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Information about attending high school in New York City for recently arrived immigrants.
Yes. You have a right to go to high school, regardless of your immigration status. You can enroll in high school up to the school year in which you turn 21.
To enroll in a high school, you should go to the Family Welcome Center in your borough. The Family Welcome Center will be able to help you find the school that is best for you. They should give you an “enrollment referral form” and can help you register. Remember that, even if the Family Welcome Center tells you that you should not enroll, you have the right to enroll if that is what you want. You can find the locations of the Family Welcome Centers here.
Yes. Once you are enrolled in school, you are guaranteed a shelter extension if you ask for one. You can get an extension if you present proof that you are enrolled in high school.
Before your shelter time expires, you must go back to the Reticketing Center (185 East 7th Street in Manhattan) to get the extension. When you arrive, tell the staff you want to apply for an extension because you are in high school. If you wait until your time expires to request the extension, you will likely have to move to a different shelter. If you request the extension before your time expires, you should be able to stay in your current shelter.
There are many documents that you can bring to the Reticketing Center to show that you are enrolled in high school. Some of the documents you can bring are:
If you have a disability and need something special in your shelter as a result, the shelter must give you what you need to accommodate your disabilities. You can find out more information about how to get a reasonable accommodation in shelter here.
If your disability affects your ability to attend and function in school, you have the right to receive special education services and/or modifications or accommodations. After you enroll in school, talk to your teacher, school social worker, or guidance counselor about your needs.
This resource has been translated and can be downloaded in Fulani/Pulaar and Wolof.
For help with reasonable accommodations and shelter extensions, call Legal Aid’s Homeless Rights Hotline at 800-649-9125.
For help with school enrolment, call Legal Aid’s Education Law Unit at: 888-663-6880.
The information in this document has been prepared by The Legal Aid Society for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. This information is not intended to create, and receipt of it does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship. You should not act upon any information without retaining professional legal counsel.