HigH StakeS, Low VaLidity?

Sep 15, 2026

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Uploaded by Chloe Bennett

Newsletter addressing New York City’s Specialized High Schools Admissions Test (SHSAT) and concerns about its fairness and effectiveness. The text contrasts the large share of Black and Hispanic students in public high schools with their underrepresentation in specialized admissions. It explains recent policy proposals to reduce reliance on the SHSAT and discusses a 2008 research brief by Joshua Feinman identifying flaws in validity, test-prep advantages, unequal versions, and lack of evidence on predicting success or bias.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages2

Reading Time5 min

AccessFree to download

Table of Contents

Newsletter

High Stakes, Low Validity?

Proposed admissions reforms

Research findings and concerns

Thursday, July 19, 2018 Newsletter HigH StakeS, Low VaLidity? Black and Hispanic students comprise nearly 70 percent of the enrollment of New York City’s public high schools. Yet they typically make up just 10 percent of the eighth graders admitted to the city’s eight specialized high schools, which include Stuyvesant and the Bronx High School of Science. These schools are feeders to Ivy League colleges and other top universities. Admissions decisions are currently based on a single exam, the Specialized High Schools Admissions Test (SHSAT) . But a recent proposal by New York Mayor Bill de Blasio seeks to diversify these specialized schools by replacing the SHSAT with a system based on middle-school class rank and scores on state tests. For the three largest specialized schools, this reform would require changes to a 1971 state law. Those changes could take time, if they occur at all. So de Blasio has also proposed setting aside 20 percent of seats in each school for low-income students who rank just below the cut score on the SHSAT. The mayor has estimated that, combined, these changes would increase the percentage of Black and Hispanic students to 45 percent. Important concerns about the test and its use are explained by a 2008 National Education Policy Center research brief by Joshua Feinman that found deep flaws in the use of the SHSAT. Feinman’s analysis showed that thousands of students who are admitted based on the exam earn scores that are statistically indistinguishable from the results of those who miss the cutoff. Feinman identified other issues as well. The scoring system may advantage students who take pricey test prep programs. The city administers different versions of the exam to head off cheating, yet some versions are significantly more challenging than others, giving stu [http://nepc.colorado.edu/publication/newsletter-SHSAT](http://nepc.colorado.edu/publication/newsletter-SHSAT) 1 of 2 dents who took that version a leg up. Finally, the test has never been examined to determine whether it actually predicts success at the specialized schools. Nor has it been analyzed for signs of bias against students of different races or genders. This means that the exam may be systematically denying opportunity to the city’s Black and Hispanic students. “Without aggressive action, New York will continue to fail its Black and Latino students, a waste of their potential and its own,” concluded a New York Times editorial that mentioned Feinman’s work (It’s time to integrate New York’s best schools) . Interested in learning more about the New York’s specialized high school admissions exam and process? Feinman’s report is available on our website: Feinman, J. (2008) . High stakes, but low validity? A case study of standardized tests and admissions into New York City specialized high schools. Boulder, CO: National Education Policy Center. Another important and useful analysis is from NEPC Fellow Sean Corcoran and his colleague: Corcoran, S. & Baker-Smith, C. (2018) . Application, admission, and matriculation to New York City’s specialized high schools. Education Finance and Policy, 13(2) . NEPC Resources on High-Stakes Testing and Evaluation The National Education Policy Center (NEPC), housed at the University of Colorado Boulder School of Education, produces and disseminates high-quality, peer-reviewed research to inform education policy discussions. Visit us at: [http://nepc.colorado.edu](http://nepc.colorado.edu) [http://nepc.colorado.edu/publication/newsletter-SHSAT](http://nepc.colorado.edu/publication/newsletter-SHSAT) 2 of 2

FAQs

What is the SHSAT used for in New York City’s specialized high school admissions?

Admissions decisions for New York City specialized high schools are currently based on a single exam, the Specialized High Schools Admissions Test (SHSAT).

What reform is proposed to change SHSAT’s role?

A proposal by Mayor Bill de Blasio would replace SHSAT with middle-school class rank and state test scores, and it would also set aside 20% of seats for low-income students who rank just below the SHSAT cut score.

What main flaws does Joshua Feinman’s research identify about the SHSAT?

The brief argues the exam has deep validity flaws, including thousands of students with statistically indistinguishable outcomes across the cutoff, potential advantages for students using expensive test prep, unequal difficulty across versions, and no analysis showing it predicts success or tests for bias.

Sep 15, 2026

8

0

Uploaded by Chloe Bennett