Of Course I’m Smart Enough
“OK class, we’re about to transition to community meeting! On my count. One!” announced my 4th grade teacher. One was the signal to push out your seat from the desk. “Good job we’re moving with urgency! I like it Morgan State!” Morgan State was the name of this class; almost every class at Excellence Boys […]
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What NYC Teens Actually Think About the SHSAT
In June 2018, I began to hear news about then-Mayor Bill de Blasio wanting to do away with the Standardized High School Admissions Test (SHSAT), the exam New York City students take to get into one of eight specialized high schools. These specialized schools are seen as huge stepping stones into elite colleges. Instead, the […]
Read MoreMaking Schools More Fair, Welcoming, and Safe
Our writers asked tough questions about the issues they face at school. Here are New York City Schools Chancellor Porter’s positions on back-to-school Covid safety, New York City’s long history of education inequality, student vaccinations, and how to work successfully with a new mayor. This interview took place in July and has been edited for […]
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My Test Score Didn’t Show What I Could Achieve
The snow was piling up outside the school window, almost as fast as the anxiety building up in my stomach. After what seemed like hours of waiting, I was called down to the guidance counselor’s office to receive my results for the Specialized High School Admissions Test (SHSAT). Brooklyn Technical High School, one of New […]
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