Chalkbeat

Education news. In context.

Chalkbeat

diversity in admissions

admissions maze

New York
April 4, 2019

‘It’s happening at other schools, too.’ Students raise questions about admissions policies beyond NYC’s specialized high schools

The students believe the root cause of racist incidents is related to a lack of racial diversity created by an admissions process that gives preference to middle school applicants who live or attend schools in District 2, which includes the surrounding affluent neighborhood.

testing testing

New York
March 28, 2019

NYC Council Speaker Corey Johnson proposes eliminating SHSAT process, and adding new ‘elite’ schools

The speaker also wants to create of a new set of “elite” schools with their own competitive admissions criteria, as well as institute a slew of other measures that have been floated by observers on all sides of the integration debate.

hear me out

New York
March 21, 2019

As controversy over the SHSAT heats up, lawmakers call for forums to ‘hear every single voice’

The statistics showed that yet again, a little more than 10 percent of offers to specialized high schools went to black and Hispanic students, with just seven black students receiving offers to the coveted Stuyvesant High School.

new numbers

New York
March 18, 2019

As admissions controversy roils, data shows New York City’s specialized high schools continue to accept few black and Hispanic students

As New York City is engulfed in a debate over efforts to better integrate the city’s specialized high schools, the elite schools remain…

talking SHSAT

New York
Updated

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, other politicians debate SHSAT at lively education town hall

Ocasio-Cortez didn’t say whether she supports a city-backed proposal to get rid of the admissions exam for those elite schools in an effort to make them more diverse, but she questioned why all city schools don’t have similarly stellar reputations.

By the numbers

New York
March 27, 2018

More gifted programs join New York City’s school diversity efforts

Enrollment in the city's gifted programs is almost the reverse of the overall demographics in the school system.

money matters

New York
February 12, 2018

When diversity backfires: How schools can lose funding as they try to integrate

For years, M.S. 442 Carroll Gardens School for Innovation served mostly low-income students. But with more well-off families picking the Brooklyn school than ever before,…

By the numbers

New York
December 5, 2017

New York City expands integration program, adding the prestigious Bard high school in Queens

The program affects a tiny fraction of city students. But it has been one of the most tangible steps taken by the de Blasio administration toward addressing segregation.

moving forward

New York
October 26, 2017

With critical parents now on board, New York City will move forward with district-wide diversity plan

The New York City education department has finally won over some parent advocates who said officials disregarded the community’s vision for an integration plan.

New role

New York
June 23, 2017

Principal Donna Taylor retiring from Brooklyn School of Inquiry, moving to DOE

Taylor, who has been with the Bensonhurst school since it opened in 2009, will take a position with the Department of Education.

making plans

New York
June 6, 2017

New York City is finally releasing its school diversity plan. Here’s what it says about pre-K and middle school admissions

Whether either change will lead to significant integration is an open question.

By the numbers

New York
May 24, 2017

NYC middle schools, pre-Ks meet diversity targets — and more high schools join initiative to spur integration

The four middle schools in the diversity program all met -- or surpassed -- their set-aside targets in making offers to incoming students.

Big questions

New York
January 5, 2017

Brooklyn parent council dives into debate on how to integrate middle schools

In December, City Councilman Brad Lander announced a proposal to reserve a percentage of seats in all District 15 middle schools specifically for low-income…

'small steps'

New York
December 22, 2016

In Brooklyn’s segregated District 15, a plan to boost diversity emerges

parent leaders say more comprehensive reform is needed to take advantage of the district's unusual potential for diversity.

diversity plans

New York
October 20, 2016

12 more New York City schools will experiment with admissions rules to boost diversity

For the first time, the “Diversity in Admissions” program includes middle and high schools, with a total of 19 schools now participating.