The first group of New York City students transferred from failing schools under the federal No Child Left Behind Act arrive at their new schools Thursday.

Initial numbers from the city Department of Education indicate 640 students have been offered transfers, out of nearly 5,000 who have applied. Officials say more students will be offered choices of new schools in the second week of November.

Education officials cite overcrowding and the high number of failing schools in the city as reasons why there are fewer options.

Nearly half the city's middle schools are deemed in need of improvement by the state.

Under the federal No Child Left Behind Act, students in schools that fail to improve average scores on standardized tests must be given free tutoring or allowed to transfer to better-performing schools in the district.