Democrat Targets 18,000 Gifted Students

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A Democratic mayoral candidate in New York City is pledging to dismantle the city’s Gifted and Talented programs, reigniting a debate that pits academic excellence against misguided equity mandates while threatening to drive thousands of families out of public schools.

Story Snapshot

Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani vows to phase out NYC’s Gifted and Talented programs serving 18,000 students
Independent Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa counter with expansion proposals to meet parental demand
Mayor Eric Adams previously reversed similar elimination attempts, boosting diversity through teacher nominations
Critics warn elimination ignores parental choice and could trigger exodus to private and charter schools

Mamdani Revives Failed Elimination Strategy

Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani announced in October 2025 his intention to phase out New York City’s Gifted and Talented programs, echoing former Mayor Bill de Blasio’s discredited 2021 effort. Mamdani argues the programs undermine equity, proposing instead universal early education initiatives. The pledge immediately drew fire from opponents who view it as another progressive experiment that sacrifices high-achieving students on the altar of political correctness. The programs currently serve approximately 18,000 elementary students across 140 schools citywide, offering rigorous curriculum in separate classes through fifth grade.

Cuomo and Sliwa Champion Academic Excellence

Independent candidate Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa are advocating expansion rather than elimination, responding to overwhelming parental demand for rigorous academic options. Cuomo specifically criticized Mamdani’s proposal as “destructive,” noting that surveys show 40 percent of parents seek accelerated learning opportunities for their children. His campaign emphasizes fixing existing problems while expanding access, directly challenging the Democratic establishment’s equity-focused rhetoric. Southern Brooklyn lawmakers have introduced legislation to further expand the programs, demonstrating bipartisan recognition that parents deserve choices that challenge their children academically.

Adams’ Reforms Improved Diversity Without Sacrificing Standards

Mayor Eric Adams reversed de Blasio’s 2021 phase-out upon taking office in 2022, implementing teacher-based nominations instead of standardized testing for four-year-olds. His administration added 100 kindergarten seats and 1,000 third-grade seats across all districts, specifically targeting underserved communities. The reforms successfully increased Black, Latino, and low-income student enrollment while maintaining academic rigor. Adams demonstrated that expanding opportunity doesn’t require eliminating excellence, a concept seemingly lost on progressive ideologues. However, some newly created classes face applicant shortages, requiring backfilling to maintain viability.

Elimination Threatens Parental Exodus and Achievement Gaps

Education analysts warn that dismantling Gifted and Talented programs would widen achievement gaps and accelerate the flight of families to private and charter schools. When de Blasio attempted similar cuts, parents organized protests through Community Education Councils, forcing partial reversals. The economic impact extends beyond individual families, as each student exodus costs the public school system crucial per-pupil funding. This undermines the financial stability of neighborhood schools while enriching private institutions. City Journal analysis concluded that de Blasio’s previous cuts demonstrably widened achievement gaps, contradicting equity proponents’ stated goals of leveling educational outcomes.

The 2025 mayoral race has transformed Gifted and Talented programs into a defining flashpoint between candidates who trust parents to make educational choices and those who prefer government-mandated uniformity. Mamdani’s position reflects the progressive belief that equal outcomes matter more than equal opportunity, a philosophy that punishes high-achieving students for their success. The debate mirrors national conversations about meritocracy versus equity, with conservatives arguing that excellence should be celebrated and expanded rather than eliminated. With the election approaching, New York parents face a clear choice between candidates who will expand educational opportunities and those who will reduce them in pursuit of ideological conformity.