This week we asked readers if students should be accepted into specialized high schools on the basis of one test, or should the acceptance process be changed completely?
Yes, I think it should be based on more than one test or maybe even something other than a test like overall grades. Some kids volunteer, maybe the extra work they do. Anything that shows how far they’ve been educated and what they know. Someone can recognize how good one is without the basis of a test. They should even look at a student’s interests.
Richard Berroa
Mt. Eden
Yes, I feel like the middle schools that we go to, to prepare for this test aren’t really preparing us enough so I feel the state that funds the schools should get us better textbooks and better teachers. Yes, admission should be based on other things, they should look into that.
Safina Davis
Pelham Parkway
I believe acceptance should be based on a number of things. However, I do think we’re focusing too much on the issue. Why is it that there is a minimum of these specialized high schools? Why can’t we have more of these high schools all over the borough? They should be investing money in our schools like they should be, the money is always there, like for all of these buildings going up, but nobody is talking about infrastructure.
Marcos Sierra
Van Cortlandt Park South
I believe specialized high schools should take into consideration many factors, such as grades from the past year, community work and associations as well as their test score and an essay done by the student on why they chose a particular school as well as their career goals. Teaching myself for many years, I know that not every student is a good test-taker or are skilled in writing. The collaboration of all of these methods would give more students a fairer chance and would bring a more diverse selection of students to each school.
Bailey Provetto
Country Club
I think a student’s grades, extracurricular activities, and achievements are a better indication of a student’s potential and abilities than a singular test. Also, based on the recent college admission scandal where proctors were paid off and hired stand-ins who took the exam, a single exam is susceptible to corruption. Lastly, students should strive to success in all the various parts of their academic lives, not strive to pass a single test that may impact the rest of their lives.
Roxanne Delgado
Pelham Parkway
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It should be a cumulative score . A combination of class work , examination test score , recommendations and overall GPA. They are special schools and are not for everyone but more criteria needs to be considered. It’s nit fair to just use an entrance exam.