NYC Elite Schools Admit 3 Black Students to Stuyvesant's 777-Seat Class
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jul 14
NYC Elite Schools Admit 3 Black Students to Stuyvesant's 777-Seat Class
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jul 14
Summary
Stuyvesant High School offered places to just 3 Black students and 21 Hispanic students in its incoming class of 777, a nearly one-third drop from the previous freshman class.
Across New York City's eight specialized high schools, Black and Hispanic students are expected to make up about 10% of incoming freshmen, even though they represent roughly 62% of the overall public-school system.
The gap has persisted for years because admission depends solely on the 114-question, three-hour Specialized High School Admissions Test, which critics call discriminatory and supporters defend as merit-based.
As NYC's elite school test goes digital, will its persistent racial disparity problem get better or worse?
If test-free schools show great results, why does NYC still rely on a single, divisive entrance exam?
NYC Specialized High Schools 2026-2027: Admissions Data Reveal Ongoing Racial Gaps and Legal Battles Over Equity
Overview
The 2026-2027 admissions data for New York City’s specialized high schools once again highlights a persistent lack of diversity, especially for Black and Latino students. Each year, the low number of Black students admitted to top schools like Stuyvesant becomes a symbol of deeper systemic issues in the city’s education system. Advocates describe this as a recurring loop, where the same disparities appear year after year without real solutions. Despite repeated calls for change, incremental efforts have failed to address the root causes, leaving the problem unresolved and fueling ongoing debate about equity and access.