NYC High School Lottery Numbers: What They Really Mean (and Don’t)

If you’re a New York City parent, pretty soon there will be a number you’ll probably find yourself refreshing MySchools like crazy to find:

Your kid’s lottery number.

Let’s talk about lottery numbers: what they are, how they work, why they’re not a reflection of your child’s worth, and how to keep the peace at your dinner table when your kid finds out their BFF has a “better” number.

What Is a Lottery Number, Really?

Every single student applying to NYC public high schools gets a random number assigned. That’s actually what it’s called. Your” Random Number”…we’ve just been calling it a lottery number.  And maybe that’s not the best way to think of it?  I think of it like pulling a ticket at the deli counter or snagging a boarding group for a Disney ride. It’s not about merit. It’s not about test scores. It’s not about whether your child is always the lead in the musical. It’s just… random.

When more kids want a seat at a school than there are seats available, the algorithm uses that lottery number to decide who’s up next. It’s literally your child’s place in line.

A Quick History of the Algorithm

Once upon a time (cue dramatic music), the NYC high school process was pure chaos. (You think it’s crazy now!) Parents were sending kiddos to school when they were sick, because attendance mattered, and bringing kids to interview at schools all over the city because that was a thing, State test scores mattered, grades mattered too. And sometimes your district and zone mattered more than anything else.  Don’t live in this neighborhood? Too bad, can’t apply here (which also happens to be where all the good schools seemed to be!). Eventually things changed…and then changed again.  I’ll fast forward to now where we have multiple admission methods. AND we have a centralized admission office. So, it’s not the school deciding to admit you, it’s more of if your kid is matched to the school based on their admission method.

Here’s how it works today:

• First, the system considers priorities (continuing students, sometimes borough, DIA,).

• Next, screened schools look at grades, (aka tiers) and if it’s screened plus they’ll also look at essays, or portfolios.

• Then, the lottery number comes into play to break ties.

• Or if it’s an open lottery or Ed-Opt school it’s only the priorities listed and then lottery number. 

The good news? It’s a lot fairer than the old system. The bad news? It’s still NYC, so yes, it’s complicated.

How to Think About Your Child’s Number

Let’s break it down:

• Low number (lucky duck!) – This is like scoring Hamilton tickets back in 2016. Amazing, but not an automatic guarantee for every school on your list, especially if it’s a screened or audition program.

• Middle number – You’re in the messy middle. You’ll have options, but strategy is key.

• High number – Don’t panic if you’re in alphabet city!  This just means you’ll want to be extra thoughtful about adding schools where demand isn’t as fierce. A balanced list is your best friend. Look for schools that have historically received less applications per seat. (NYC-SIFT and MySchools searches).

The bottom line: the number helps order applicants, but it’s just one piece of the puzzle. Your kid’s list-building strategy matters a lot more than two random digits.

How to Talk to Your Kid About Their Lottery Number

This is where the real parenting artistry comes in. A few tips:

• Normalize it: “This number is not about you. It’s literally just like pulling a deli counter ticket.”

• Friend comparisons: Their best friend might get a way lower number. Remind your kid that doesn’t mean their friend is better—it just means they drew a different ticket.

• Privacy is okay: Not everyone has to announce their number to the group chat. Set boundaries if needed.

• Big picture reminder: Your child’s number won’t determine who they are as a student or human. What they do in high school matters so much more than where they go…as long as it’s a good fit they will have opportunities to do great things.   

Staying Zen (Or at Least Trying To)

I know it’s stressful, but remember: you only control two things in this process—your attitude and your effort. You can’t control the lottery. You can’t control the algorithm. You can control how you build your list, how you support your kid, and how many deep breaths you take before texting your WhatsApp parent group in all caps.

The DOE isn’t out to ruin your life, promise. (Even if it sometimes feels like they’ve made it their mission. I kid, I kid!)

Final Thoughts

Your child’s lottery number is important, yes, but it isn’t the whole story. Think of it as one more factor in a system that’s designed—at least in theory—to be fair. Build a balanced list, keep perspective, and remember: high school is the starting line, not the finish line.

If you want a deeper dive into what you should be doing right now, check out my latest podcast episode: Applications Open in Less Than 2 Weeks: What Should I Be Doing Now?

And if you’d like some personalized help figuring out how to build your list around your child’s lottery number, I offer 1:1 consulting sessions—because sometimes you just need someone to translate DOE chaos into plain English.