Thomas Jefferson High School admissions policy challenged in Supreme Court

Petitioners allege that policy discriminates against Asian American students based on race

WASHINGTON – A group of parents and students have filed a petition with the U.S. Supreme Court challenging the admissions policy of Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST).

The petitioners allege that the policy discriminates against Asian American students based on race.

The petitioners, members of the Coalition for TJ, argue that the revised admissions guidelines unfairly favor underrepresented Black and Hispanic students over Asian Americans.

The new policy allegedly includes bonus points for factors like attending middle schools with few TJHSST attendees and eligibility for free or reduced-price lunch.

The petitioners claim that the policy violates the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution, which prohibits discrimination based on race.

They argue that the policy is a form of “racial balancing” that is designed to reduce the number of Asian American students at TJHSST.

A prior appeals court ruling found no evidence of discriminatory intent against Asian American students.

However, the Supreme Court’s recent decision in a case involving Harvard has led to increased scrutiny of race-based admissions policies in educational institutions.

The Supreme Court is expected to hear arguments in the TJHSST case in the fall of 2023.

The outcome of the case could have a significant impact on race-based admissions policies at other schools across the country.

The Supreme Court’s decision could clarify the legal standards for evaluating such policies and could set a precedent for future cases.