Procedures

Only Manhattan residents may apply and enroll into HCES. Parents must be able to document their primary home address as of the date of application and must remain residents of Manhattan as long as the child attends HCES. All families whose child advances to Round 2 (of the application process) are required to submit New York State income tax documentation to prove NYC residency, as of the date of application. No addresses that contain a P.O. Box, a business name, “in care of” a third party, or addresses outside of Manhattan will be accepted.

 

When a new account is created, an application identification code is assigned and emailed to the primary parent, along with instructions for editing and submitting the application. The application is accessible via the link included in the email OR by copying and pasting the identification code into the screen where you are working.

NOTE: An application must be submitted for each child. If applying for twins, parents must create separate applications for each child and use different, unique email addresses.

The non-refundable application fee is $70.00, payable online by credit/debit card using our secure system. Money orders are accepted - choose this option and follow the instructions for remitting payment. An application is complete ONLY when payment is received. (Financial assistance for the application fee is available to those who qualify. Please visit the "Reduced Fee" section of this website for detailed information.)

 

With the submission and payment of an application, two confirmation emails are sent:
1. one email acknowledging the receipt of your payment;
2. one email with instructions for the next steps in the process.

The second email includes all information needed to schedule an appointment for Round 1 testing. This email includes a list of HCES-approved testers, the child’s HCES-ID number, and the deadline by which the Round 1 testing must occur.

 

ROUND 1 TESTING
Once the application is submitted, parents will have a three-week window to arrange for and complete Round 1 testing. Families are encouraged to submit applications as soon as possible. Round 1 testing schedules become less flexible toward the middle and end of the application season; it might become difficult to secure a more desirable appointment date. Parents should ensure their availability during the three-week period following application submission.

Contact information for testers is emailed to the adult listed as "Parent 1" on the application. Families may contact ONLY ONE of the testers on the list to schedule an appointment. Be prepared to provide the child’s ID number and date by which the testing must occur; this information is needed by the tester in order to confirm the appointment. There are NO exceptions to these deadlines or procedures.

**All families will be notified via email on Friday, December 6th if their child is (or is not) advancing to Round 2.**


ROUND 2 TESTING
The second phase of the application process will take place after all applicants have completed Round 1 testing. Only those who advance to Round 2 will be given further consideration for admission.


OPEN HOUSE
Hunter College Elementary School Open House events are ONLY for families that have submitted an application. Open House events fill quickly and will close when capacity is reached. RSVP instructions will be provided via email at a later date.

Hunter College Elementary School hosts two open house events to offer parents and guardians a taste of HCES life and the opportunity to have questions answered by administrators, teachers, and current parents. A maximum of TWO people, per applicant, may attend the event. (There is no childcare available at Open House; the event is primarily for parents and guardians.) All applicants will receive RSVP information for open house events.  

Other options to visit HCES are available ONLY to parents of children who are offered admission or placement on the wait list. Parents of admitted children will be able to see classes in session, and meet the principal, faculty, and other staff before submitting enrollment paperwork for their child.

 

It is our regret that we cannot accommodate all who are interested in seeing HCES in action.

Far more children seek admission to the Hunter College Elementary School than can be accommodated. Our process is solely for selecting children for admission to our small school.