Mayor De Blasio Weighs Admissions Changes for Top High Schools

The high school search process ramps up this weekend with the first borough-wide fairs on Saturday and Sunday. It’s also the last weekend for eighth-graders to cram for the Specialized High School Admissions Test (SHSAT), which will be offered on Oct. 25 and 26.

The SHSAT has come under greater scrutiny because Mayor Bill de Blasio has said he wants to expand the admissions criteria beyond the current test in order to improve diversity. This school year, 5 percent of the students admitted to the specialized high schools were black and 7 percent were Latino, even though blacks and Latinos constitute 70 percent of public school students. The schools are predominantly Asian and white, which has been attributed partly to the reliance on test prep. 

The single-test approach also has been challenged by the NAACP’s Legal Defense and Education Fund in the form of a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education.

Its origin resides in state legislation that created the original three specialized schools — Stuyvesant, Brooklyn Tech and Bronx High School of Science — which means Albany must approve any changes. De Blasio has not presented any proposals, saying only that he's not satisfied with the current situation.

“They don’t reflect this city,” he said recently about the specialized schools, adding “we need them to be a place for everyone.” 

The topic is especially hot in Queens, where a forum is scheduled for Saturday. Organizers include a group called CoalitionEdu which is a network of alumni and parents of the specialized schools. One of its founders, David Lee, said members were concerned that the city is considering using an essay in next year’s admissions test. 

“Can you score it objectively? Can it be gamed, can it be prepped for?” he asked about an essay. 

The admissions test has even become an issue in a Queens Assembly race. Incumbent Democrat Ronald Kim agrees with the mayor that a single test isn't the best way to determine admissions. However, he said the issue should not be framed around simply getting more black and Latino students into the schools, but rather about getting "the highest standard that we can put together for the number one schools New York City."

His Republican challenger, Phil Gim, said he opposes changing the test. He said an essay could hurt immigrant students whose families don't speak English at home. "If anything the bias will be against those students,” he said. 

Department of Education spokeswoman Devora Kaye said the agency has not determined whether it will add an essay to the SHSAT or make any other changes. But it included the possibility in the contract bid issued for next year's test. In addition to an essay, the city's request for proposals asked bidders to provide translations for the first time in Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, French, Haitian Creole, Korean, Russian, Spanish and Urdu.

The city's SHSAT contract with testing company Pearson expires this year.