Seems odd if those were the only high schools in NYC to send graduates to major research universities like the SUNYs at Stony Brook, Buffalo, etc. as well as other popular college destinations in the region.
"For a competitive big city like NYC does the rat race really begin before 9th grade? "
-Frankly, I believe that it only exists in the NYC. With both grandkids being in NYC and both accepted to very competitive HS’s, I have a bit of knowledge about it.
We are in Midwest, no “rat race” here, pretty relaxxed about everything and top kids are still getting where they want to be. By this I mean moslty Grad. Schools. With exception of few, people here are NOT after Elite colleges, they rather sends kids to cheap (for them) places to attend primarily on full tuition Merit awards. These top kids in Midwest have no problem moving on, finding jobs, getting into Grad. Schools.
I say that strategy of working very hard, enjoying many friends and pursuing many personal interests have been working just fine in our family in both Midwest and NYC.