Brighton and Hove City Council is consulting on plans to close two schools due to falling pupil numbers.
The plans also include reduced intake numbers at nine other primary schools.
St Bartholomew's Church of England Primary School in Brighton and St Peter's Community Primary School in Portslade could close in August.
The council has agreed to consult on how to give pupils receiving free school meals a better chance of securing their first choice school.
The six-week public consultation on the proposed closures is going ahead as Brighton and Hove City Council looks to reduce the number of spare places and the level of schools' financial deficits.
The consultation is due to end on 22 December, with the results going before the council's children, families and schools committee on 8 January.
Jacob Taylor, co-chairing a meeting of the council's children, families and school's committee on Monday, said: "We've agonised over these decisions and we don't take them lightly.
"What we're proposing is about trying to create a properly-funded school system in the city and that will benefit all pupils, particularly those that need the support."
