Miseducation

New York City is home to the nation’s most segregated school system, a fact that surprises those who think of the Big Apple as a progressive beacon. Deep inequities exist at every level of the NYC school system.

And who better to report on these issues than the students who experience them firsthand? Grab a pen and get ready to take notes. Our student reporters are taking you to school.

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Taylor McGraw 5/31/18 Taylor McGraw 5/31/18

Episode 1: The Price of Specialized High Schools

Black and Hispanic students make up a tiny fraction of the students at New York City’s most selective schools. Students on the inside dive deep into the issue and what we can do about it.

Taylor McGraw 5/17/18 Taylor McGraw 5/17/18

Introduction: 64 Years Late

64 years after Brown v. Board of Education, New York City high schools are still segregated. Zoe and Sabrina explain why.

Taylor McGraw 3/22/18 Taylor McGraw 3/22/18

Preview: Miseducation

Hear a preview of what's to come from the students behind the mic this season.

Taylor McGraw 12/17/17 Taylor McGraw 12/17/17

Extra Credit: The Hearing

Members of Teens Take Charge testified at the City Council's hearing on school integration earlier this month. Two of them – Whitney and Nelson – help recap what happened.

Taylor McGraw 11/12/17 Taylor McGraw 11/12/17

Extra Credit: Brian

Brian passed all the math courses his high school had to offer in 10th grade. But he isn't letting the lack of educational opportunities deter him from reaching his career goals.

Taylor McGraw 10/13/17 Taylor McGraw 10/13/17

Episode 6: Testimony

The season finale features testimony from a dozen members of the student-led group Teens Take Charge, which advocates for educational equity at events across New York City.

Taylor McGraw 9/8/17 Taylor McGraw 9/8/17

Episode 5: The Movement

A young activist from the Bronx attempts to integrate the city's public school system.

Taylor McGraw 8/10/17 Taylor McGraw 8/10/17

Extra Credit: Noah

On this Extra Credit, we spend 10 more minutes in Noah's world. He talks about role models, gangs, and old friendships.

Taylor McGraw 7/31/17 Taylor McGraw 7/31/17

Episode 4: Who Needs Integration?

Many education leaders say: Sure, integration would be nice, but we should focus instead on equal resources. What do students think?

Taylor McGraw 6/26/17 Taylor McGraw 6/26/17

Episode 3: White Kids

In the 1954 Brown v. Board ruling that outlawed school segregation, did the Court miss an opportunity? One of the researchers essential to the case thought so. Sixty-three years later, you can hear the consequences of that missed chance in the stories of three Harlem teens talking about encounters with white peers.

Taylor McGraw 6/13/17 Taylor McGraw 6/13/17

Analysis: The 'Diversity' Plan

The city's new school diversity plan is the policy equivalent of a last-minute gift delivered sans wrapping paper or card. The question now among integration advocates: can we at least return it?

Taylor McGraw 5/21/17 Taylor McGraw 5/21/17

Episode 2: Noah Goes to High School

With Noah as a guide, we delve into New York City's "open choice" high school admissions process, which leads to hundreds of low-performing schools at the expense of a few stellar ones. Along the way, hear what Noah has to say about the neighborhood of East New York, his high school teachers & peers, segregation, and why he wants to learn to build a house.

Taylor McGraw 4/21/17 Taylor McGraw 4/21/17

Episode 1: Listen to Noah

The season kicks off with the story of Noah, a high school student from Brooklyn whose experiences provide a personal look into New York City's segregated school system. Part One tracks Noah's journey from a predominantly white elementary school to a nearly 100% non-white middle school.