District 1
Covering the Lower East Side and East Village, District 1 has a rich immigrant history and is now home to a mix of old housing developments and newly developed luxury apartments. The area has seen significant changes in recent years, with trendy shops and restaurants merging into the historic community.
It is one of only three districts (along with districts 7 and 23) that does not have zoned elementary schools. There are also no zoned middle schools. All families must participate in a school choice process.
The district has a long history of progressive education, starting in the 1970s when it became a leader in small, alternative schools. These schools focus on student-centered learning, creativity, and community involvement, moving away from traditional, test-based methods. The Earth School, Neighborhood School , and The Children's Workshop School are part of this tradition.
East Side Community School (6-12) is part of the New York Performance Standards Consortium, a group of schools where students complete rigorous, in-depth research project.
The area is also home to several schools with dual language, including the Mandarin program at P.S. 184 Shuang Wen (Pre-k-8) and the Spanish Dual Language at P.S. 20 Anna Silver (Pre-K-5) .
Schools may have room for students from outside the neighborhood, and families from nearby Brooklyn neighborhoods sometimes apply due to the proximity and good transportation links.
View all District 1 elementary schools here and middle schools here.
District 1 Contacts
Who to contact:
Enrollment:
To enroll your child, go to the school or the nearest Family Welcome Center, not the district office.
Family Welcome Center
Community Education Council:
District 1 CEC
cec1@schools.nyc.gov
Special Education:
Most questions about special education can be answered by your child's teacher or principal. If you are new to New York City or your child attends private or parochial school, contact the nearest Committee on Special Education for an evaluation.
