Having been on the selection committee side of this question, I can confidently say that the answer is, "it depends." Admission decisions may consider, among other things:
1. objective criteria, like the exact FSIQ/GAI/NAI, ITBS, etc.;
2. semi-objective data, like grades, score on a rubric for a performance assessment, score on the GRS;
3. subjective data, like teacher/parent recommendations; and,
4. practical/political factors, like the SES/CLD balance of the class, how many slots are left over after using the strict criteria (thus how many shoulder candidates can be included), and whose parent is an influential school committee member.
The practical implication of this is that, how much you advocate for the CI being a consideration, and to what extent you compile secondary supporting data, depends on how many of those pieces are accessible to you, and how much you think placement in or out of this program will affect your child's global well-being.
