The Supreme Court has upheld the admissions policy at an elite public high school in Virginia.
The policy was under fire for discriminating against Asian Americans.
The backstory: Tuesday’s decision by the Supreme Court upheld an earlier decision from a federal appeals court regarding the admissions policy at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology.
- The admissions process was overhauled in 2020, eliminating a standardized test and giving weight to economically disadvantaged or English-learning applicants.
- That resulted in an increase in Black and Hispanic representation, while Asian American representation decreased.
Driving the news: Asian American applicants argued that the policy discriminates against them, as academic merit should be the sole criteria for admission.
- The Fairfax County School Board defended the new admissions process, stating that it provides a fair opportunity for all qualified students.
- In 2022, a federal judge found the admissions policy to be impermissible “racial balancing,” but the ruling was reversed by the appeals court.
- Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas dissented from the Supreme Court’s decision, believing that the policy allows for constitutional racial discrimination.
- The case highlights ongoing legal challenges regarding race-based admissions policies in K-12 education.
