Screened Out
Racial discrimination in NYC high school admissions
On May 1, 2020, we submitted a FOIL request for a racial breakdown of applicants and offers to each public high school
After 4 months, 11 days, the NYC DOE finally shared the data
It reveals extreme racial discrimination at many of the city’s “screened” high schools
About 1/3 of middle and high schools use some form of screen, which can include:
attendance, lateness, grades, state test scores, auditions, portfolios, special exams, essays, interviews, and zip code
Notes about the Data:
One more important note:
The high school admissions process is described as “open choice.” Students can apply to schools all across the five boroughs. They rank up to 12 choices and are matched to a single school.
A sampling of 13 racially discriminatory high schools (out of many more)
Bard High School Early College Manhattan
Screens: specialty exam, grades, tardies, absences, and interview
D1 Manhattan
Category | Applicants | Offers |
Asian | 20% | 23% |
Black | 19% | 10% |
Hispanic | 24% | 15% |
Other | 4% | 5% |
White | 21% | 30% |
Private | 12% | 16% |
2019 Economic Need Index
40%
71%
City avg
-9
+9
-9
Bard High School Early College Manhattan
Screens: specialty exam, grades, tardies, absences, and interview
D1 Manhattan
West End Secondary School
Screens: priority given to continuing 8th graders
D3 Manhattan
Category | Applicants | Offers |
Asian | 6% | 10% |
Hispanic | 20% | 15% |
Black | 8% | 5% |
Other | 5% | |
White | 45% | 62% |
Private | 15% | 8% |
2019 Economic Need Index
19%
71%
City avg
+17
Sample Rubric
Millennium Brooklyn High School
Screens: priority for Brooklyn residents, standardized test scores, grades, tardies, and absences
D15 Brooklyn
Category | Applicants | Offers |
Asian | 22% | 34% |
Hispanic | 20% | 10% |
Black | 24% | 10% |
Other | 2% | |
White | 23% | 34% |
Private | 8% | 13% |
2019 Economic Need Index
40%
71%
City avg
-10
+11
+12
-16
Special Music School
Screens: priority for continuing 8th graders, and audition
D3 Manhattan
Category | Applicants | Offers |
Asian | 9% | 16% |
White | 24% | 41% |
Hispanic | 39% | 17% |
Other | 5% | 12% |
Black | 17% | 15% |
Private | 6% |
2019 Economic Need Index
36%
71%
City avg
+17
-22
James Madison High School
Screens: zoned, specialized law and medical programs with additional screens
D22 Brooklyn
Category | Applicants | Offers |
Asian | 20% | 21% |
Black | 32% | 10% |
Hispanic | 18% | 16% |
Other | 2% | 3% |
White | 23% | 44% |
Private | 4% | 5% |
2019 Economic Need Index
65%
71%
City avg
-22
+21
Townsend Harris High School
Screens: standardized test scores, grades, attendance, and tardies
D25 Queens
Category | Applicants | Offers |
Asian | 44% | 58% |
Black | 10% | 4% |
Hispanic | 21% | 7% |
Other | 2% | 3% |
White | 13% | 15% |
Private | 10% | 13% |
2019 Economic Need Index
39%
71%
City avg
+14
-14
-6
Scholars’ Academy
Screens: priority to continuing 8th graders
D27 Queens
Category | Applicants | Offers |
Asian | 25% | 16% |
Black | 21% | 13% |
Hispanic | 23% | 18% |
White | 19% | 52% |
Other | 3% | 2% |
Private | 9% |
2019 Economic Need Index
35%
71%
City avg
-9
-8
+33
Queens Metropolitan High School
Screens: students in zone given priority, then borough
D28 Queens
Category | Applicants | Offers |
Asian | 15% | 10% |
Hispanic | 42% | 31% |
Black | 8% | 5% |
Other | 2% | |
White | 24% | 46% |
Private | 9% | 8% |
2019 Economic Need Index
44%
71%
City avg
+22
-11
Professional Performing Arts High School
Screens: priority to continuing 8th graders, auditions, test scores, attendance, tardies
D2 Manhattan
Category | Applicants | Offers |
Asian | 4% | 9% |
Black | 28% | 12% |
Hispanic | 35% | 22% |
Other | 5% | 9% |
White | 20% | 41% |
Private | 7% | 7% |
+21
-16
-13
2019 Economic Need Index
40%
71%
City avg
The Clinton School
Screens: priority to continuing 8th graders, standardized tests, report cards, attendance
D2 Manhattan
Category | Applicants | Offers |
Asian | 14% | 10% |
Black | 7% | 4% |
Hispanic | 16% | 12% |
Other | 5% | 5% |
White | 43% | 64% |
Private | 14% | 5% |
2019 Economic Need Index
25%
71%
City avg
+21
District 2
Priority schools
Several D2 schools give priority to students and residents of the district.
Students and residents of Manhattan are given priority for remaining seats.
98% of 2019-20 seats at the following schools went to students living in District 2.
Several schools now use a lottery - but only for students who make it through academic screens.
Chalkbeat NY
D2 Priority School
Baruch College Campus High School
Screens: standardized test scores, grades, absences, and tardies
D2 Manhattan
Category | Applicants | Offers |
Asian | 24% | 29% |
Black | 15% | 9% |
Hispanic | 26% | |
Other | 3% | 8% |
White | 21% | 40% |
Private | 11% | 14% |
2019 Economic Need Index
40%
71%
City avg
D2 Priority School
+19
-32
N.Y.C. Lab School for Collaborative Studies
Screens: standardized test scores, grades, attendance, and tardies
D2 Manhattan
Category | Applicants | Offers |
Asian | 23% | 25% |
Black | 8% | 6% |
Hispanic | 16% | |
Other | 5% | 6% |
White | 34% | 41% |
Private | 14% | 22% |
30%
71%
City avg
2019 Economic Need Index
+8
+7
-18
D2 Priority School
Eleanor Roosevelt High School
Screens: standardized test scores, grades, attendance, and tardies
D2 Manhattan
Category | Applicants | Offers |
Asian | 23% | 24% |
Black | 13% | 5% |
Hispanic | 26% | |
Other | 4% | 7% |
White | 21% | 45% |
Private | 13% | 20% |
2019 Economic Need Index
20%
71%
City avg
-34
+24
D2 Priority School
+7
At these 13 screened schools…
2%: The average number of 2019-20 students classified as English Language Learners. The city average is 11%.
33%: The average Economic Need Index. The city average is 71%.
5: Number of middle schools in admissions pipeline
Category | City average | 2019-20 enrollment |
Asian | 16.2% | 19% |
Black | 25.5% | 7% |
Hispanic/ Latinx | 40.6% | 18% |
White | 15.1% | 50% |
Demands
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