Exam school changes throw kids in deep end

The historic change in the exam school admissions process passed Wednesday by the Boston School Committee is a victory for racial and socio-economic diversity.

Whether it’s a victory for students remains to be seen.

As the Herald reported, to become eligible for an exam school invitation under the new system, students must have at least a GPA equivalent of a B. They will get a composite score based on an admissions test and their grades.

All invitations will then go out through straight rank within eight socioeconomic tiers.

Those tiers are geographic groupings within the city with similar socioeconomic characteristics. Each tier will be allocated about the same number of seats. The tier with the lowest socioeconomic score goes first in one of 10 selection rounds.

Children in the Boston Housing Authority or in the care of the Department of Children and Families gain extra points with a high poverty indicator.

Those who decried the ability of the financially advantaged to afford tutors and test prep assistance for their children to clear the rigorous exam hurdle of Boston exam schools cheer the increased access for lower income students to make the cut.

A BPS student with a B average and good exam score with an extra point boost because of their disadvantaged background can find themselves a new enrollee at say, Boston Latin.

Then what?

One thing tutors and more affluent schools provide is experience with a rigorous academic structure. Students who can avail themselves of these advantages need them for the demands of Boston’s competitive exam schools.

How will that BPS B student from a non-affluent school wade into these academic waters? What supports does this new admissions policy provide?

We doubt Boston Latin will award booster points on tests for lower socioeconomic tiers.

The students in this first wave of new exam school admissions are guinea pigs for social change. The pressure will be great. Some, and we hope that number is high, may thrive. Others, without the same educational foundation as those who aced the original entrance exams, could founder.

The problem does not lie with them — it’s with a school system that finagles the exam school admission policy to elevate underserved students without providing all students with the kind of education that prepares them for a stringent academic curriculum.

Disadvantaged students should of course have the same opportunities as everyone else — and it’s up to the BPS to provide those opportunities with a top-notch education.

We hope this first test batch of students is afforded by the BPS with whatever additional supports — tutoring, etc. — they need to adjust to the exam school experience.

“You got in, good luck!” is not the end game.

Elevating the schools in the Boston Public School system so that children are prepared for challenging academic futures is.

Spring 2022 exam school invitations will be sent out under the new policy. There will be fallout — there is already pushback.

Qualified students from more advantaged zip codes could be out of the game — is that fair? Or is fairness a mutable object when dealing with the desire for inclusion and diversity?

The changes to Boston’s exam school admissions addresses equity only part way — what’s needed is a focus on excellence for all across the board.