Mark Your Calendars: The 411 on Important NYC School Dates

School is out for summer, but the dog days will soon be over.

Moms, dads and guardians, as the first day for city public schools approaches you have a lot to keep track of—starting dates, holidays, standardized testing— and have them all right here for you.

In a July press conference Mayor Michael Bloomberg, standing next to Chancellor Dennis Walcott, said "Our Administration's core philosophy is that if we raise our expectations, our kids will reach them."

Here's to helping parents and kids sail through those initial hurdles. 

Below find bullet points that will hopefully alleviate some stress and make organizing your children’s bright futures a tad simpler.

Summer deadlines:

• August 1: Application begins online for discounted school meals
• August 27: Summer Specialized High School Admissions Test (SHSAT)
• August 30: Summer LaGuardia High School audition

Set kids off on the right foot, and don’t let ‘em be late for the first day of school!

• September 6: First day of school K-12, Partial day for Pre-K students
• September 10: First full day of Pre-Kindergarten

Parents, you’re needed too on these dates:

• October 25: HS Evening Parent-Teacher Conferences
• October 26: HS Afternoon Parent-Teacher Conferences
• November 13: ES Evening Parent-Teacher Conferences
• November 14: ES Afternoon Parent-Teacher Conferences
• November 19: MS Evening Parent-Teacher Conferences
• November 20: MS Afternoon Parent-Teacher Conferences

Children DO NOT have school on these days:

• September 17, 18:  Rosh Hashanah
• September 26:  Yom Kippur
• October 8: Columbus Day
• October 17: No school for Pre-K students
• November 6: Election Day
• November 12: Veterans Day
• November 22, 23: Thanksgiving Recess
• December 24 – Jan 1: Winter Recess

Important Testing Dates/Fairs for High School Students:

• September 12: Registration begins for Fall SHSAT and LaGuardia High School Audition, deadline is October 10
• September 29-30: Citywide High School Fair
• October 12-14: Borough High School Fairs
• December 3: Deadline to submit Round 1 High School Application

Other Useful Tips:

• Subscribe to get email updates from the Department of Education
• Here is a list of medical requirements for new students
• Public School bus stop route
• Registration has passed for the 2012-2013 year, but just in case you need it, here is a list of the various Borough Enrollment Offices
• Here is a guide to finding Community Based Organizations for Pre-K aged students. 

Visit the Department of Education’s website for a comprehensive list of everything you might need to know.