When gifted programs aren't really about giftedness

...and there's some question if they ever are.
This from New York City:

A group of selective schools and programs geared to students labeled gifted and talented is filled mostly with white and Asian children. The rest of the system is open to all students and is predominantly black and Hispanic.
Now, a high-level panel appointed by Mayor Bill de Blasio is recommending that the city do away with most of these selective programs in an effort to desegregate the system, which has 1.1 million students and is by far the largest in the country.

The same demographics are true, of course, of Boston Latin, and, while Worcester sticks its "gifted" programs as subprograms into schools so their demographics are masked, it's a good bet that Worcester's are, as well.
Tough to argue that's giftedness. All eyes on New York on if the decision is made that's good for all students--as "gifted" students aren't hurt by learning with the general population--or the political efficient one.