The most elite NYC private schools continue to garner strong parent demand, especially with the shifting political headwinds we have witnessed since the pandemic. A significant percentage of NYC public school parents are fed up by changes in how students are selected for G&T programs and by the rise in “equitable” grading, in which all students in the class get the same grade. Parents want their children’s academic excellence to be recognized.
Most recently, Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee and frontrunner for NYC mayor, has asserted that there is racial and gender bias in the SHSAT (the test for admission to Stuyvesant, Bronx Science and Brooklyn Tech) and supports reevaluating how students are selected for specialized high schools and gifted programs. While no immediate changes have been made, his views may signal a shift in how the city approaches selective public school admissions. As a result, more and more public school families are exploring top private school as a hedge against possible policy changes.
As a proud Hunter College High School graduate, I strongly support meritocratic admissions to specialized gifted programs in middle school and high school. NYC deserves academically challenging public institutions where bright, driven students can learn in the company of like-minded peers, with teachers who can help them maximally grow. At the same time, I recognize the importance of ensuring that access to these opportunities is equitable and that talented students from all backgrounds have the support they need to succeed.