Black parent ‘insulted’ by discussion to lower admission standards for selective prep school

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A parent spoke out in opposition to a school district's discussion about whether to lower the admission standards of a selective public prep school in "order to increase diversity."

A mom of two named Sylvia Nelson told a local news outlet she is "insulted" by Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS) consideration to lower the admission standards of Walnut Hills High School, a prep school for grades 7-12.

"As an African American parent, I'm insulted because I don't believe standards need to be lowered for African Americans to get into Walnut," Nelson told local news outlet WKRC on Monday. "It was under the auspices of having more African Americans at Walnut Hills." 

Nelson is a parent of two students at Walnut Hills High School and participates in the Instructional Leadership Team (ILT) and Local School Decision Making Committees (LSDMC).

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CPS officials compiled a report to weigh on what would happen if standards were lowered to the 55th or 50th percentile.

Sylvia Nelson speaking at the Cincinnati Public Schools board meeting on March 20th, 2023.

When CPS temporarily lowered its admission standards for the 2020-21 school year to the 50th percentile, non-White students’ eligibility reportedly increased from 32% to nearly 40%. Then it fell to 23% in the 2021-22 school year, according to the CPS report.

Currently, students have to score in the 65th percentile in reading and math. However, district leaders saw a decline in qualified candidates for the 2022-23 school year, with only 16% of students passing the admissions test.

Nelson wrote on Facebook that reducing admission standards would have the unfortunate effect of decreasing performance at Walnut Hills as "students who score below the required score tend to need more support."

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Empty classroom in an elementary school. (FNC)

"I respect that you would like to increase the number of African American students who qualify, but after reviewing the data from the Committee of Whole it is inconclusive that reducing the cut scores would increase the percentages of African Americans at Walnut Hills," she wrote. 

Nelson noted that out-of-district Black students (including AA) have higher pass rates than those within CPS district.  

"This would suggest that steps need to be taken to educate students before they get to 6th grade to ensure that they have the skills to make the required score on the tests.  What action are you taking to address education and learning gaps due to COVID across the district?  What is your plan to address the fact that most CPS elementary schools have failing report cards?" Nelson continued. 

At the CPS Board meeting last night, other parents spoke out against the possibility of lowering the admission standards for Walnut Hills High School during the public comment section of the meeting.

"What is wrong? This is crazy," one parent said. 

"Walnut Hills High School is a shining star. It's one of the best schools in the country. What makes it great is its tremendous diversity and high academic standards," one speaker commented."And I would hate that luster to get smeared by watering down the academic standards so lets just keep those high standards up." 

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CPS Superintendent Iranetta Wright told WCPO, "There has not been a decision made about Walnut Hills," in regard to lowering test scores standard to get into Walnut Hills H.S.

"Cut scores for admission to Walnut Hills High School have not been lowered, nor has the Superintendent made the recommendation to lower the scores," Cincinnati Public Schools said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "Additionally, the Board of Education has not voted, nor is the Board considering lowering admission requirements. The Board requested an analysis of the admissions process from the Superintendent and this information was provided during the February Student Achievement Committee of the Whole Meeting, which can be viewed here."

Cincinnati Public Schools considering to lower the admission standards of Walnut Hills High School, a prep school for grades 7-12.

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Since the pandemic, school board meetings have become battlegrounds between parents and school board officials. Parents across the country have protested controversial curriculum like critical race theory as well as certain books being in public libraries. This has reignited the debate on how much control parents have over their children's education. 

The article was updated to include statement from Cincinnati Public Schools.