Socialist Candidate Pushes for Changes to NYC High School Admissions

Zoran Mamdani, a socialist candidate for mayor in New York City, has previously advocated for eliminating the entrance exams for the city’s elite public high schools. This has been a notable point in his campaign.

The Congressman from Queens, who ranks just behind former Governor Andrew Cuomo, hasn’t elaborated extensively on this issue. However, he did express support for independent studies that examine potential gender and racial biases in the specialized school admissions process.

In February 2022, during a discussion with the Jim Owls’ liberal democratic club, Mamdani—who has a background in test tutoring—was questioned about legislative changes addressing the repercussions of issues like racism and colonialism. He pointed to the Specialized High Schools Admissions Test (SHSAT).

“Having graduated from Bronx Science, I observed firsthand how segregated the public schools, particularly the specialized ones, really are,” he mentioned.

He further stated, “I support actions to integrate public schools and fully finance the education system, which includes abolishing the SHSAT.”

The SHSAT is currently the sole standardized test under state law used for admission into prominent schools like Stuyvesant, Brooklyn Tech, and Bronx High School.

Meanwhile, Cuomo’s spokesperson confirmed that the former governor remains in favor of keeping the exams as they currently are.

Former Mayor Bill de Blasio had attempted, during his tenure, to modify the law on two occasions, despite opposition from Cuomo. His appointee, Richard Carranza, referred to the elite schools as a “symptom of privilege.”

As of now, representatives for Mamdani have not responded to inquiries regarding his campaign.