Schools Visited: Brooklyn Technical High School and Acorn Community High School
Brooklyn Technical High School:
Total Student Population: 5,639
Based on the graph it is quite evident that majority of the students that attend Brooklyn Technical High School (BTHS) are Asians. In order to attend BTHS students are required to take an entrance exam. Depending on how well the student does, determines if he or she can attend. Because only a handful of Black and Hispanics attend these specialized high schools, NYC decided to help them get into these “elite” schools. The plan began after the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund filed a complaint in 2012, and claiming the admissions process at the schools are racially biased. The city isn”t allowed to changed the admission requirements at these schools because it would require an act of the State Legislature. Thus, in an effort to diversify these high schools, de Blasio’s administration hopes to help more students pass these entrance exams.
It is not that the black and Hispanic students aren’t passing these exams, its that these students are taking the exams at a much lower rate than the white and Asian students (22% compared with 52% – that is less than half). In order to increase the rate, the Education Department decided to hire up to five outreach workers to recruit students from underrepresented groups. In the fall of 2016, the city even gave entrance exams during the school day at five pilot schools. This way students wouldn’t have to travel to a different tested site on a weekend.
Each school year, the NYC Department of Education visits NYC schools and rates them based on test scores, graduation rates, and teach turnovers. They believe there are six areas in which a student can improve his or her learning and help the school better thrive. The six categories listed above demonstrate a school with a stimulating environment that fosters educational and personal growth.
The image above illustrates student achievement: progress towards graduation, graduation rates, etc. Because Brooklyn Technical High School is a specialized high school it is expected that the percentages regarding graduation rate and college/career readiness to be high. Only those who are apart of the “cream of the crop” groups, they can attend this specialized high school. A specialized high school always wants to present that their school is the best and thus they pick and choose of who gets into or not into the high school. Since the admissions committee ends up picking students with the highest test grades to attend their school, their performance regarding tests will be great.
Every school year the NYC Department of Education releases a report card. Just as if a student were to get a letter grade for specific assignments and the overall class, NYC schools get the same thing. From 2010-2012 Brooklyn Technical High School, consistently received a B letter grade. However, in the 20112-2013 school year BTHS received an A or 73.1/100 as an overall score.
Acorn Community High School:
Total Student Population: 240
Based on the graph it is evident that majority of the students that attend ACHS Black. ACHS was a school created for students struggling in an academic environment and close the achievement gap. Currently, ACHS students are able to enter a post secondary setting with skills needed to achieve and sustain success.
Each school year, the NYC Department of Education visits NYC schools and rates them based on test scores, graduation rates, and teach turnovers. They believe there are six areas in which a student can improve his or her learning and help the school better thrive. The six categories listed above demonstrate a school with a stimulating environment that fosters educational and personal growth along with educational experiences that will embark a student on their college and career journey.
The image above illustrates student achievement: progress towards graduation, graduation rates, etc. Because Acorn Community High School is not a specialized high school it is expected that the percentages regarding graduation rate and college/career readiness to be varied. Kids from both sides of the academic spectrum attend this school.
Click here to learn more about residential segregation in Brooklyn
Sources
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