Enrollment in the gifted and talented program is a coveted prize, providing advanced classes for the select group of children who qualify.

WSJ: Big Change in Gifted and Talented Testing

The shift marks the latest attempt by city officials to address a seemingly intractable problem: How to create equity in the admissions process for its gifted and talented program, which begins in kindergarten and goes through third grade.

WSJ: Big Change in Gifted and Talented Testing

The number of students applying for the coveted spots has skyrocketed: Last year, nearly 5, 000 children qualified for a spot in a gifted and talented kindergarten program by scoring in the 90th percentile or above, more than double the total four years ago.

WSJ: Big Change in Gifted and Talented Testing

This year, the odds of winning a space in a public gifted and talented kindergarten program were steeper than ever: The number of preschoolers testing in the 97% percentile and above soared by 47%, leaving more than 2, 600 children qualifying for about 400 spots in the city's five citywide kindergarten programs.

WSJ: Parents Take Gamble For Top School Slots

Slightly easier is getting into each district's gifted-and-talented program.

WSJ: Conflicted Over Gifted: NYC's Gifted and Talented Test Changes

For years, private schools have required deposits months before the city releases admissions decisions for its Gifted and Talented elementary-school program.

WSJ: Admissions Deadline Confusion

Thousands of students were incorrectly told they weren't eligible for the city's gifted-and-talented public-school program due to errors by the testing company, city officials said Friday.

WSJ: Gifted Exam Scoring Flaws Are Uncovered