Beth Fertig at the New York Times and Philissa Cramer at Gotham Schools posted some shocking statitstics about New York City Gifted and Talented (G&T) programs:
- 40% of students who tested for the G&T kindergarten program tested as gifted.
- 68% of eligible “gifted” kindergarten applicants actually received G&T offers
These statistics suggest:
- Test prep works.
- Is the test testing giftedness or affluence? Can you even determine giftedness when a child is four?
- Better have a backup kindergarten plan. And the city backup plans are not very good: zoned public schools that sometimes go to waitlist, especially in desirable neighborhoods, private schools with limited seats and high tuition.