NYC School Lottery Numbers Explained: What Your Child's Number Means

What Your Child's School Lottery Number Really Means

New York City's high school admissions process has officially started, and many families are checking their MySchools accounts for their child's randomly assigned number, often called a “lottery” number. But what does this number really mean?

The 32-digit number is a key part of the admissions process and can cause stress for families. It’s important to understand how the number is used in making admissions decisions.

How To Read Your Random Number

The first digit or two of the number can help you interpret its priority. The higher the number, the lower the priority. For example, a number starting with 0 has a higher priority than a number starting with F.

How the Lottery Number Impacts Admissions

The lottery number is primarily used as a tiebreaker. When there are more applicants than seats available at a school, the number determines who gets in. Schools have different ways of evaluating applicants. Selective schools use grades, while others focus on the lottery number.

Open vs. Screened Schools

At open schools, which primarily consider the lottery number for admissions, the number plays a larger role in determining admissions. At screened schools, which consider grades and admissions essays, the number only impacts decisions between students with equal priority.

Understanding Your Chances

This year, for the first time, families applying to high school have access to a new tool in MySchools that estimates an applicant’s chances of admission to a particular program based on their random number, home borough, course grades, and other factors.

New Admissions Flexibility

For the first time, middle school applicants can apply to schools across the city, not just within their home district. They will still have priority at schools in their local zone and district.

However, some parents worry that the new flexibility will add stress to the already difficult admissions process.

Advocating for Earlier Transparency

Admissions consultant Elissa Stein believes the city has made the admissions process more transparent. However, she wants the Education Department to provide information earlier, noting that many families start touring and researching schools well before October.

“Seeing a school and saying, ‘Oh my gosh, I love this so much,’ and then finding out that you really don’t have a chance of getting in is an extra heartbreak that could have been prevented,” she said.

Overall, the random number is a key factor in NYC school admissions. Understanding how it works and how to read it can help families navigate the process and make informed decisions.