How is your NYC middle school placement decided?
The NYC middle school application is now open on the MySchools portal. It’s a familiar complaint among families: applying to middle school in NYC feels more complicated than applying to college! And yes, while the so-called “deferred acceptance algorithm” may seem opaque, the system is actually more straightforward than it appears.
Here’s how it works:
You can rank as many programs as you'd like, in order of true preference, on the MySchools portal. Come April, the system will match your child to one school based on those rankings. You’ll automatically be waitlisted at any school you ranked higher than the one where you’re placed.
What is “Open Enrollment”?
NYC middle schools operate under a system called “open enrollment,” which means that technically, any student in NYC can apply to any middle school citywide, regardless of where they live. However, that doesn’t mean everyone has an equal shot.
In reality, most middle schools give priority to students in their geographic district, and most families tend to apply primarily to schools within their district. So while you can apply to any school, your chances of admission are stronger at schools in your district. There are some schools with no geographic priority, which you can read more about here.
How does the middle school admissions system match you to a program?
Another common concern among NYC parents: What if my child gets a bad lottery number? Yes, that randomly assigned “hexadecimal” number holds some power—but it’s not the most important factor for admissions. Your child’s placement is determined by a combination of:
Available seats in the program
Your child’s priority group (based on district, current school, etc.)
Your ranking of the program on your application
Your randomly assigned lottery number (used as a tie-breaker)
Your child’s grades (only for screened programs)
Each middle school fills its seats in order of priority. You can view any school’s priority groups on the MySchools portal – no application needed. Common priority categories include:
District priority (most schools give first preference to students who live in their district)
Current students at K–8 schools (5th graders continuing to 6th grade at the same school)
Sibling priority (applicants who have a sibling enrolled at the school)
How should I rank programs on my NYC middle school application?
This is simple: Rank programs in your true order of preference. There’s no penalty for ranking a high-demand school first, even if your chances of getting in are slim. The system will try to match your child to the highest-ranked program where they are eligible and there is space.
Tips for ranking:
Include a balanced mix of schools with high, medium, and low demand
Make sure at least 2–3 programs have moderate demand (e.g., an applicant-to-seat ratio of 2:1 or lower)
Explore a range of program types (more on that here)
How much does your randomly assigned number matter for NYC school admissions?
Your random lottery number only comes into play when a program has more applicants than available seats. It’s used to break ties between applicants within the same priority group.In other words: Your priority group matters more than your lottery number. For example, if you're in the district priority group and someone else is not, you’ll be placed ahead of them, even if they have a better lottery number.
What should I do if I have a “bad” lottery number?
Having a poor lottery number should not change how you rank your top choices on your application, but it does mean you should list a wider range of programs. You want to ensure you have 2-3 programs on your list with a low level of demand and should explore options other than district schools.
If your child has a less favorable (higher) lottery number:
Don’t panic
Don’t change your top schools - rank in true order of preference!
But do include a wider range of schools in your application.
Specifically, you should:
Add 2–3 programs with lower demand to ensure you receive a match
Explore non-district or borough-wide programs that may have more available seats
Explore screened options
The NYC middle school admissions process can feel overwhelming, but understanding how the system works puts the power back in your hands. Rank your choices wisely, and remember, with a well-balanced application, your child will be matched to a school you ranked, so don’t be afraid to list programs that truly interest you.