More on competition to get into certain NYC public schools:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/16/e...ows-with-competition-for-admissions.html
Tutoring Surges With Fight for Middle School Spots
New York Times
By ANNA M. PHILLIPS
April 15, 2012

Whenever admissions are competitive, whether it's for gifted elementary schools, selective middle schools, or selective colleges, some parents will try to prepare their children. I don't think this is a big problem, partly because the effects of test prep are usually found to be small in studies.

"To see what is in front of one's nose needs a constant struggle." - George Orwell