Lisa Belkin does a great job summarizing elite schools' admissions controversies that have recently been in the news: Two school admissions policies made news last week for opposite reasons — Harvard University, because it is accused of admitting too few Asian-American students, and New York’s most selective public schools, because the city’s mayor thinks it … Continue reading Specialized Science High Schools’ and Harvard’s Admissions Controversies
Specialized Science High Schools Exam To Change
The Specialized Science High Schools Exam will change this October, but the new questions are unlikely to increase the schools' diversity. My former colleagues, Akil Bello and Brendan Mernin, have a thought-provoking article in the Daily News: De Blasio's SHSAT test changes: Too timid to improve diversity at Stuyvesant, Bronx Science, Brooklyn Tech and other … Continue reading Specialized Science High Schools Exam To Change
“Tested” Film about Selective School Admission, Free Screening
Lincoln Center will host a free screening of the movie "Tested". The documentary closely follows about 20 NYC middle schoolers from varied backgrounds as they attempt to obtain a seat at a specialized high school. Experts discuss admissions policy and its implications for underrepresented minorities. From the website: As part of the Roundtable’s focus on … Continue reading “Tested” Film about Selective School Admission, Free Screening
Should Stuyvesant’s Admissions Criteria Be Changed?
Responding to low enrollment by Hispanic and Black youth, the NAACP Legal Defense Fund has filed a civil rights complaint challenging the admissions process at Stuvesant High School. Stuyvesant's admissions requirement now consists of prospective high school students needing to garner high scores on a single multiple choice math and verbal exam called the SSHSAT. … Continue reading Should Stuyvesant’s Admissions Criteria Be Changed?
Faking Your Address for NYC Public School Admission?
Brooklyn public school PS 321 was flooded with kindergarten applicants this year, so numerous in-zone students were waitlisted. The principal feels that address fakers are to blame. She is out to catch them. For more from Amy Zimmer of DNAinfo New York: Park Slope School Blames Application Spike on Parents Giving Fake Addresses
Are NYC Private Schools Taking in Families Fleeing the Common Core?
Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Riverdale families fleeing Common Core testing are seeking out NYC private schools, according to Avi Wolfman-Arent of Uptown Radio: Courting Common Core’s Discontents Wolfman-Arent interviewed me for the story; transcript below. But private school admissions consultant Emily Glickman says just because parents oppose excessive testing doesn’t mean they’re against the kind of rigor … Continue reading Are NYC Private Schools Taking in Families Fleeing the Common Core?
Public School Shortage in Downtown Manhattan?
Joe Anuta of Crain's New York Business reports that downtown Manhattan is being overbuilt with luxury condos filled with young families who will have nowhere to go to public elementary school: Locals, pols fear school shortage Downtown population surge fuels worries of classroom shortfall. Avenues and downtown private schools will surely benefit as many NYC preschool … Continue reading Public School Shortage in Downtown Manhattan?
More Press Coverage for Elite NYC Schoolkids
Continuing the trend toward major press coverage of ordinary Manhattan high school students who happen to attend elite schools, New York Magazine serves up Twin Titans of Stuyvesant High School
Want a NYC Public School Gifted and Talented Seat? Good Luck
Beth Fertig at the New York Times and Philissa Cramer at Gotham Schools posted some shocking statitstics about New York City Gifted and Talented (G&T) programs: 40% of students who tested for the G&T kindergarten program tested as gifted. 68% of eligible "gifted" kindergarten applicants actually received G&T offers These statistics suggest: Test prep works. … Continue reading Want a NYC Public School Gifted and Talented Seat? Good Luck
Kindergarten Redshirting in NYC Got Tougher?
Sarah Gonser has a New York Times article today: Kindergarten ‘Redshirting’ Gets Tougher in N.Y.C., With Repercussions . The article confuses me, because holding your child back for public school kindergarten in NYC has always been extremely difficult. It's only in NYC suburbs and in private schools where parents can easily hold their kids back. According to … Continue reading Kindergarten Redshirting in NYC Got Tougher?