NYC to give 350,000 students free laptops with internet access

First day of school 2025

Hundreds of thousands of New York City public school students headed back to classrooms Thursday for the first day of the new academic year, greeted by warm weather, new rules and seven brand-new schools opening their doors. FOX 5 NY's Briella Tomassetti has the latest.

NEW YORK - New York City officials announced a major investment in digital access for students, pledging to distribute 350,000 internet-enabled Chromebooks to public school students across 1,700 schools.

What we know:

New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos joined city technology leaders, corporate partners, and community figures at DeWitt Clinton High School in the Bronx to make the announcement. 

The initiative, launched in partnership with T-Mobile and Dell, aims to bridge the digital divide and ensure that all students, especially those in high-poverty schools and temporary housing, have the tools they need for academic success.

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Chancellor of New York City Public Schools, Melissa Aviles-Ramos explains all of the changes students and parents can expect this school year.

The devices, which come with built-in LTE access, will be distributed over the course of the school year, with priority given to schools with outdated equipment and students most in need. Students will keep the laptops through graduation. Officials emphasized that reliable internet and up-to-date technology are now essential for both classroom learning and long-term opportunity.

"This is a monumental investment in our young people’s potential," Adams said, adding that the city’s proactive data-driven rollout will target communities with the greatest need. T-Mobile executives called the plan a "game changer," while students described the laptops as opening new opportunities for learning and responsibility beyond the classroom.

The four-year program is part of a broader city effort to expand broadband access, which previously brought free high-speed internet to NYCHA residents.

Leaders framed the effort as a way to ensure student success is determined by effort and opportunity, not zip code.