They are open to anybody who qualifies as Leese1 says.  More need to be opened in the neighbourhoods with low incomes.  That is a priority to me, not closing schools that work for a variety of students from different income levels.  

The Gifted programs should be accessible to more children now that all grade 3 students are writing an exam to identify very bright students  as well kids with low achievement scores who may need extra support.  Hopefully this test with result in more kids from low SES areas being identified as gifted.  If we close the gifted classes, some of the gifted kids will drop out of school because they may not fit in well in the regular classroom.