Gifted & Talented programs offer accelerated instruction to eligible elementary school students in New York City.
Program Application Deadlines
For Children Interested in Kindergarten G&T Programs in Fall 2026
Here are some key dates:
- Tuesday, December 9, 2025: Kindergarten Application Opens
- Friday, January 23, 2026: Kindergarten Application Closes
- Tuesday, March 31, 2026: Kindergarten Offer Release
For Children Interested in Grades 1, 2, 3, or 4 G&T Programs in Fall 2026
Here are some key dates:
- Tuesday, April 21, 2026: G&T Upper Grade Application Opens
- Friday, May 8, 2026: G&T Upper Grade Application Closes
- Thursday, June 11, 2026: G&T Upper Grade Offer Release
Sign up for updates about the 2026 Gifted and Talented admissions process.
G&T Admissions for Children Entering Kindergarten in Fall 2026
This process is for kindergarten G&T programs. If you list G&T programs on your application, eligibility will be determined after you apply. Students will be considered for eligibility based on behaviors that may indicate readiness for accelerated learning
Eligibility Process
This varies a bit depending on where (and whether) a child currently attends pre-K.
- For For current pre-K students at DOE/district schools, Pre-K Centers, CBOs, or charter schools:
- Anyone who adds a G&T program to their kindergarten application will be evaluated by their current pre-K teachers.
- For current pre-K students at private or parochial school programs, or for children who are not yet in school:
- Interested families apply by listing a G&T program on their kindergarten application.
- After the application closes, DOE's Division of Early Childhood Education contacts applicants to set up interviews.
- Then, interviews take place.
- Based on these interviews, early childhood education experts nominate eligible applicants for G&T admissions.
As teachers consider a student's readiness for accelerated learning, they are asked to consider how learning behaviors might be demonstrated and/or be presented based on each child’s unique developmental trajectory by thinking about:
- each individual child holistically;
- each child from a strengths-based perspective;
- observed behaviors that may occur more than once (consider a wide range of observations and not a minimum/maximum number);
- the various and many ways children express what they know and are able to do;
- The end-of-year expectations as outlined in The New York State PreKindergarten Learning standards.
In addition, teachers are asked to consider the DOE’s policy of ensuring equal education for all students without regard to their actual or perceived race, color, creed, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship/immigration status, religion, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, disability, or weight.
The Teacher/Program Nomination Form contains three sections.
Section 1- Curiosity
Curiosity is expressed through verbal and non-verbal ways, such as:
- Questioning
- Observing
- Exploring
- Creating
- Problem-solving
- Gestures, facial expressions, and body language
High levels of curiosity and self-initiated exploration can indicate readiness for accelerated learning
Section 2- Approaches to Learning
Approaches to Learning describe how children engage with learning and explore their world. Key areas include:
Behaviors teachers are looking for:
- Curiosity & Initiative: Asking questions, exploring, experimenting
- Persistence & Engagement: Staying focused, problem-solving, tackling challenges
- Creativity & Imagination: Expressing ideas through multiple modalities, including verbal and non-verbal
- Self-Reflection & Regulation: Adjusting strategies, managing emotions, making choices
Observing both verbal and non-verbal behaviors provides inclusive indicators of cognitive growth and potential for G&T experiences.
Section 3: Social Perception and Self-Direction
Young children learn through a combination of social interactions and independent exploration.
- Social Perception: How children engage, collaborate, and interpret interactions with peers
- Self-Direction: How children explore, problem-solve, and think independently
Key Ideas include:
- Collaboration: Engaging, sharing, and problem-solving with peers
- Independence: Focused exploration, self-initiated problem-solving
- Verbal and non-verbal expressions: gestures, facial expressions, symbolic play, independent experimentation
Observing this range helps identify diverse strengths and readiness for advanced learning.
How Kindergarten G&T Offers Are Made
- After all applications are submitted and eligibility is determined, all eligible applicants are considered for offers.
- Offers are determined based on families' application choices, seat availability, and admissions priorities. All G&T programs give an admissions priority to siblings of current students. Some programs also give a priority to applicants who live in a specific district
- Due to limited seats, not all eligible applicants will be made offers.
- Eligible applicants may be placed on program’s waitlists if seats are not available.
- All kindergarten applicants who apply by the deadline will receive a results letter in spring 2026. This offer may be to a Gifted and Talented program or another kindergarten program.
Eligibility
- For current Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd graders in NYC public schools
- Students are considered eligible if they satisfy the following grade requirements on their most recently available report card. Once a child is deemed eligible, there is no ranking within eligible students based on differences in course grades.
