This project is part of the Black History Month celebration because it supports a Black teacher or a school where the majority of the students are Black.
My Students
My students are intelligent, hardworking, and mature middle school students, seeking to get into the best, college preparatory, high schools New York City has to offer. We are currently using free online resources to review some old SHSAT questions, and this is an outside of school activity, with my students sacrificing their Sunday evening to do this review. My students are eager to prep themselves for this examination that will give them admissions to some of the best high schools in the country.
My Project
New York City has some of the best high schools in America, but to get in, the state administers an examination (Math and English) for students to take early in 8th grade to gain admission to these fine institutions. Many kids start to study for this exam at a young age, and I'd like to offer that same opportunity for my students, who are underrepresented in these institutions, mainly due to lack of access to study material and private tutoring.
According to the New York City Department of Education, Black, and Latino students make up 68% of the NYC High School population, but only make up 9% of the population in these specialized schools.
This is a story of students who are taking these tests without proper preparation for these tests. The format of the test is unique, timed and does not permit the use of calculators. According to a private SHSAT prep organization, they have a 15% success rate for students who took their prep courses in 2019, conversely, according to the Department of Education, 2019 had a 4% acceptance rate for students who took the SHSAT in 2019.
I am seeking to set my students up for success and to give them the same opportunity that all students should have to gain admissions to these specialized high schools. I have 2 years to get my 6th graders ready and 1 year for my 7th graders. I am asking for gift cards to be used at teacherspayteachers.com that sells a Math comprehensive SHSAT prep book for $18.75 per book. Thank you!
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mr. Lee and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
