4 Items of interest for the NYC gifted and talented program & Kindergarten admissions

I promised an update on the Kindergarten admissions and the NYC gifted and talented program, so here I am after some reconnaissance and further investigation. Unlike the long-form posts you’ve come to expect in this space, this one will be in bullet point format and shorter!

• You definitely have fewer choices: instead of being able to rank up to 24 schools (12 for G&T, 12 for all other), you can only rank 12 schools for Kindergarten. In the way back past, you used to be able to list up to 20 schools!
• Random numbers: these are being used as tie-breakers and every student has been assigned one: In theory, these do not play as much of a role in the admissions process at the 3K, PreK and K levels (more to come) since young families have left the City, but they sure as hell matter a lot in the middle school and high school rounds.
  • From the mouths of DOE staff: “On a list of 100 applicants to a program, your random number may place you at #75. During the match, it’s possible that 30 students with a stronger random number match to a more preferred choice, meaning that your actual position would jump to #45. With tens of thousands of applicants and hundreds of programs, this is pretty common.”
    • TBH, I’m not sure what an actual position of #45 does for you, but it needed to be said
  • Also unclear when and how these random numbers were generated and there isn’t an appeals process or a way to short circuit it.
• NYC gifted and talented program: if you list G&T choices but don’t get a nomination, those choices are thrown out and your first choice becomes the highest rated non – G&T program followed by the rest of the non – G&T programs you listed in their original ranking order. In plain speak, if you ranked a G&T school #1 but didn’t get in, then your non G&T #2 school becomes your #1 choice as far as the algorithm is concerned.
  • Logistics wise, after you submit your application with at least one G&T school on it, your current PreK teacher is notified and prompted to fill out a nomination form. Still unclear what that form looks like and what nominations actually assess.
  • G&T programs give priority to students in the district, there is no priority for being zoned for a school with a G&T program
  • Citywide schools do not give district priority
  • Class sizes are the same for Gen Ed and G&T classes
  • Information on how to enroll in and be evaluated for G&T programs in 1st or 2nd grade is not yet available per the DOE
  • There are no dual language G&T programs
  • Since this process has never been done before, assume chaos, bitterness, and aggravation
  • Also 4 things to look for in gifted programs in elementary school
• Addition of elementary schools after applications close: every year, schools that were not available as selections during the application process accept new students. This happened with 3k, this happened with PreK, and it will happen again with Kindergarten admissions.
  • This year, the DOE has confirmed that the new public school at Albee Square in Downtown Brooklyn will not be available as a selection during the application process. However, the DOE is slated to take control of the school in December 2022 for opening in September 2023. While not confirmed, it is widely assumed to be an elementary school. Relatedly, the DOE does not control school rezoning issues and it’s very possible that D13 will be rezoned with the addition of this new public elementary school.
  • The relevant authorities in charge of rezoning include the district’s community education council and the superintendent.

I am positive more intrigue will crop up over the next few weeks before applications close! Meanwhile, I’ll plan to continue the gifted and talented conversation about ways to support ALL kids and how to DIY your own G&T curriculum.