District 1 on the Lower East Side has long been home to an unusual number of alternative and experimental schools. There are no zoned neighborhood schools: All parents must take part in the district’s school choice process. Some of the schools have room for children from outside the neighborhood. Brooklynites sometime cross the East River to attend District 1 schools.

District 1 is bounded by East 14th Street to the north and Fourth Avenue, Delancey and Clinton Streets from the west to the East River. Historically a neighborhood that has served generations of immigrants from around the world, it has gentrified in recent years with the addition of trendy shops and restaurants. It has massive housing projects as well as luxury apartments selling for more than a million dollars.

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

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.

Committee on Special Education