High School Choice in New York City: A Report on the School Choices and Placements of Academically At-Risk Students

This study aims to understand the high school choices and placements of New York City's most at-risk students. In 2004, the NYC DOE instated a high school choice system that allows each rising 9th grade student to make up to 12 high school selections. The high school choice system was designed to raise student engagement and academic outcomes by providing each student with an opportunity to engage in *choosing* their high school. The high school choice process also offers students opportunities to access schools outside of one's neighborhood, which might result in students finding a higher quality school, or a better match for their individual needs. This study focuses on students who have not met or partially met state standards in math and English (identified as "level 1 & 2" students), as well as English language learners and students receiving special education services, who represent a disproportionate share of the lowest-performing students. The goals are to understand which types of schools these groups of students choose to apply to, in which schools they are placed, and how these choices and placements have changed over time as the choice process approaches 10 years in operation. The project will culminate in a report to be published in 2012 that will seek to reach a broad array of stakeholders, including parents, policymakers, community groups, and the New York City Department of Education.

The New York Community Trust awarded a grant to the Research Alliance and 
collaborator, Sean Corcoran (NYU), to fund this project.

Key Staff & Collaborators

James Kemple, Lori Nathanson, Sean Corcoran (NYU), Christine 
Baker-Smith, Janet Brand, Grace Pai (NYU)