- Have course grades of a 3 or 4, or the equivalent, on their report card in Math, Reading and Writing.
- Cannot have had a 1 in any marking period in Math, Reading, Writing, Social Studies and Science in the current school year. Eligible students will receive notification either by email or mail.
- Current students in district G&T programs can only apply to Citywide G&T programs, not other district programs. Current students in citywide G&T programs are not eligible to apply to any other programs and DO NOT have to reapply to remain at their current program for the upcoming school year.
- For current Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd graders in charter, private or parochial schools
- In order to determine your child's eligibility, you must:
- Submit your child's report card grades to a Family Welcome Center.
- After review of your child's report grades, you will be notified of the eligibility determination within 2 business days. If your child is eligible, you will be provided with instructions about how to apply.
- NYC Public Schools will determine eligibility based on converting your child's grades to a 4-point scale.
| Original Grade | Conversion to a 1-4 G&T eligibility grading scale* |
|---|
| 1 to 64 | 1 |
| 65 to 79 | 2 |
| 80-89 | 3 |
| 90-100 | 4 |
| 1-, 1, 1+ | 1 |
| 2-, 2, 2+ | 2 |
| 3-, 3, 3+ | 3 |
| 4-, 4, 4+ | 4 |
| A-, A, A+ | 4 |
| B-, B, B+ | 3 |
| C, C-, C+ | 2 |
| D-, D, D+ | 2 |
| F | 1 |
| E-, E, E+ | 4 |
| G-, G, G+, S+ | 3 |
| N, N+, S-, S | 2 |
| N-, U | 1 |
| NS | 1 |
| MA, ME | 4 |
| MT | 3 |
| MP | 2 |
| MB | 1 |
*Updated 4/26/2024
- For current Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd graders in Homeschool
- Email ESenrollment@schools.nyc.gov with your child's name, date of birth, current grade, and phone number in the spring.
- Our team will contact you directly to discuss your child's academics in Math, Reading, Writing, Social Studies and Science to determine eligibility.
- You will be notified of the eligibility determination. If your child is eligible, you will be provided with instructions about how to apply.
How Grade 1-4 G&T Offers Are Made
- Eligibility to apply to G&T programs does not guarantee a G&T seat. Offers for eligible applicants will be determined based on families' application choices, programs' seat availability, and admissions priorities.
- All G&T programs give priority to siblings of current students enrolled or pre-registered for Fall 2026. Some programs also give priority to children who live in a specific district; however, G&T programs do not give priority to zoned families. Some programs also offer Diversity In Admissions initiatives. Individual program priorities are listed in the MySchools directory.
- All applicants will receive a results letter, but due to limited seats, not all eligible applicants will receive an offer to a G&T program. Families who receive offers will have the opportunity to accept or decline any offer that they receive.
- Families with eligible students will be able to add themselves to additional waitlists of G&T programs if desired
Appeals Process for G&T Eligibility Determination
New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) works hard to ensure that the G&T eligibility process is administered in a fair, consistent manner to all students.
If, however, you dispute the results of your child’s eligibility determination, you must raise that concern as an appeal to us. You may submit your appeal in one of the following ways:
- Email us at DECEGT@schools.nyc.gov (rising kindergarteners); ESEnrollment@schools.nyc.gov (rising students in grades 1-4)
- Send a letter to: Gifted & Talented Admissions Room 414 52 Chambers Street New York, NY 10007
To ensure your appeal can be reviewed and addressed for this admissions cycle, your email or letter should be sent to us no later than April 21st, 2026 at 5:00 PM. After that time, NYCPS cannot guarantee that your appeal will be considered. Your appeal message should include your child’s name and date of birth, as well as the following:
- A description of the circumstance that led you to appeal the eligibility determination.
- Your preferred method for return communication (such as your phone number and/or email address)
After we receive your appeal:
- NYCPS will review the documentation and investigate the concerns raised in the appeal.
- NYCPS will contact you if further information is needed.
- NYCPS will make our best attempts to notify you of the result of the appeal within three weeks. You will get notification of the result via the email or phone number you provide in your initial appeal. If your appeal is upheld, you may be notified of additional next steps or that your child's eligibility status has changed.
If you have any questions regarding the G&T eligibility process, email us at DECEGT@schools.nyc.gov (rising kindergarteners); ESEnrollment@schools.nyc.gov (rising students in grades 1-4) or call us at 718-935-2009
Additional Remedy: If you are unsatisfied with our response to your appeal, you may appeal the New York City Public Schools’ decision to the Commissioner of the New York State Education Department as stated in New York Education Law Section 310. Learn how to pursue such an appeal on the Commissioner’s website at: counsel.nysed.gov/appeals.