Boston Exam Schools Are Being Scrutinized

The following information was cited from “Boston mulls changes to admission rules for exam schools” from the Boston Globe.

Boston exam schools are being scrutinized in order to increase the number of black and Latino students accepted. A committee is urging for the biggest change in the admissions process after race was taken out as an admission factor 15 years ago.

There have been several reports of discrimination at the Boston Latin School and that “administrators [respond] inadequately to complaints about racially charged behavior at the school.” The three schools in question are the O’Bryant School of Math and Science, Boston Latin, and Boston Latin Academy.

The committee has been chosen to see that all students are given an equal opportunity to attend the schools. Mayor Walsh was unaware and uncomfortable with the idea of the committee and instead wants to focus on adding more spots to the exam schools because there are “more kids than exam schools.”

Boston Latin and Boston Latin Academy’s enrollment has shown to have higher percentages of white and Asian students. The schools have been instructed to accept the highest performing students “from all zip codes” but that doesn’t seem to be the case with these three schools.

One suggestion the committee is considering is giving all students more opportunities to grow elementary school, thus ensuring a better chance at admission later on. Their goal is to give equal opportunities for all students applying to these schools.

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