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Fannie Lee earned a 98 percent grade average and perfect attendance record, but the Department of Education didn't give her a spot at any of the eight high schools she applied to.

"My parents are blaming me that I didn't get into a good high school because there was no match for me. So once I received my letter about my high school results I tried to not show it that much to my parents but they actually found out so I had to tell them," Lee said.

Although most of the city's 80,000 eighth graders were matched with a high school, 7,000 students did not get in anywhere this year, regardless of whether they had good grades, test scores and attendance records. They have to apply all over again, with a much more limited list of schools to choose from.

"But there is not that much good programs, they're all zoned, and I want to get into a program that I could actually succeed in my learning," Lee said.

With the complicated process, many of the students who are matched end up disappointed.

Lee, along with two of her friends, say they worked hard in middle school hoping to get into Townsend Harris -- a selective high school in Flushing. None were accepted.

"A lot of my friends got into Townsend Harris and a lot of them had lower averages than me or at least the same average and it was kind of shocking," said public school student Sarah Dimas.

Some families start the high school admissions process as early as fifth grade by preparing for tests, establishing portfolios, taking tours and worrying about transcripts.

"My family they put a lot of pressure on me to get into Townsend Harris because my sister went there too. But they were okay with QSI but they expected me to get into Francis Lewis because I put that second and third, they didn't expect me to get into my fourth choice," Dimas said.

"I'm like, how did she not even, she didn't get into her first nor her second choice. And she is crying all upset and I am thinking, you know, she would be crying of happiness," said public school parent David Naizir.

Naizir is one of those parents who puts in endless time and effort to navigate the system. He even noticed Brianna's English grade had been entered as a 95 when it was really a 98. But his daughter still didn't make the cut at Townsend Harris. Officials suggested she try again next year as a transfer student.