Cuomo calls for more specialized high schools amid controversy over Mamdani education stance

"Cuomo's main rival, Democratic front-runner Zohran Mamdani, sparked debate recently when he said in a New York Times candidate survey that he'd end admissions to the gifted and talented program for kindergarteners. Mamdani's stance reignited a heated controversy over the popular program in New York City public schools that carves out a separate learning track for select students. In his Saturday announcement, Cuomo said he partnered with the organization Parent Leaders for Accelerated Curriculum and Education or PLACE NYC,"

"The borough currently has only one specialized school, Queens High School for the Sciences, which accepts just 130 new students a year. Other existing specialized schools are far larger, such as Brooklyn Tech, which accepts around 1,400 new students a year, and Bronx High School of Science, which enrolls around 720 new students each year. Cuomo's long-term plan is to raise the total number of specialized seats in Queens to 1,000 to be more on par with Brooklyn, Manhattan, Bronx and Staten Island schools,"

Andrew Cuomo plans to expand specialized high schools and gifted-and-talented programs across New York City and to build another specialized school in Queens. The proposal includes partnering with Parent Leaders for Accelerated Curriculum and Education (PLACE NYC) and aims to raise specialized seats in Queens to about 1,000. The plan would double the city’s specialized high schools from nine to 18 and address lengthy commutes for Queens students who now travel to other boroughs. The move responds to debate over kindergarten gifted-and-talented admissions and seeks to increase equitable access to accelerated education.

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