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The ruling comes in the wake of a lawsuit filed from the United Federation of Teachers that claims the Department of Education did not properly follow the law, did not give neighborhoods proper notice of the closings and did not analyze the impact the closures will have on communities.

DOE officials held hearings on the matter back in December and January.

"That's what the community was saying throughout this process, they continuously said they're not doing this right," said UFT President Michael Mulgrew. "And no one was listening and no one would stop them from what they were doing, and it's sad that we had to go to court to get relief."

The City Law Department is seeking an immediate appeal and said in a statement, "We are disappointed by today’s ruling, which, unless it is reversed, requires the Department of Education to keep open schools that are failing our children. Contrary to the ruling, we believe that the Department of Education complied with the notice and public hearing requirements in the new law."

At Norman Thomas High School in Manhattan, teachers and students said they are thrilled to hear their school may have a second chance.

"Hopefully now the judge will say, 'This is not right. We did not get the input.... Speak to the people, you have schools the are suffering and need a lot more help," said teacher Ed Moroney.

If the city's appeal does not work, DOE officials may have to repeat the entire closure process. However, with just three months left in the school year and thousands of students and teachers affected, there may not be enough time for a do-over.

DOE officials already approved plans to open several new schools in the buildings of the schools slated to close.

As for the city's 80,000 eighth-graders who await finding out where they are going to high school next year, they will receive the decisions starting tonight.

Schools Chancellor Joel Klein said in a statement that no students were initially assigned to the high schools slated to be closed. However, if the schools remain open, some students will re reassigned.