Applications Open 

  • Friday, January 23, 2026: Kindergarten Applications Close 

  • Tuesday, March 31, 2026: Kindergarten Offers Release

Grades 1-5: BNS does an independent lottery for open seats in grades 1-5.

For the 2026-2027 school year:

  • Fill-out the application for September 2026. (coming soon)

  • We will admit children in 1st-5th grade in the summer and fall of 2026 as seats open.

  • Please fill out one application for each child.

  • If you applied in 2025, please fill out a new application; paperwork does not carry over.

Middle School Application Timeline and Admissions

  1. October: Middle School Application opens Wednesday, October 15, 2025 Middle School open houses, Tours (in person or virtual).

  2. October: BNS Alumni Night TBD.

  3. November: Deadline to register to test for Mark Twain I.S. 239 (21K239) and District 21 Talent Tests, Monday, November 3, 2025.

  4. December: Middle School Applications are due, Friday, December 12, 2025

  5. April:  Middle School Offers Release on Wednesday, April 15, 2025

MS Admissions Website: https://www.schools.nyc.gov/enrollment/enroll-grade-by-grade/middle-school