I’m moving with my family to NYC just before summer 2020. Yes, we have considerable advance warning.
Spouse and I will be working in midtown and in the UN.
My kids are in KS1. So will be joining 1st and 2nd grade.
I am going crazy trying to figure out schools. I want to find a school or school options then find our home.
I’m open to public or private. Just want a good school.
Would appreciate your experience with schools in NYC and would particularly love a list of schools to def check out.

Thanks. I meant Key Stage 1 - so Reception and Year 1.

Thanks for the link to the consultant. Will consider that.

yes. Thanks

Thanks! I think for now we are thinking of living (renting) in the city for at least a year before figure out if we would like to buy.
We would also prefer to be close to the kids school ie work shouldn’t be too far from home and school because with both of us working full time picking and dropping logistics can be a hussle.

We are happy to rent rent an apartment (not really sure the difference between condo and apartment) or a townhouse. Budget is 6k/7k

As we have never really had to do the long commutes I guess I’m just automatically resistant - but I guess we could get used to it... and the idea of more space and a garden does sound nice.

In the context of the city a condo and coop are types of ownership, mainly for apartments (flats) in general a lot of coop’s are older buildings, while condos are generally newer buildings, but there are always exceptions, theses are typically owned by individuals. Coop’s often have a pretty comprehensive approval process and restrictions on if an owner can rent out their property (sometimes called a sublet, even though they own it) They are also rental buildings where it’s all owned by a single owner and it’s all rentals.
You should be able to get an OK 3 bed 2 bath with your budget in midtown east / kips bay close to the UN. For better public schools you may have to look at the upper west side. I moved out of the city for better public schools and have a 2 hour commute each way. I would check out www.streeteasy.com for an idea of what properties your money could get you.

Thanks for the input.

As we have time, I think we will visit beforehand and look at at least 3 areas and 3 schools we will have narrowed down to. It looks like it will the best way to make a good decision.

We both need to start working almost immediately upon arrival so the better prepared we can be (or try to be) the easier it will be (I hope).

Thank you. It’s one of the schools on my list.

I have friends who had a child in a Montessori in Westchester and seems to be happy. I believe there is one close to the UN as well. Again indirect but I have past co-workers who were interviewing to get their children in to private schools. I think both parents had to go and the school to be interviewed and they also wanted to observe the child interacting with other children and I seem to recall them talking about some sort or entry exam. I know one was on a waitlist for their preferred school, so I would do your research as early as possible to make sure you don’t miss any deadline to try and get in to your preferred one.

Thank you! Very helpful!