Examining Admissions Equity in NYC's Elite High Schools

This chapter explores the complex history and dynamics of the admissions process for selective public high schools in New York City, particularly focusing on the introduction of a standardized test in the 1970s. It addresses the significant demographic shifts, highlighting disparities in representation among Asian American, Black, and Hispanic students, and calls into question the equity of test-centric admissions. The discussion also examines a mayoral proposal to abolish the admissions test, advocating for a system that would enhance diversity, while revealing the polarized reactions from various stakeholders.