Middle school question for non zoned area

[Anonymous]

Middle school for rising 7th grader. Without a zoned MS, how does one figure out where kid will be placed? Does the kid have to apply and hope for the best and plan for anything? I’m curious about Brooklyn. There don’t seem to be any zoned MS, but a handful of highly rated Elementary schools. With kids in both ES and MS, it is hard to figure out where to target house hunting. Should I only be looking at areas with zoned MS? Is there a chance we won’t get a spot even at the zoned MS because it is full (in Manhattan)? Thanks for helping to understand the system.

[Anonymous]

"Does the kid have to apply and hope for the best and plan for anything?"

Yes

[Anonymous]

A fellow Brooklyner here. When filling out the application for middle school you will put in the order of 1st choice to last choice of schools you are looking into. Keep in mind that if the 1st, 2nd etc school is in zone a for which you don't reside in they will first place zone a kids first then give the leftover spots to kids in other areas. Then you have specialized middle schools which your child will have to be tested to see if the have a chance of getting a seat or not.

[Anonymous]

Helpful response, thanks! Is it worth avoiding areas without zoned middle schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Helpful response, thanks! Is it worth avoiding areas without zoned middle schools?

Oh my no. Most neighborhoods in Brooklyn have a middle school either within walking distance or a quick bus or train ride away. Choose the neighborhood based on all its qualities not just off of a school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Helpful response, thanks! Is it worth avoiding areas without zoned middle schools?

Oh my no. Most neighborhoods in Brooklyn have a middle school either within walking distance or a quick bus or train ride away. Choose the neighborhood based on all its qualities not just off of a school.

But the more desirable schools are in the more desirable neighborhoods...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Helpful response, thanks! Is it worth avoiding areas without zoned middle schools?

Oh my no. Most neighborhoods in Brooklyn have a middle school either within walking distance or a quick bus or train ride away. Choose the neighborhood based on all its qualities not just off of a school.

But the more desirable schools are in the more desirable neighborhoods...

This isn't always true. Take Mark Twain middle school which is located in Coney Island a neighborhood surrounded by projects and crime. But Matk Twain is ranked #15 out of 400 middle schools in NYC even though it's in a very less desirable neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Helpful response, thanks! Is it worth avoiding areas without zoned middle schools?

Oh my no. Most neighborhoods in Brooklyn have a middle school either within walking distance or a quick bus or train ride away. Choose the neighborhood based on all its qualities not just off of a school.

But the more desirable schools are in the more desirable neighborhoods...

Some of the most desirable Brooklyn neighborhoods are in District 15 which does not have any zoned schools, everything is by lottery and the quality range is pretty wide.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Helpful response, thanks! Is it worth avoiding areas without zoned middle schools?

Oh my no. Most neighborhoods in Brooklyn have a middle school either within walking distance or a quick bus or train ride away. Choose the neighborhood based on all its qualities not just off of a school.

But the more desirable schools are in the more desirable neighborhoods...

Some of the most desirable Brooklyn neighborhoods are in District 15 which does not have any zoned schools, everything is by lottery and the quality range is pretty wide.

I don't think either of those examples are good. Mark Twain was an arts middle school which was like a G&T school, application by audition. In D15 there are going to be many good schools as you mentioned. Contrast that with Harlem where there are hardly any desirable schools.