A recent audit has raised concerns about the fairness and transparency of the high school admissions process in New York City, particularly for economically disadvantaged students and those in temporary housing.
The audit, released by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli, scrutinized various aspects of the city’s high school admissions from the 2018-2019 academic year through the 2024-2025 year.
It revealed that the Department of Education (DOE) often overlooked required policies designed to prioritize certain groups of students during the admission process.
“Thousands of New York City students rely on a fair and transparent system to get into the high school programs that fit their needs and give them the best opportunity for a bright future,” said DiNapoli.
He emphasized that the current system is failing to adequately support students facing economic hardship, resulting in inconsistent and opaque admissions outcomes.
One significant issue identified in the audit was that the matching algorithm used by the DOE only utilized a single address per student.
This approach means approximately 7,000 students residing in shelters or temporary housing may have been denied geographic priority for schools near their current or former residences, a requirement established by DOE policy.
Additionally, low-income students were also not receiving the necessary recognition for priority placements.
The audit indicated that the DOE relied on free or reduced-price lunch eligibility data to identify these students.
However, since all city students are eligible for free meals, the DOE does not consistently collect the necessary paperwork to prove low-income status, further jeopardizing these students’ admissions fairness.
The audit also pointed out issues with the manual placement of more than 200 students, revealing that these students were either not placed or placed in ways that contradicted DOE’s own regulations.
Many of these placements lacked appropriate documentation, raising questions about compliance and fairness.
Moreover, the audit highlighted that the DOE does not have formal written policies governing the matching algorithm’s operations, offer approvals, or exception handling.
This lack of guidelines increases the potential for unequal outcomes in the admissions process.
Failure to meet legally mandated deadlines for publishing admissions and enrollment data was another significant concern outlined in the audit.
While the DOE acknowledges these challenges, it has expressed commitment to collaborate with the New York City Council to improve compliance.
In response to the findings, auditors recommended that the DOE take several measures: ensure accurate prioritization of students in temporary housing and low-income students, establish clear written rules for the matching process, enhance outreach to families about incomplete applications, and ensure prompt and complete publication of required reports.
The DOE has expressed general agreement with these recommendations.
A spokesperson for the department emphasized its commitment to providing a matching algorithm that promotes equitable access to schools for all students, including those from low-income backgrounds and temporary housing.
“New York City Public Schools is dedicated to building a truly equitable school for every student,” the spokesperson stated, acknowledging the agency’s specialized support for vulnerable populations.
Despite the audit’s findings, the DOE expressed disappointment that the report did not acknowledge the effective systems in place to ensure correct admissions priorities or the extensive outreach efforts designed to educate families about the admissions process.
The department noted that students in temporary housing have been performing well; for instance, in fall 2024, 97% of such students received offers from their application choices, compared to 95% of all high school students overall.
Further incorporating community input, the DOE reiterated its commitment to collaborate with school communities, advocates, and elected officials to ensure every student has access to a quality education.
As the audit highlights the need for attention to these critical issues, stakeholders in New York City’s education system await steps from the DOE to enhance the fairness and transparency of its high school admissions process.
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