New York City's specialized high schools have admitted a disproportionately small number of Black and Hispanic students for the upcoming academic year, continuing a long-standing pattern of racial and ethnic disparities. At Stuyvesant High School, only three of the 777 admitted students were Black, and 21 were Hispanic, a significant drop from the previous year. Across the city's eight most selective high schools, Black and Hispanic students are expected to make up about 10 percent of the incoming freshman class, while Asian and white students received approximately 80 percent of the seats.

The admission to these prestigious schools, seen as a pathway to top colleges and careers, is based solely on the Specialized High School Admissions Test (SHSAT). Critics argue this single, high-stakes exam is racially discriminatory and does not accurately reflect a student's capabilities, while supporters maintain it is a fair, meritocratic assessment. Mayors, including Eric Adams, have previously labeled the process a "Jim Crow school system."

Efforts to reform the admissions process face resistance from alumni groups and require action from the State Legislature, which established the test-based system in 1971. The demographic shift has seen a decline in Black and Hispanic enrollment over the past 50 years, coinciding with a surge in Asian representation. Some officials and parents advocate for a broader admissions criteria beyond the SHSAT.