WASHINGTON (AP) – The Supreme Court has rejected an appeal by a parent, who blocked a new admission policy at a prestigious North Virginia high school after a lower court recognized discrimination against Asian American students.
The Supreme Court did not clarify its decision Monday, allowing Thomas Jefferson High School of Science and Technology to continue its acceptance policy until the Fairfax School District Board appeals the lower court’s decision.
Judges Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch and Clarence Thomas said they would comply with the request of a parent group, Coalition TJ, to suspend the admission policy.
In February, the group convinced U.S. District Judge Claude Hilton that the new policy, which increases the representation of blacks and Hispanics, is tantamount to an unacceptable “racial balance” at a select school near the capital. . It is often considered one of the best public high schools in the country.
Asian American students make up more than 70% of the students. Under the new policy used to accept the current class of school freshmen, the representation of Asian Americans has been reduced to 54%. Black students increased from 1% to 7% and Hispanic representation increased from 3% to 11%.
Hilton ordered the suspension of the new policy, but the Federal Court of Appeals in Richmond, Virginia said it would be available as long as the case continues in the courts.
Source: Huffpost
