Bill > S05957

This bill modifies the admission process for specialized high schools in New York City, introducing a phased approach to student selection over three school years. For the 2025-2026 school year, students will be admitted first to specialized high schools based on being in the top three percent of their eighth-grade class using multiple achievement measures, then by taking a competitive examination in eighth or ninth grade. In the 2026-2027 school year, the top percentage shifts to five percent, and for 2027-2028 and beyond, students will be admitted based on being in the top five to seven percent of their eighth-grade class or having a minimum 3.7 grade point average. The chancellor will determine the specific multiple measures of student achievement, which must include academic course grades and standardized test scores, and these measures will be publicly disclosed. The Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts will continue to consider students' artistic abilities alongside academic performance. The bill aims to create a more holistic and diverse approach to admitting students to New York City's specialized high schools by considering broader academic performance metrics beyond a single standardized test score.