Specialized High Schools: Where Are the Black and Brown Students?

Summary

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"When you're one of the few in your neighborhood that were placed in the special, socalled smart classes year in and year out, your peers aren't going to be given the same opportunities to take the exam as you are," said Jason Clinkscales, a 28-year-old freelance sports writer. "Many of them won't even know until you're about to take the test. I look to how awareness of the exam, let alone tutoring for the exam, is limited in most intermediate schools to those in the top class or two classes."

"I think it's a matter of peer pressure," said Jamaal Bailey, 28. "As sad as it is, I think it's still not 'cool' to be smart. I attended junior high school with some folks and individuals that got into Science and didn't go because it was a 'nerd' school, and their friends were not attending the school.

While it could be implied that those who aren't in the "gifted" classes aren't told of the exam's existence, one thing is certain: There's not enough action being taken to help Black and Brown students prepare for specialized high schools.

According to InsideSchools. org, the Bronx High School of Science's current ethnicity breakdown is 61 percent Asian, 25 percent white, 8 percent Hispanic and 3 percent Black.

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Extract

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Specialized High Schools: Where Are the Black and Brown Students?

With seven schools labeled by New York City's Department of Education as "Specialized High Schools," parents and students alike have a plethora of choices, depending on the child's desires.

There's the High School for Mathematics, Science and Engineering at City Co...

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