State Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt and Assemblyman William Colton are urging parents to be prepared for action as the Specialized High Schools Admissions Test (SHSAT) faces another attack. Assemblywoman Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn recently proposed eliminating the SHSAT as the sole admission criterion for the city’s specialized high schools, claiming that standardized tests are racist. However, this claim lacks evidence.
Standardized tests are not inherently racist, as they are objective and anonymously scored. Additionally, while some argue that standardized tests may disadvantage certain groups, it’s important to acknowledge that most black students have the opportunity to take these tests in their native language, whereas many Asian students have recently learned English and may lack cultural familiarity with America. Despite this, Asians consistently outperform both whites and blacks in math and verbal sections.
Bichotte Hermelyn’s argument mainly revolves around the fact that many colleges made standardized tests optional in the wake of the pandemic. However, it’s essential to note that “optional” tests are typically only optional for blacks and Hispanics. Top-tier colleges still prefer and expect Asians and whites to perform well on these tests. In fact, MIT recently ended its test-optional policy due to its inability to maintain rigorous standards.
To support affirmative action, Harvard created courses designed to accommodate students who may struggle academically, such as Math MA and Expository Studio 10, while Princeton offers MAT 100, which serves as a high-school review. These institutions’ actions show that standardized testing still holds value and importance.
Contrary to Bichotte Hermelyn’s claims, ample rigorous research supports the efficacy of standardized testing. For example, cognitive scientist Steven Pinker’s article in the New Republic demonstrates how the SAT predicts a wide range of intellectual, practical, and artistic accomplishments. The University of California’s faculty’s Standardized Testing Task Force also recommended the continued use of standardized tests after a comprehensive year-long study.
Furthermore, a paper by Peter Arcidiacono reveals that black engineering students with low SAT scores at Duke University are more likely to switch to easier humanities majors, while those with high SAT scores perform just as well as their white and Asian counterparts. These findings support the idea that standardized tests can help identify students’ academic potential.
Using the SHSAT as the primary criterion for admission based on meritocratic peerage has resulted in exceptional academic achievements among students, including 14 Nobel Prize winners, recipients of prestigious awards, and members of the National Academy of Sciences. The Department of Education hasn’t been able to replicate this level of distinction with any other admission scheme.
Bichotte Hermelyn proposes using a “top percentage of every school” approach, as well as incorporating grades, essays, and other subjective criteria. However, her proposal raises suspicion as she intends for these new schools to replace specialized high schools rather than operate alongside them. If her proposal can truly create excellent schools for an additional 5% of DOE students, it would make more sense to maintain and support both specialized high schools and these new institutions to ensure outstanding education for a larger portion of students.
It is crucial to address the issues of grade incomparability and inflation, as well as the potential for fraudulent practices in grading within DOE schools, rather than blaming the SHSAT for political gain. Essays, mentioned by Bichotte Hermelyn as part of the admissions process, are even more unreliable and invite dishonesty.
While a constructive discussion about excellent schools is necessary, we must recognize the validity of standardized tests compared to grades, essays, and the “top percentage of every school” approach. Not all students can be in the top 5%, and not all students aspire to be. There should be honorable pathways for those who do not aim for the top, but for those who do, the key is to study harder.
A study by the Brookings Institution found that, on average, Asian students spend double the amount of time on homework compared to white students and four times the amount compared to black students. Bichotte Hermelyn should consider this finding before raising concerns about the overrepresentation of Asians and the underrepresentation of blacks at schools like Stuyvesant.
In conclusion, it is essential to acknowledge the value of standardized testing and the opportunities it provides for identifying academic potential. While there is room for improving the education system and addressing inequalities, eliminating the SHSAT as an admission criterion for specialized high schools is not the solution.
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