Students participating in discussions about revising exam school admissions policies.
The Boston School Committee is launching a search for equitable admissions policies for the city’s exam schools. Superintendent Mary Skipper emphasizes the need for fairness, moving beyond competition among schools and neighborhoods. Recent changes aimed at diversifying admissions have not fully addressed concerns, and proposed adjustments could change seat allocations. The committee is engaging the community for input as it prepares for a revised policy aimed for implementation by the 2025-2026 school year.
Boston – The Boston School Committee is initiating a comprehensive search for long-term solutions to revise admissions policies for the city’s exam schools, following five years of incremental changes that have not adequately addressed community concerns. Superintendent Mary Skipper has underscored the need for a more equitable admissions process that does not foster competition among various schools and neighborhoods.
The city’s three exam schools—Boston Latin School, Boston Latin Academy, and O’Bryant School—are at the center of this conversation, as the committee strives to create a fair and transparent policy that allows all students equal opportunity to apply. Recent policy changes that started in 2021 aimed to enhance diversity among admitted students based on racial, socio-economic, and geographical factors. These changes included a composite admission scoring system that relies on grades and entrance exams while implementing new socio-economic tiers based on residency.
Enhancements to the admissions policy have included awarding extra points to applicants who attend high-poverty schools, live in public housing, experience homelessness, or are involved with the Department of Children and Families (DCF). However, the current system has reduced the number of socio-economic tiers from five to four to streamline procedures. Proposed adjustments presented by the committee suggest the removal of school-based bonus points and potential alterations to housing-based points. Additionally, a new “citywide round” is under consideration, which would allow students with top composite scores to compete for 20% of overall seats, irrespective of socio-economic tiers.
The proposed changes have prompted discussions about how seat distribution should be managed, potentially shifting focus from eligible students in each tier to applicants, a change that could introduce operational complexities. Current data simulations predict that these adjustments could result in a slight increase in seat allocations for white and non-low-income students, sparking concerns about maintaining historical equity within the admissions process.
Recent policies and their implications have come under scrutiny, particularly regarding their impact on admission rates across various neighborhoods. Some areas reported admission rates of over 100%, while others remained below 50%. Mayor Michelle Wu acknowledged that while recent admissions policies have diversified the exam schools, addressing geographic disparities remains essential.
Alongside these initiatives, Superintendent Skipper stressed the importance of continued community engagement throughout the summer and fall, ensuring that public voices are considered in the formation of a final recommendation. Current data indicate a troubling trend: the number of Black students receiving invitations to attend exam schools has decreased in recent years, while invitations extended to white students have seen an increase. Reactions among parents to the proposed changes have been varied, with some parents advocating for improved opportunities for public input and others criticizing the complexities inherent in the current admissions procedures.
This review of the admissions policies is taking place amid previous legal challenges and scrutiny regarding perceived discrimination based on socio-economic and racial factors. The existing school district policy allows the composition of student scores from grades and entrance exams, with variable bonus points catered to socio-economic conditions. Meanwhile, shifts in applicant demographics across tiers have continued to shape the admission pool.
As the Boston School Committee gears up for further discussions, the district intends to continue analyzing relevant data and soliciting public feedback. The potential changes to exam school admissions will evolve as officials work toward a revised policy that is expected to be implemented by the 2025-2026 school year.
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