Is a gifted program right for your child? Some of the best schools in the city refuse to group children by ability and manage to bring all children to a high level of achievement. In these schools, teachers manage to give every child individual attention and offer challenging work to very bright children while giving struggling students the support they need. In a school like that, your child may do very well in a general education classroom, even if he or she is unusually capable. On the other hand, some parents of very bright children prefer to have them with their academic peers. And in parts of the city where the overall quality of the neighborhood schools is poor, gifted programs may offer a refuge.

Children in all 32 community school districts can be screened for admission to gifted and talented (G&T) programs. The Department of Education has a standard procedure for assessing and placing students in elementary school G&T programs across the city. Middle school G&T admissions is less cut-and-dry and varies by district (and by school); there are also number of selective middle schools, in addition to honors programs at neighborhood middle schools.

For more information on:

• Elementary school programs
  
• Selective middle schools