Speyer is good for PG kids in NYC but it is expensive and Hunter has had success with PG kids. There was one that just graduated HS a couple of years ago that graduated Columbia at the same time in math and physics.
The lottery happened because of a lawsuit. And they do start with all the 99s first. But they do not differentiate between a 99 and a 99.5. Too many 99s on the tests they use for the slots available. And then because some 99s didn't get into the accelerate programs, because of lottery, like DD, there was another lawsuit and no public school could accelerate the program.
I am now trying to work with Toronto school board. Though by the time they change, DD will be gone. But they they need to differentiate and make accelerated, enriched and general curriculums. DD wonders why so many of her classmates are considered gifted after being in NYC where all her classmates scored at least in the 99th percentile. Even if it was the OLSAT.