The Alumni Association and the Endowment Fund of the Bronx High School of Science stand together with our Parents’ Association in opposing S 1787-2015 sponsored by Senator Espaillat, which proposes to change the mandated admissions process of the specialized high schools in the City of New York. We stand for an admissions process that is a pure meritocracy, with one standard that is transparent and incorruptible. The suggested changes to the admissions process do nothing to address the root cause of inequity in elementary and middle school education. Furthermore, the proposed new admissions criteria are deeply flawed. Disparities in academic outcomes start very early on.
- Using multiple criteria such as a student’s grade point average assumes that all middle schools are equal. By the NYC Department of Education’s own school grading system, this is clearly not the case. Different middle schools can have different curricula, different standards and different goals. The schools are not equal and therefore, grade point averages cannot be compared fairly.
- Even within each school, some students take more difficult or more rigorous courses than other students, resulting in different grades for these students. Even the same course within a school might be taught by different teachers who use different grading rubrics. Grade point averages therefore might not reflect what students have learned.
- Even the same grading rubric can be applied inconsistently by a teacher to different students in the same class. Grades awarded often unavoidably reflect the subjective views of the teacher.
- Teacher recommendations are subjective opinions, and they would be read and judged subjectively by different admissions officers. Teacher recommendations cannot be compared fairly.
- Student portfolios might contain different materials, so students might be judged on different criteria. Even the same material will be judged subjectively by different admissions officers. This can hardly be considered fair.
Bronx Science has, for over 75 years, been a home for gifted and hard-working students of all backgrounds who seek to attain the American Dream. With a population that is as wonderfully diverse as New York City itself—and much more so than most of its public schools–Bronx Science is a home for students across racial, ethnic and socioeconomic groups.
- Bronx Science, along with its fellow schools Stuyvesant and Brooklyn Tech, has a long history of serving immigrant and economically disadvantaged communities.
- The current admissions process is colorblind and immune from corruption and politics.
- Nearly half of the student body at Bronx Science are eligible for free or reduced lunch, a metric that captures families living near or below the poverty line in New York.
- More than half of the students who currently attend Bronx Science are from families that do not speak English in the home at all, and including several hundreds of students who are immigrants themselves.
- Our students and their families make tremendous sacrifices to attend Bronx Science; most students travel more than an hour each way to get to school.
We believe strongly in exceptional education for all the children of New York City that is suited to their needs. As alumni, we benefited from the rigorous education and challenging curriculum Bronx Science offers. The public school system must continue to offer a highly demanding education tailored to academically capable students. Preserving the objectivity of the admissions process is necessary to maintain the high educational standards of the specialized schools. In that regard, the proposed Espaillat bill is woefully out of touch with what is really needed to achieve the right outcome.
The Specialized High School Admission Test (SHSAT) is not the cause of underrepresentation of African American and Latino students in the specialized high schools, but rather a symptom of an unacceptably flawed and inequitable elementary and middle school education system. This situation needs urgent attention. We believe the following actions would more effectively address the root causes of underrepresentation of African American and Latino students in the specialized schools while maintaining the incorruptible admission standards now in place.
- Invest in our schools to dramatically improve middle and elementary school education for all. This is the number one reason that students are unprepared for rigor in high school and must be immediately addressed by the NYC Department of Education. Every child, regardless of ethnicity or economic circumstances, deserves a high quality education that will inspire each to reach his or her potential.
- Offer the SHSAT to all 8th graders and allow for the test to be given during the school day. African-Americans and Latinos are vastly underrepresented among those taking the SHSAT. There are great efficiencies to be gained from eliminating the current process of requiring students to register for the exam and take it on a weekend.
- Provide access to free tutoring and test prep programs for any interested students to hone their skills and confidence in taking the exam.
In 1971, forward-looking state legislators realized that the admissions process for the Specialized High Schools needed to be protected by law from the tides of politics, pandering, and poor planning. Legislating the sole reliance on the SHSAT has comprehensively safeguarded the integrity of admission standards and ensures that the academic rigor that is the hallmark of the world renowned Specialized High School education is available to all qualified children in New York, now and in the future. Changing a meritocratic and already fair admissions procedure deflects attention from the real failure of New York City public schools to provide a quality education to every student. Providing a customized, impactful education to all children is essential to attracting families to New York City and enabling them to stay here. Please vote against the Espaillat bill.
