Increasing Diversity in Boston’s Exam Schools

Nearly a quarter of 7th-12th-graders in the Boston Public Schools (BPS) attend one of three exam schools, considered among the highest quality schools in the district. The exam schools' student bodies do not, however, reflect the city's diversity. This brief attempts to identify contributors to the lack of diversity in exam school enrollment, as well as potential solutions to that problem.

Black and Hispanic students comprise  nearly 75% of Boston’s student age  population but represent only 40%  of enrollment at the three schools  and only 20% of enrollment at the  most selective Boston Latin School  (BLS). 

The authors use data provided by  BPS to measure racial gaps at each  stage of the exam school admissions  process and determine which  interventions could improve exam  school diversity while maintaining  rigorous academic standards. 

The authors conclude that many commonly discussed interventions, though  helpful, would have relativelysmall benefits for diversity. 

MCAS scores  in 5th-grade identify a substantial  number of high-skilled Black and  Hispanic students who currently do not enroll in exam schools. Assigning  students to exam schools based on such scores could increase the number  of Black and Hispanic students at BLS by up to 50%, though less so if the highest-scoring students maintained  preferences for other schools.