New York City approves computerized SHSAT: What every US student needs to know about this controversial high school exam

New York City’s controversial Specialized High School Admissions Test (SHSAT) will be digitised under a new five-year, $17 million contract with Pearson. Despite concerns over the test’s role in perpetuating racial disparities and Pearson’s checkered history, including technical failures and workplace discrimination lawsuits, the transition aims to modernise the exam. Critics argue that a single test is inadequate for determining access to elite schools, while supporters maintain it offers a fair, objective measure for admission.