Key facts
- The U.S. Department of Justice has reached a settlement with a Jersey City college preparatory school to end diversity admissions practices.
- The settlement resolves a probe into Dr. Ronald E. McNair Academic High School's admissions process.
- The school will overhaul its admissions policy to prohibit reserving seats based on race or national origin.
- The agreement is in effect until mid-August 2029 and requires the district to submit status reports to the Justice Department.
The U.S. Department of Justice announced a settlement with Dr. Ronald E. McNair Academic High School in Jersey City to end its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) admissions practices. This action is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to scrutinize and dismantle DEI initiatives in educational institutions.
The settlement, reached between the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division and the Jersey City Board of Education, resolves a probe into the school's admissions process. Under the agreement, the school will revise its admissions policy to prohibit reserving seats for students based on race or national origin. The settlement will remain in effect until mid-August 2029, with the district required to submit regular status reports to the Justice Department regarding its admissions procedures.
The school, ranked fourth in New Jersey by U.S. News & World Report, has a total minority enrollment of 81% and 34% of its students are economically disadvantaged. The Justice Department stated that the new admissions policy must be adopted before the next admissions cycle for the 2027-2028 school year.
This move aligns with President Trump's broader agenda to challenge DEI practices, which he has characterized as discriminatory against white people and men. Civil rights advocates, however, argue that DEI initiatives are crucial for addressing historical inequities faced by marginalized groups.