INTEGRATE NYC SCHOOLS
New York City’s education system is broken. Although schools in the US
were supposed to integrate decades ago, NYC essentially has two
education systems: one for wealthy, majority White and Asian families,
and one for low income, majority Black and Latinx families. From the
day a student is born, their zip code determines their future.
Why NYC Has the Most Segregated Schools In The Country: Part 1
There are 3 main systems that keep low income students, largely Black and Latinx, shut out from a high quality education. The first is the school zoning system, which means every elementary school student must go to the school assigned to them. Even if your school is underresouced, underfunded, and overcrowded, you are still going there.Part 2
The second system is the SHSAT exam. If you score highly you can attend the most rigorous public high schools in the city, that also have a lot of resources. However, the SHSAT does not test concepts learned in school, therefore low income students, even if qualified, will struggle to get into these schools without adequate preparation.Only 7 Black Students gained admission to Stuyvesant High School in 2019.
Part 3
The final system is the screening system which usually requires interviews, and thorough reviews of grades, test scores, and attendance. If you attend an underfunded school or live in poverty, it will be difficult to stand out in this process3 Systems of Inequality.
Let me be clear that these issues are just the tip of the iceberg and there are so many ways that NYC schools need to reform.