The number of students in kindergarten through third grade who are eligible for the gifted and talented program increased from last year, but the number of those who scored in the highest percentile went down.

Of the more than 39,000 students tested this year, more than 7,900 qualified for the gifted and talented program, 300 more than last year.

However, only more than 2,700 qualified for the most elite citywide gifted and talented program, 149 fewer than a year ago.

There was also a wide discrepancy in income levels, with many more students from neighborhoods like the Upper East and West Sides qualifying than from those in poorer districts.