Searching for Alternatives

After the U.S. Supreme Court ended race-conscious college admissions policies in June, focus turned to searching for alternatives. In these neighborhoods, schools tend to have fewer resources, and there are more likely to be environmental hazards like lead paint, asbestos, and toxic waste that can impact learning. [...]students from white families may appear to demonstrate higher levels of academic merit than Black peers with similar economic status. Top 10% plans aim to create diversity by giving the top 10% (or a similar percentage) of students at each high school in an area automatic admission to one or several in-state colleges. Because acceptances go out to the top students at every high school, including those with higher percentages of underrepresented minorities, the hope is that larger percentages of those students will matriculate. Excerpts from statements issued by HBCU leaders responding to the U.S. Supreme Court's affirmative action ruling: I am