The Zohran Mamdani gifted students plan could dramatically reshape New York City education if the socialist mayoral candidate takes office. Mamdani told the New York Times he would eliminate the gifted and talented program for kindergartners beginning next fall, phasing it out of first and second grade in the years ahead. The Times described the program as “a symbol of segregation” for admitting “few Black and Latino students into the classes.”
Mamdani’s proposal follows in the footsteps of former mayor Bill de Blasio, who also sought to end gifted education. Current mayor Eric Adams took the opposite approach in 2022, expanding the program after citywide pushback. Since then, scores in English and math have improved for students in grades three through eight, though more than 40 percent still failed this year.
Critics of Mamdani’s plan argue it will limit opportunity. Former governor Andrew Cuomo, running as an independent in the mayoral race, said, “Limiting opportunity to less than 5 percent of students is unfair. The real inequity is access — too many Black and Latino students aren’t identified or supported early enough.” Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa echoed concerns, warning about falling test scores and pledging to expand gifted programs if elected.
Mamdani’s broader education agenda includes universal childcare, city-run grocery stores, and shifting the tax burden toward “whiter neighborhoods.” Yet his personal background undercuts his message: he attended a $70,000-a-year private school before enrolling at Bronx Science, one of New York’s most elite public schools.
