Children in all 32 community school districts can be screened for admission to gifted and talented (G&T) programs.

The citywide director of gifted and talented education is Anna Commitante, 52 Chambers Street, Room 208, New York, NY 10007, (212) 374-5165 or (212) 374-5972.

Stay tuned to the InsideSCOOP, and we'll let you know about important dates and the most up-to-date G&T program information for the upcoming school year.

On this page: G&T in grades K-3 | G&T in grades 4-5 | Elementary grade program locations

G&T in grades K-3

To determine eligibility for children entering kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grades, the Department of Education uses a child's combined score on two assessments to generate a total percentile score. The Otis-Lennon School Ability Test (OLSAT) accounts for 75% of the score, and the Bracken School Readiness Assessment (BSRA) accounts for 25% of the score.

All students who score at the 90th percentile are guaranteed admission to a district G&T program. Students who score at the 97th percentile are eligible for (but not guaranteed a seat in) more selective citywide programs. Siblings who qualify for G&T are guaranteed a seat in the same program as their sibling. If siblings do not qualify for the gifted program, an attempt will be made to place them in the general education program at the same school, depending on space.

Interested families must complete a "request for testing" form, available at the Department of Education website and at district offices in the early fall. Handbooks explaining the DOE procedure and the assessment exams are also available. Testing generally takes place in January and February. Families who move to the city after testing is completed have an opportunity to screen their child over the summer

G&T in grades 4-5

Current 3rd and 4th-graders may apply to gifted programs based on their standardized state test scores. They should score a "4" on both the reading and math tests to be considered. ELA and math test scores will be combined and then applicants will be ranked in score order. Eligible students will be considered for placement based on their ranked score and seat availability in their zoned district.

For information about upper grades G&T placement for NYC residents in non-public schools, contact the Office of Gifted and Talented programs at (212) 374-5165 or (212) 374-5972

Elementary grade program locations

Citywide programs

• Brooklyn: Brooklyn School of Inquiry is a K-8 school located in a brand-new building in Bensonhurst. The school shares the space with the Academy of Talented Scholars, a new, unzoned K-5 school that also opened in September 2009.

• Manhattan: NEST+M is a K-12 school located on the Lower East Side. Manhattan's two K-8, G&T schools are the Anderson School on the Upper West Side, and the Talented and Gifted School for Young Scholars (TAG) in East Harlem. 

Hunter College Elementary School is a K-6 program for gifted students in Manhattan located within the boundaries of District 2 on the Upper East Side. It is administered by Hunter College, not by the DOE. Applications for admission to Hunter, the most selective public school in the city, are accepted until Nov. 1. For more information, call the admissions office at (212) 860-1262 or see the school's website.

• Queens: The Science, Technology, Enrichment, and Math (STEM) Academy, is part of PS 85 in Astoria.

District Programs: The DOE has a complete list of program locations available online.