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- Supreme Court declines to hear challenge to Boston’s exam school diversity plan
- Second major education diversity case passed over since 2023 affirmative action ruling
- Boston’s new admissions system using geographic and economic factors remains intact
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Quick Brief
2-Minute Digest
Essential Context
Boston’s revised exam school admissions policy survived its final legal challenge today as the Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal from opponents. The policy, implemented in 2021, uses geographic and socioeconomic factors to increase diversity at the city’s prestigious exam schools.
Core Players
- Boston Public Schools – District implementing new admissions policy
- Boston Parents Coalition – Group challenging the policy
- Three exam schools: Boston Latin School, Boston Latin Academy, O’Bryant School
Key Numbers
- 70% – Weight given to grades in admissions
- 30% – Weight given to entrance exam scores
- 8 – Number of socioeconomic tiers in new system
- 76% – Increase in economically disadvantaged students admitted (2021-2024)
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The Catalyst
The Supreme Court’s decision leaves intact Boston’s controversial 2021 policy change that moved away from pure test-based admissions to a system considering socioeconomic factors.
Inside Forces
The policy ranks applicants within eight socioeconomic tiers based on census tract data, replacing the previous citywide competition system.
Students now compete primarily against others from similar economic backgrounds, with grades weighted more heavily than test scores.
Power Dynamics
Boston school officials maintain authority to implement diversity measures through geographic and economic means, despite broader restrictions on race-conscious admissions.
The decision reinforces local control over K-12 admissions policies.
Outside Impact
This case could influence other districts seeking to maintain diverse student bodies following the Supreme Court’s 2023 affirmative action ruling.
Several major cities are watching Boston’s approach as a potential model.
Future Forces
Key developments to watch:
- Long-term academic outcomes under new system
- Potential adoption by other school districts
- Continued legal challenges to similar policies nationwide
Data Points
- 2021: New policy implementation
- 2023: Supreme Court’s affirmative action ruling
- 2024: Final challenge rejected
- 76%: Increase in economically disadvantaged students
As schools nationwide grapple with diversity in selective admissions, Boston’s approach represents a significant test case for achieving integration through geography and economics rather than race-conscious policies.
