“In many of the high schools in the South Bronx, more children will end up in prison than will go to college.” Jonathan Kozol

The Bronx High School of Science

TOTAL STUDENT POPULATION: 3,010

According to school.nyc.gov, The Bronx High School of Science educate its students on a rigorous STEM curriculum. The school “cultivates a diverse community of lifelong learners who discover their passions through a collaborative and supportive network of students, educators and alumni. Drawing upon a long tradition of academic success, the Bronx High School of Science prepares students to flourish in the best colleges and universities, creating leaders and visionaries of the future. Included among the school’s alumni are eight Nobel Prize winners and six Pulitzer Prize winners.” Admittance to Bronx Science is limited to a student’s Specialized High School Admission Test score, SHSAT for short.

Diverse community of lifelong learners? How diverse are we talking?

Gender

Ethnicity

Student Interviews:

The following quotes from student interviews have been edited for clarity and length.
SHSAT Stories: 

• • “It was a very cold day. It was snowing and the place I went to take the test made us stand outside and wait. The line wrapped around the entire block. My mom was there waiting with me. I was so so so nervous I tore the corners of my test ticket to shreds.” Asian Female, Senior
  • “My parents sent me to summer classes that prepared us for the test. I was still pretty nervous going into the test but once I was actually taking the test, I was like, in a zone. The entire test flew by within no time.” White Female, Freshman
  • “When I was leaving the test, I overheard students talking about it. They were from the same room I took the test in so that meant we took the same version of the test. I remember how easy they said the they found the test. Made a pit form in my stomach because I didn’t find the test particularly easy.” Asian Male, Freshman

  School Choice: 

  • “My middle school, Glendale, had guidance counselors who helped us through the entire process. When it came down to chose between Francis Lewis and Bronx Science, I left the choice up to my parents. They choose to send me to Bronx.” South Asian Male, Freshman
  • “I only choose Bronx Science because it was a Specialized High School and I didn’t score high enough to get into Stuyvesant. I would have honestly gone to Brooklyn Tech if I didn’t score high enough for Bronx. I just knew I wanted to attend a Specialized High School.” Asian Male, Freshman
  • “I seriously regret choosing this school. Honestly, everyone here are such overachievers that it’s impossible to stand out to colleges. The workload is inhumane sometimes too. No joke, this school has single handedly jaded me for the rest of my life and I’m still only 17. I want my innocence back.” Black Female, Junior

  Security: 

  • “We have to swipe our ID cards in the morning to enter the building. It’s also how the school takes attendance. It’s actually pretty easy to sneak into the school though. Sometimes the school aides that check to see if the picture on your ID matches your face are distracted and you can pretend to swipe in or out.” White Male, Sophomore
  • “There was this one time back in my sophomore year that they sent in metal detectors and everyone had to go through them in order to enter the building that morning. Caused massive disruptions and only 3 students in my class made it to class on time that morning. Huge waste of everyone’s time; we’re too nerdy to carry around weapons.” South Asian Male, Junior
  • “Our school has a pretty big drug problem. Someone died from getting high off shrooms one year and then falling into the train tracks. He was too out of it to get back on the platform in time. After that, our school had our gym teachers talk to us about using drugs. But no one listens. The school is honestly to blame for how many people go to Harris Field to smoke weed. It’s the stress; stress is the silent killer.” White Female, Senior

  Peer Relations: 

  • “You ever notice that thing where people of the same race just naturally gravitate towards each other and form groups? Well, whatever that’s called, it happens full force around here. They even name themselves like, “The Brown Squad” for example. They’re super cliquey.” Asian Female, Sophomore
  • “Sometimes I feel like the only reason people like me and why I’m popular is because I’m a rare black kid that got into this school.” Black Female, Sophomore

  Teacher and Student Relations: 

