Sibling Preference for New Haven Public School Students

New Haven Public Schools has announced a new sibling preference policy for school enrollment that will help keep families together in school.

The new sibling preference policy gives top preference to siblings who live in the designated attendance (neighborhood) zone of a school and it applies to magnet, charter and neighborhood schools. The idea for the change was born out of discussions by the Board of Education and the volunteer Redistricting Committee, as well as public input from parents who advocated for sibling preference. This is an example of parents getting involved and having a real impact on education.

In the past, New Haven offered preference to students who live in the designated neighborhood zone of a school. The change underscores the school district's commitment to giving priority to families wishing to have their children enrolled together in their assigned school. Magnet School applications became available to the public on Jan. 2. The deadline for turning in the application is Feb. 15.

Families can learn more about the new policies and get valuable information about schools at the upcoming Magnet School Fairs. The Citywide Magnet School Fair will be from 6 to 8 p.m. on Jan. 9 at the Floyd Little Athletic Center, 480 Sherman Parkway (Next to Hillhouse High School). The Inter-District Magnet School Fair will be from 12 to 2 p.m. on Jan. 12 at Hill Regional Career High School, 140 Legion Ave.

Due to the seat limitations, there is no guarantee that any child will be placed in a particular school, even with the new policy in place. However, the lottery process is designed to give preference both to students residing within the attendance zone of a school and to those applicants that already have a brother or sister currently attending that school at the time of the application. To receive the sibling preference, the brother or sister must also live in the same household and have the same parents or legal guardian as the applicant. If a sibling applicant is not placed due to seat limitations, the preference will carry over for priority on the waiting list in the order of preferences listed below. Assignment to any New Haven Public School will adhere to the following priority sequence of preferences:

1. Siblings of current students who also live within the attendance (neighborhood) zone of that school (Neighborhood and Sibling Preference);

2. Non-sibling students living within the attendance zone of that school

(Neighborhood Preference Only);

3. Siblings of current students that live outside the attendance zone of that school

(Sibling Preference Only);

4. Non-sibling students living outside the attendance zone of that school (No Preference).

Another new change in policy for this year will be that families should include all of their children on the same application. Assignment of these multi-child applications will follow the priority sequences listed above, so that if one sibling is admitted, the other siblings will be given preference for seats available at that point of the lottery.

Families can find their child's attendance zone (formerly called neighborhood zone), by visiting www.nhps.net or www.newhavenmagnetschools.com