New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Public Schools Chancellor David C. Banks have announced a series of updates to the public-school application process, designed to expand access and student choice.

“Our administration continues to expand access and increase equity across our public school system,” said Mayor Adams. “I am proud to announce changes to decades-old processes… Improving educational choice for New York City students is a key part of our mission to make our city a better place to live for New York families.”

“As the largest school district in the nation, opportunity is around every corner for our young people,” said Public Schools Chancellor Banks. “Enrollment updates like these make accessing these educational opportunities easier for students of all ages.”

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“As a mom of a New York City public school student and an educator, I know firsthand the challenges that families face during the application process,” said incoming Public Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos.

“This change represents a significant step forward in school choice… We will continue to improve our systems to make them more family friendly.”

“These updates represent a critical step toward ensuring every family has greater access and choice in our public schools,” said City Hall Chief of Staff Camille Joseph Varlack. “By removing outdated barriers and leveraging technology, we are making the admissions process easier…”

This announcement ensures that middle school applications are no longer limited to district restrictions, allowing families to apply to any middle school in the city. Approximately half of the 1,120 respondents to a 2023 middle school admissions survey said they would have applied to schools outside of their district if that was an option.

Additionally, high school applicants will now have the ability to list an unlimited number of application choices.

“Today we launch historic reforms to make the middle and high school admissions processes the most user-friendly…,” said New York State Assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar. “Education is the pathway to success, and we must make it as easy as possible for parents to make the right choices for their children.”

“Applying to high schools and middle schools in our city can be confusing, so any steps taken to make the process work better for students and their parents is deeply appreciated,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr.