De Blasio and others trying to "diversify" specialized high schools in New York
06-12-2018, 08:09 AM
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/02/nyreg...hools.html
For some background, there are 9 specialized high schools in New York to serve the needs of "academically and artistically gifted students". These are the best high schools in the city and a few (like Stuyvesant) are some of the best in the country and have many people who go on to attend top universities and colleges. 8 of these 9 schools require a standardized exam known as the Specialized High School Admission Test (SHSAT), which the city administers to students in their final years of middle school during the fall. All one needs to attend these schools is to score high enough on this exam, which usually isn't a problem for any student who has prepared effectively or attended a school with a strong curriculum.
The racial demographics of these schools are predominantly Asian (at least 50% average) and White (at least 20% average), but this is not because of the exam, which is merit-based and the only standard used for admission to these schools. Of course, that's not enough to satisfy the current SJW mayor of the city, who feels the need to get rid of a solid institution just because it doesn't promote diversity. As you can imagine, many people have already voiced their opposition to the idea.
The way I see it, the issue is not to include more black and hispanic students who are likely to fail out of these schools with rigorous curricula. Yes, many public schools in the city are in serious need of improvement, but even that's not the underlying issue. The biggest problem is that there is a culture among many black and hispanic families where education is not considered a priority and several children just don't receive the support that they need to even do well in school and set themselves up for a better future.
Edit: The city publishes demographic data for all of the public schools at this website under "Demographic Data". It's all in an Excel file.
For some background, there are 9 specialized high schools in New York to serve the needs of "academically and artistically gifted students". These are the best high schools in the city and a few (like Stuyvesant) are some of the best in the country and have many people who go on to attend top universities and colleges. 8 of these 9 schools require a standardized exam known as the Specialized High School Admission Test (SHSAT), which the city administers to students in their final years of middle school during the fall. All one needs to attend these schools is to score high enough on this exam, which usually isn't a problem for any student who has prepared effectively or attended a school with a strong curriculum.
The racial demographics of these schools are predominantly Asian (at least 50% average) and White (at least 20% average), but this is not because of the exam, which is merit-based and the only standard used for admission to these schools. Of course, that's not enough to satisfy the current SJW mayor of the city, who feels the need to get rid of a solid institution just because it doesn't promote diversity. As you can imagine, many people have already voiced their opposition to the idea.
The way I see it, the issue is not to include more black and hispanic students who are likely to fail out of these schools with rigorous curricula. Yes, many public schools in the city are in serious need of improvement, but even that's not the underlying issue. The biggest problem is that there is a culture among many black and hispanic families where education is not considered a priority and several children just don't receive the support that they need to even do well in school and set themselves up for a better future.
Edit: The city publishes demographic data for all of the public schools at this website under "Demographic Data". It's all in an Excel file.
Quote:Quote:
In the face of growing pressure to tackle New York City’s widespread school segregation, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Saturday a proposal that would change how students are admitted to eight of the city’s specialized high schools, a group of highly sought-after institutions where students gain entry based on a single test.
Black and Hispanic students, who make up 67 percent of the public school population, are grossly underrepresented at the specialized high schools, which include Stuyvesant High School and the Bronx High School of Science.
Mr. de Blasio campaigned on the issue when he first ran for mayor in 2013, saying the specialized schools should “reflect the city better,” but he has yet to make a dent in the problem. This year, black and Latino students received just 10 percent of the offered seats at specialized high schools, a percentage that has held essentially flat for years.
“The Specialized High School Admissions Test isn’t just flawed — it’s a roadblock to justice, progress and academic excellence,” Mr. de Blasio wrote in an op-ed published Saturday on the education website Chalkbeat.
“Can anyone defend this?” he continued. “Can anyone look the parent of a Latino or black child in the eye and tell them their precious daughter or son has an equal chance to get into one of their city’s best high schools? Can anyone say this is the America we signed up for?”
The most significant change Mr. de Blasio proposed was replacing the test, called the SHSAT, with a new method that would admit students based on their class rank at their middle school and their scores on statewide standardized tests. That change would require approval from the State Legislature, which has shown little appetite for such a move. A bill outlining those changes was introduced in the Assembly on Friday.
Mr. de Blasio announced another, smaller change on Saturday, one the city can do on its own. Beginning in the fall of 2019, the city would set aside 20 percent of seats in each specialized school for low-income students who score just below the cutoff; those students would be able to earn their spot by attending a summer session called the Discovery program. Five percent of seats for this year’s ninth graders were awarded this way, the city said.