On June 18, the New York City Department of Education announced the results of the fall 2024 admissions for public high schools. The admission rate for Asian students in specialized high schools still exceeds 50%, while the admission rates for Black and Hispanic students, although relatively lower, have seen an improvement compared to last year, reaching the highest level since 2013.
According to data released by the New York City Department of Education, approximately 72,000 8th grade students received admission notifications for the fall 2024 high school enrollment, with 51% of applicants receiving notifications from their first-choice schools, higher than last year’s 48%. Additionally, 77% of applicants received notifications from within their top three choices, up from 74% the previous year.
Furthermore, a total of 25,700 8th grade students citywide participated in the Specialized High Schools Admissions Test (SHSAT) held last fall, with approximately 4,072 students admitted, resulting in an admission rate of around 16%. Among the admitted students, over 2,100 were Asian, accounting for 52%; around 1,050 were White, making up 26%; approximately 310 were Hispanic, representing 7.6%, an increase from last year’s 6.7%; and over 180 were Black, constituting 4.5%, up from 3.0% the previous year.
The combined admission rate for Black and Hispanic students in New York City’s specialized high schools is 12.1%, a significant increase from last year’s 9.7%, marking the highest level since 2013, although still relatively low overall.
The system of admitting students to specialized high schools based on a single exam has been criticized as “racial segregation” by some, but currently, New York City Mayor Adams has no plans to change this admissions system. David Banks, the Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education, has stated that altering this policy is not his top priority, advocating instead for parents to redefine what makes a “good school.”