While talent helps, students also need knowledge, expertise and polish to get into dozens of New York City public school arts programs that use auditions and portfolios to screen applicants. Although these schools have largely escaped the rancorous debate over selective admissions policies, they raise many of the same concerns about equity, class and race.

https://citylimits.org/2023/05/09/at-new-yorks-other-selective-public-schools-auditions-for-9th-grade/