EMS Class of 2025 - Waitlists

Waitlists are a way for programs or schools to fill any open seats after offers are released and before school starts in the fall. Being on a waitlist means your child does not have an offer to that program, and not all students on waitlists will receive a waitlist offer.

Your child's offer letter will include information about any programs where your child is waitlisted. They are automatically on the waitlist for any program(s) listed higher on your child's application than the program where they got an offer.

- For example, if your child got an offer to their third-choice program, they would automatically be on the waitlist for their first- and second-choice programs.
- If your child got an offer to their first-choice program, they would not be on any waitlists.
- If you would like to remain on a waitlist, there is nothing else you need to do.

After offers are available and when waitlists open, you can also use MySchools.nyc to:

Add your child to additional waitlists (this is optional)
See where your child is on any waitlist
Add or remove your child from waitlists
Accept or decline a waitlist offer, if you receive one

Frequestion Asked Questions

What are waitlists?

Middle and high schools use waitlists to fill any open seats after offers are released and before school starts in the fall. Being on a waitlist means your child does NOT have an offer to that program.

- Not all programs will have available seats, so not all programs will make waitlist offers.
- Not all students on waitlists will receive a waitlist offer.
- If a program can make you a waitlist offer, they will contact you directly.
- Unlike all other middle and high school programs, the Specialized High Schools do NOT use waitlists.

Which high schools have waitlists?

Every program that you can list on your application has a waitlist, but many middle and high schools will not have any open seats and therefore will not make any offers to students on their waitlist. Please note that the nine Specialized High Schools do not have waitlists.

What happens if I get a waitlist offer?

If a school is able to make you a waitlist offer before waitlists close, they will contact you directly: you will then have approximately one week to accept or decline that waitlist offer. If you accept a waitlist offer, it replaces your child’s previous offer. If your child does not receive a waitlist offer, they will keep their original offer.

Please note that you can only have one accepted offer. Accepting your waitlist offer means declining your child’s current offer: you must choose between them within the timeline provided.

I’m on a program’s waitlist. Does this mean I will get an offer to that program?

Not necessarily. High schools will only make waitlist offers if they have open seats to fill. Being on a waitlist means your child does not have an offer to that program, and not all students on waitlists will receive a waitlist offer.

Where am I automatically waitlisted?

Your child is automatically on the waitlist for any program they listed higher on their application than the program where they received an offer (or to all programs on their application if your offer is to a program not listed there).

For instance, if you receive an offer to your third-choice program, you will be automatically on the waitlist for your second- and first-choice programs.
Please read the last page of your offer letter or check MySchools.nyc to see where you are automatically waitlisted, if applicable.
If you’ve received an offer to your first-choice program, you are not automatically on any waitlists.
If you would like to remain on a waitlist, there is nothing else you need to do.

How do I add myself to waitlists? (Optional)

When waitlists open, you can also add your child to any additional waitlists of any programs they are eligible to attend by doing one of the following:

- Use your MySchools.nyc account to add your child to other waitlists—you can filter to find programs with available seats
- Talk to the school counselor
- Call 718-935-2009
- Email waitlists@schools.nyc.gov

ZONED SCHOOLS

If you have a zoned middle or high school and you did not include this zoned program on your application, you can add yourself to the zoned program’s waitlist.

CONTINUING SCHOOLS

If your child’s current school serves grades K-8, K-12, or 6-12 and you received an offer to a different school, you can change your mind and remain at your current school: just add your child to the waitlist of their current school and your child is guaranteed to get an offer there. If you accept a waitlist offer to your child’s current school, you will give up your current offer.

Is there a limit to how many waitlists I can be on?

There is no limit to how many programs’ waitlists a student can be on.