NYC G&T School Programs Explained

Learn about the different NYC Gifted and Talented schools and programs. Find out about the application process and the differences between district and citywide programs.

Hi, I'm Gali. NYC Gifted and Talented Test Expert at TestPrep-Online
Have a question? Contact me at:

Dear parent,

If you need to prepare your kid to a gifted test, you may find our Family Membership helpful. With our Family Membership, your kid will be able to prepare for various gifted tests: CogAT, OLSAT, NNAT, NYC G&T, SCAT, and more. We provide comprehensive and accurate practice materials, including full-length test simulations, practice drills, study guides, and even some video tutorials. And all of it for an entire 1-year period. 

About Gifted & Talented Programs

Gifted and Talented programs are becoming increasingly popular in New York City. These programs offer young gifted students an education that is specially crafted to cater to their needs. NYC G&T programs enable gifted children to learn at an accelerated pace and delve deeper into course material. In addition, G&T programs put students in a rich environment, where they are surrounded by other gifted children and are taught by teachers who work to meet the unique academic needs of each student. G&T programs can make an enormous difference in a child's education.

NYC Gifted & Talented Application Process

To enroll in a G&T program, you must first register your child to take the NYC G&T Test, which requires filling out a Request for Testing (RFT) form two months before testing season begins. Two months after the test, you will receive your child's scores, at which point the application process begins. If your child qualifies, you will receive an application in the mail with your score report.These applications will include a list of the different schools and programs for which your child qualifies. These programs are generally divided into two types: district and citywide. You will be asked to check off your top preferences regarding program and school placement. 

District Programs for NYC Gifted & Talented

District programs accept children according to their district of residence. Children are required to score in the 90th percentile or higher to gain admission to a district program. Children who score above the 90th percentile but below the 97th percentile are not eligible to apply for citywide programs. There are nearly 100 district programs available, spread out across a majority of New York City's 32 districts.

Citywide Programs for NYC Gifted & Talented

Citywide programs accept students from all five boroughs, regardless of district of residence, and require children to score in the 97th percentile or higher. In recent years, however, due to high levels of competition, only students who scored in the 99th percentile were accepted to citywide programs. Children who are eligible for citywide programs are also eligible for district programs. There are currently only five citywide programs:

SchoolLocationGrades
New Explorations into Science, Technology and MathManhattanK-12
Anderson SchoolManhattanK-8
Talented and Gifted School for Young Scholars (TAG)East HarlemK-8
Brooklyn School of InquiryBrooklynK-8
The Science, Technology, Enrichment, and Math (STEM) AcademyQueensK-8

Citywide programs are comprised entirely of gifted and talented classes, whereas district programs have only a few gifted and talented classes offered per grade. Citywide programs are better known than district programs, and are typically more sought after by parents than district programs.

To prepare your child for the test in the best way possible, please click here.