For Immediate Release: October 10, 2023
Contact: Jason Novak / jnovak@skdknick.com

COMMON ONLINE CHARTER SCHOOL APPLICATION LAUNCHES FOR 2024-2025 ACADEMIC YEAR

Over 250 New York City Charter Schools Available to Prospective Students, With More Added Weekly

New York, NY – The New York City Charter School Center announced the official launch of the Common Online Charter School Application for the 2024-2025 academic year, allowing families to apply – through a single application – to multiple schools at once. The Common Online Charter School Application now includes over 250 participating charter schools across the five boroughs, with more schools added weekly, and is offered in 10 different languages, including English, Spanish, French, Arabic, Haitian Creole, Chinese, Urdu, Bengali, Korean and Russian. Families have already begun applying and are encouraged to submit their application before the window closes on April 1, 2024.

Before applying, interested families can learn more about what NYC’s charter schools have to offer by visiting these schools in-person and/or virtually. The Charter Center’s online Charter School Open House Calendar provides families with the dates of charter schools’ recruitment and community events that are open to the public.

“The start of the school year is always a stressful time for parents, and the last thing they should have to worry about is how to navigate school enrollment. That’s why we’re thrilled to re-launch the Common Online Charter School Application for the 2024-2025 school year to serve as a seamless and accessible way for New York City families to apply to public charter schools throughout the five boroughs,” said James Merriman, Chief Executive Officer of the New York City Charter School Center. “The online portal makes it easy for parents to survey schools and apply to the one that will fit their child’s needs, ensuring their success in the classroom and beyond.”

Every year, tens of thousands of families apply to NYC public charter schools using the free, simple Common Online Charter School Application:

  • Of the 68,607 applications submitted for the 2023-2024 academic year, 61% were for schools in the Bronx; 20% in Manhattan; 11% in Brooklyn; 8% in Queens; 1% in Staten Island
  • 31% of last year’s applications self-identified as English Language Learners (ELLs)
  • 19% came from students with learning disabilities (SWDs)
  • Families applied to an average of 6 schools at one time

Additionally, charter schools now educate an estimated 142,500 students, or 15% of New York City’s public school students. New York City has 274 charter schools across the five boroughs, including:

  • 94 in the Bronx
  • 90 in Brooklyn
  • 55 in Manhattan
  • 27 in Queens
  • 8 in Staten Island

Through the Common Online Charter School Application, the Open House Calendar and the Charter Center’s school finder, families have direct access to the information they need – grades, location, proficiency scores, demographics, etc. – to make the best educational choice for their children. The Common Charter School Application does not affect applications to district school programs.

For more information on New York City’s public charter schools and how to apply, please visit www.charterNYC.org.