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New York City poured millions into expanding preschool programs, but dozens of planned sites have never opened, leaving families on long waitlists and frustrated. Records show that more than 25 preschool locations remain unused, even though the city paid for construction, renovations, or rent.
Some sites, like warehouses in Brooklyn and Queens, were fully renovated at significant cost but sit empty, while parents nearby scramble to find a spot for their children. In certain cases, the city wasn’t even aware of the existence of some sites, which were only flagged after council members or local officials discovered them.
City agencies, including the Department of Education and the School Construction Authority, say poor coordination and legacy planning from previous administrations contributed to the problem. Officials now say they are reviewing these “phantom” preschools to determine where they are needed most.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s office has acknowledged the issue and says the city is taking steps to finally put these funded facilities into use. Still, families continue to face long waitlists, highlighting major accountability and planning problems in NYC’s early childhood education system.
Parents and advocates argue that the city must act immediately to open these schools, rather than letting already-funded classrooms go to waste while kids are left without access.