  • “There was this one time my AP World History teacher, was teaching the class about the Quran and then called on me and asked me if I wanted to add anything to what she had already said. My family and I practice Christianity. She has these moments often apparently from what I hear from her past students. She’s a very sweet old lady though.” South Asian Female, Senior
  • “The teachers I’ve had for the most part are super understanding and supportive. Of course, not every teacher is like that but for the most part, they are very understanding without being overly so. Don’t expect them to coddle you, but my teachers have been more than willing to help write me a letter of recommendation to help apply for programs and internships.” White Female, Senior

  Guidance Support: 

  • “Our school has many guidance counselors. You’re assigned one by homeroom at the beginning of the year and you have the same guidance counselor all throughout your time at Bronx Science. With guidance counselors I feel like it’s a bit of a hit and miss. I’ve heard terrible things about some of my friends guidance counselors. I, on the other hand, think my guidance counselor is amazing. She’s really helpful, especially since I’m going to be the first person in my family attending college.” Asian Male, Senior
  • “I hate my guidance counselor so much. I don’t even know where to begin. She impedes me more than helps me. She’s so discouraging about my grades too, saying things like “It’s unlikely you’ll get in so you shouldn’t apply. She’s honestly the worst…hey, you’re leaving the names out of these right?” South Asian Female, Junior

  
  

  DeWitt Clinton High School

  

  TOTAL STUDENT POPULATION: 1,694

• According to insideschools.org, DeWitt Clinton has a demanding college prep program and successful sports teams but struggles with poor attendance and a low graduation rate overall. Its Macy Honors Program, which  provides a challenging academic curriculum to talented black and Latino students, specifically target those who do not pass the test for the specialized high schools. Within Macy, there is an even more selective program called “Einstein.” The school has its own daycare center and has had a history of gang activity in the area. Most students who attend Clinton do so because it’s their zoned school; in order to get into the Macy Honors Program however, you have to have high grades and a good attendance records in middle school.Gender
  Ethnicity
  

Student Interviews:

The following quotes from student interviews have been edited for clarity and length.
Admission Stories: 

• • “It was the school that I was assigned to because I’m so close to here. I live like a block from here. Why would I want to go anywhere else?” Hispanic Female, Sophomore 
  • “I’m in the Macy Honors Program here. I had good grades during middle school and didn’t miss a day of class. I had wanted to get into Bronx Science because I live near by and it’s in walking distance but I didn’t score high enough. But I got into Macy so it’s not that bad.” Black Male, Freshman
  • “I like the fact that this school had a daycare. It meant that I could drop off my daughter in the morning and go to class if I wanted to .” Black Female, Junior

  Security: 

  • “There are metal detectors. At first it was annoying having to take your belt off every time but you get used to it quickly.” White Male, Sophomore
  • “You get to wear hats here which is cool.” Black Male, Junior
  • “You see the police around here so much that they start becoming part of the school scenery.” Hispanic Female, Senior

  Peer Relations: 

  • “We made plans today to skip math and meet up and go down to Bedford Park and hang. SQUAAAAAD” Hispanic Male, Junior (with group of Hispanic friends)
  • “Sometimes my friends will call me a mutt as a joke. I’ll laugh along with them but it does hurt deep down. Of course, I’ll never tell them that.” Black/Mixed Female, Sophomore

  Teacher and Student Relations: 

  • “My AP US History teacher is pretty cool. She tried to make the subject fun for us, even when we’re doing test prep for the AP.” South Asian Female, Junior
  • “There are some teachers who still care and try to push us to go to college or whatever. I feel bad for them.” Hispanic Female, Senior

  Guidance Support: 

  • “They would breathe down our backs for the first 2 years. They would call home more than [sad but offensive comparison here]. Pretty ridiculous.” Black Male, Junior
  • “My guidance counselor tries her best to help us and give us the resources we need. However, effort isn’t synonymous to results. ” White Female, Junior

Click here to learn more about residential segregation in the Bronx

Sources

(Click to enlarge)