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NEW YORK – Marcus Ramos spent nearly a year preparing for the high-stakes admission test for eight elite public high schools in the city.
The problem is, he has no idea when to take it.
“I’m feeling a little anxious because I’m not sure. They might email me or my mom tomorrow saying, ‘Oh, the exam is next week’, and I’m like : “Wait, wait, that just came out of nowhere ‘and, or it won’t happen at all, and I’m going to be like,’ Wait, how am I going to get into schools? “Marcus said.
The test determines admission to high schools like Stuyvesant, Bronx Science, and Brooklyn Tech.
It was due to be given this weekend, but it was delayed by Blasio’s administration, with no new date set.
The exam is mandatory by state law, but the mayor opposes it, saying it has resulted in a shortage of black and Hispanic students in schools, who are overwhelmingly white and Asian.
Last month, there were dueling rallies between groups that fear and hope, respectively, that he will use the coronavirus pandemic as a reason to change schools’ admission criteria.
Marcus has been preparing for the test since December with a program called DreamChasers, which offers free education to students from low-income homes.
“I’m frustrated, but I mean, I understand it’s a little complicated trying to do all of this, make sure it’s safe, monitored properly, make sure everything is okay online.” , did he declare.
Applications for other competitive city high schools generally have to be filed by December 4, but, like the exam, this has been pushed back without a proposed new deadline. On Thursday, de Blasio had little information for students like Marcus.
“Obviously, with something like administering a standardized test, we’re in a completely different reality now because it’s difficult to do it in person, and historically it’s been done in person and very carefully. regulated, ”said de Blasio. “So we’re sorting this out right now. I don’t have a specific date, but we’ll talk about it, you know, in a week or two.”
In the meantime, Marcus will continue to hit the books.
“I might as well study while I still can,” he said.
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