Gifted and Talented School Deadline Looming

Yes, every child is talented, but some of them are off the charts, like those kids who can beat adults at chess. If your 4-year-old can play chess, parcheesi or backgammon, or even handle the pieces without putting them in his or her mouth, you should apply to get your child into the city’s gifted and talented programs. The deadline to submit a “request for testing” for entrance into kindergarten through third grade programs in September 2010 is November 6. To apply, click here. If children score above the 90th percentile, they are guaranteed a spot in a gifted and talented programs somewhere in their district.

Once parents apply, what follows is a lot of testing and ranking — and for most parents, disappointment. There simply isn’t enough space these days for all of the brilliant New York kids. In fact, space is so tight, a group of parents recently got together to start a new school on the Upper West Side catering to high achievers. The Speyer Legacy School on 61st Street costs $28,500 a year, though some students do receive financial aid, the New York Times reported. (photo by ninahale via flickr)